“We try to explore the role of people with disabilities throughout history and it’s constantly evolved,” said Doug Platt, Museum of disABILITY Curator.

When you walk into the Museum of disABILITY history you’ll go on a journey through time.

“People with disabilities have been represented in artwork, literature, movies, politics,” said Platt.

You may even be surprised to learn that many famous people in history had disabilities.

“People like Albert Einstein who was last century’s ideal of what a genius is like, he didn’t speak for the first 7 years of his life. Henry Ford, the inventor of the moving assembly line had a learning disability,” said Platt.

At this museum on Main street disabilities are promoted and celebrated.

“We also try to look at disability as a difference. Really because that’s what a disability is, is a difference. and the one thing we all have in common is we’re all different,” said Platt.

The Museum of disABILITY history also has a publishing program and sells books by authors with disabilities. “Olivia the Bully” by local author Engelic Everett is one of their best sellers.

“Our publishing arm looks at bringing good product, good stories, and it just happens that some of the authors have disabilities,” said Platt.

Museum Curator Doug Platt says over time progress has been made and more people with disabilities are being integrated and recognized in the community, but more work still needs to be done.

“Topics such as transportation, employment, education, those are all still vistas that are being explored by the disability community,” said Platt.

You can find more information about the Museum of disABILITY history at this link: http://museumofdisability.org/