This year’s conference is divided into three strands knowledge, practice and collaboration. In knowledge, we will hear from archivists, librarians and historians about their work and collections. In practice, we will hear from institutions, self-advocacy groups, artists. In collaboration, there will be a chance for all those active in the space of disability history to come together.

Confirmed presentations include ...

Knowledge

Disabled workers in the archives: twentieth century British perspectives

Lucy Delap - University of Cambridge

This talk will examine how ‘accidental archives’ have been created that trace the lives of disabled workers across different kinds of jobs. It examines the ‘aftercare’ infrastructure of the special schools system, the employment quotas initiated in 1944, and reflects on the choices made by workers to identify as disabled or evade such categorisations.

The British Library

Collaboration between Contemporary Archives and Manuscripts Department; Oral History Department and UK Web Archive

Hear about the British Libraries contemporary archive material related to Disability History, including the Archive of the Association of Disabled Professionals (Add MS 89385) in the Contemporary Archives and Manuscripts collections, a range of Oral History projects including ‘Disability Voices’, ‘Speaking for Ourselves’ and ‘How was School?’ (collection guide), and curated collections on the UK Web Archive

Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability

Chris Olver - Archivist

From donkey rides to eye gaze: The history of assistive technology use at the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability

The Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability (RHN) has been working towards improving the lives of people living with disabilities since 1854. The RHN Archive is currently supported by a National Lottery Heritage Fund to help create and promote the hospital’s heritage. Through the cataloguing work supported by the project, it has been possible to identify early adaptive technology in use at the hospital in the late 19th century to early twentieth century. In the course of this talk, I will delve into the archives to show early examples of assistive technology and mobility aids before discussing with members of the hospital’s Compass Assistive and Rehabilitation Technology Service, how the service has evolved since the 1980s and how they support our current patients with the latest assistive and rehabilitative technologies.

Practice

Dr Philip Milnes-Smith

“But who comes here?”: Invisible disability and you

This presentation uses autism to exemplify the experience of those with an invisible disability, and the access challenges presented in heritage settings for both staff and service users

Dr Philip Milnes-Smith trained as an archivist after a career in special education, working with young people with moderate learning difficulties and autism. He is a co-training officer for the Archives for Learning and education Section of ARA, and on the steering committee for an Accessible Learning Toolkit for the sector. He is also one of ARA’s Diversity and Inclusion Allies.

Glamorgan Archives and People First!

People First Takeover!

Hear about the Glamorgan Archives and People First! take over day and how they are working in partnership to include people with a learning disability in taking ownership of heritage.

Collaboration

In the collaboration strand we will use break out rooms to recreate the stalls and networking that are such a popular part of conferences at London Metropolitan Archives. There will be break out rooms with “stall holders” as well as room(s) for general discussion. Delegates will be able to move freely through these rooms. If you would like to be “a virtual stall holder” to promote and share you’re your organisation or activities please contact events.lma@Cityoflondon.gov.uk