Disability Studies : Primary Documents and News Sources

"The National Archives holds many records that relate to American citizens with disabilities. From personal letters to historic legislation, these records provide insight into efforts over the past century to establish programs and to protect the rights of people with disabilities."

"The Disability History Museum hosts a Library of virtual artifacts, Education curricula, and Museum exhibits."

Primary sources, supporting materials, archives, video, and other resources "as voiced by the disability community."

Digitized artifacts of disability history from the National Museum of American History and other places

"It's Our Story is a national initiative to make disability history national and accessible. We've conducted over 1,000 video interviews with disability leaders across the nation; now, we're making these voices public and accessible so everyone can take part in the discussion about what it means to be an American with a disability."

"An interdisciplinary collection of primary texts and images on physical and cognitive disability from about 1780 to 1914."

Rooted in Rights produces videos, blog posts, podcasts, and social media campaigns that center people with disabilities. "We use accessible digital media to support other advocacy work. We partner with Disability Rights Washington, Protection and Advocacy agencies, and community-led organizations to produce accessible advocacy content on disability rights issues. We train people to be agents of change."

Focused on the UK. Includes important legislation, publications, developments since 1840.

From a 2011 exhibit, UIUC digitized several historical papers, images, films, and oral histories. Some links may not work, but it is still a rich resource of disability history online.

Formerly located in Buffalo, NY, the virtual museum contains resources, lesson plans, timelines, and some digitized artifacts and stories. "The Museum of disABILITY History is dedicated to advancing the understanding, acceptance and independence of people with disabilities."

"Interviews with the Leaders of Pennsylvania's Intellectual Disability Rights Movement. A collection of stories from advocates, self-advocates and family members who took great risks to ensure the safety and freedom of people with disabilities in Pennsylvania."

Includes Plain Language versions. "There has been some discussion about a need for better preservation of information related to the Autistic Community and Neurodiversity Movement's history. Many people newer to neurodiversity are often unaware of the history that spans about thirty years. I am hoping that this website can give people an idea of where this movement comes from, and where it could be going. I also hope that this website can serve as a tool for people to find material to reference."

The online portion of a 2014 multimedia history exhibit. Collections oral history interviews with Disability Rights Activists.

"The Helen Keller Archival Collection at the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is the world’s largest repository of letters, speeches, press clippings, scrapbooks, photographs, architectural drawings, artifacts and audio-video materials relating to Helen Keller."

Historic timeline, history collections, and links to more resources (and how to search them!) around Western Penn. and US history

"The Premier Source for Developmental Disability News."

Disability-related news, resources and events related to specific countries.

"Disability news headlines and coverage, breaking stories and summaries with a prime focus on world issues concerning disabilities and the disabled. Disabled World News features disability items of interest, including community support programs, disability sports news and cultural happenings, along with informative issues of medical concerns, carer fact sheets, and related information. We also provide relevant details concerning new changes to accessibility laws and legislation, disability rights issues, and present some of the latest available clinical trials, medical research, discovery papers, and other publications."