All Blog Posts
History of a Home
December 28, 2012
By Meghan McMonagle, Contributor You cannot help but be moved when you are confronted with images of old asylums at the Museum of disABILITY History, located in Buffalo, NY. The majestic exteriors poorly represent the deplorable conditions concealed inside for patients who were forced to reside there, removed from participating in society. Asylums have become a part of America’s past; however, parts of our society still resist the integration of people with disabling conditions into their…
Celebrating Our Victories as we Move Forward for More - Part 2
December 18, 2012
By Osiris Gomez, Contributor The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) has made some significant strides, but more needs to be done. We need to keep pushing because areas that contribute to life satisfaction are still problematic, namely gainful employment. “I would give anything in the world if I could work, but now it’s much more obvious that I am disabled,” said Deborah Lewis, who has fibromyalgia, in an interview with SHRM Online. “I can’t even get an application. No one wants to …
Celebrating Our Victories as we Move Forward for More - Part 1
December 11, 2012
By Osiris Gomez, Contributor July 26, 2012 marked the 22nd anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, (ADA). President George H.W. Bush signed the act into law in 1990, which proved to be one of the most far-reaching civil rights bills in the U.S. history. Understandably, it also marked a huge step in the long struggle for disability civil rights. Thanks to the bill, individuals with disabilities are more protected. To name a few of the provisions in the ADA, employers…
My Emotional Adventure Fighting Bullying in Buffalo, NY
November 20, 2012
By Jesse Saperstein, Esteemed Guest Contributor On Thursday, October 4, 2012, I had the privilege of delivering a lecture at the University of Buffalo. The lecture was part of the "disABILITIES Film Festival and Speaker Series," an annual event hosted by People Inc. and the Museum of disABILITY History. People Inc. is the parent company of the Museum of disABILITY History.
Curator Doug Platt leads Jesse Saperstein on a tour of the Museum.A man named Doug gave me a tour of the Mus…
disABILITIES Film Fest: A Call to Stop Bullying
November 1, 2012
By Osiris Gomez, Contributor The 8th Annual disABILITIES Film Festival and Speaker Series on October 4, 2012, hosted by the Museum of disABILITY History and People Inc., turned out to be a night to remember! We packed the house! Our attendance was nearly 500. After some mingling and light refreshments in the lobby, we all headed to the Mainstage Theatre at the University at Buffalo Center for the Arts. The feature film was Bully, directed by award-winning and esteemed documentarian Lee Hirsch…
Buffalo State Hospital Annex, Wilson NY
October 11, 2012
By Dr. James M. Boles and Melissa Royer, Contributors In 1908, the Buffalo Psychiatric Hospital opened the Lakeside Colony on property rented from the L.A. Dwight family in Wilson, NY. The Colony operated for a little over 4 years and consisted of thirty-three acres, a stone house and farm buildings in the Roosevelt Beach area of Wilson NY. With frontage on both Lake Ontario and Twelve Mile Creek, the Wilson farm provided the patients from Buffalo State Hospital recreation in the form of swi…
Henry Wesley
September 21, 2012
By Jenna DelSignore, Contributor The Museum of disABILITY History (Buffalo, NY) had the honor of hosting the self-advocacy speaker and former Willowbrook resident Henry Wesley on August 9, 2012. Henry gave his famous presentation on the journey of his life from his time and survival at Willowbrook, through his achievements and adventures of the current time. Henry gave his presentation with his Dynavox speaking device which was accompanied by a picture slide show presentation that he contro…
Encore, Geri!
September 18, 2012
By Jenna DelSignore, Contributor It is no secret that Geri Jewell has achievements and records that people all over the nation can celebrate. But it is in Buffalo, NY that can hold the most pride because Geri shows her Buffalo born spirit everywhere she goes. On September 13, 1956, Geraldine Ann Jewell was born in Buffalo, NY with cerebral palsy. From a young age it was evident that she was born for the stage, naturally putting a bright smile on everyone’s face. She kicked off her career in…