News

The Historical Society of Pennsylvania devoted the most recent edition of their Legacies magazine to disability history. As with so many minority groups, people with disabilities have been largely … [Read more...] about Historical Society of Pennsylvania publishes disability history magazine

The Institute on Disabilities at Temple University presents the documentary Valuing Lives: Wolf Wolfensberger and the Principle of Normalization from 9:30 a.m.-noon on Tuesday, December 19 at Rodef … [Read more...] about Valuing Lives documentary, panel discussion will be Dec. 19

In 1868, young Henry Bell came to Third United Presbyterian Church’s Mission Academy School. Henry was African American and deaf. The pastor solicited Pittsburgher William Drum, who was also deaf and … [Read more...] about Consortium members visit Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf

The Pennhurst State School and Hospital in eastern Pennsylvania was shut down 30 years ago this November, but decades earlier, exposures of mistreatment and abuse made it an early setting in the … [Read more...] about Event commemorates 30th anniversary of closing of Pennhurst institution

In 1971, the Arc of Pennsylvania (PARC) sued the Commonwealth on behalf of 11 students with disabilities who had been denied public school enrollment, including four children from Western … [Read more...] about Consortium gives talk on history of special education law to local task force 

In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we're sharing thoughts from some Western Pennsylvanians about their personal experiences in the workplace and how to improve future job … [Read more...] about Learning from experience in the workplace 

The traveling exhibit “The Pennhurst Story—Tragedy to Disability Rights” will be on display at InVision Human Services from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on October 2, 3, and 4. InVision is hosting the exhibit to … [Read more...] about Exhibit detailing history of Pennhurst institution comes to InVision in Wexford

UPDATE ON 9/18/17: The version of the bill that passed in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives takes $50 million from the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Trust Fund instead of the originally … [Read more...] about Proposed transit cuts would set back mobility, inclusion for riders with disabilities

In June, the Western Pennsylvania Disability History and Action Consortium—together with the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania—presented “From Wrongs to Rights: A Living History of an Unfinished … [Read more...] about Consortium presents overview of disability advocacy history to Pitt faculty

An i go home sequel is in the works with a planned release date in late 2018. WITF (the Harrisburg PBS affiliate) and the Commonwealth Institute, in collaboration with the Pennsylvania History … [Read more...] about Work begins on sequel to “i go home” documentary