On May 21, more than 50 people took part in the Pennsylvania Disability History Collaborative’s first meeting at the Pennsylvania State Archives. The state-wide group included people with disabilities, family members, and representatives from many disability organizations and universities, including the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University College of Education and Human Development, the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council, and the Western PA Disability History & Action Consortium.  

A Day of Conversations

The day was filled with conversations about current projects, potential collaborations, and ideas for what the group should do in the future. Michael Gamel-McCormick was honored for his great work as the Disability Policy Director for Senator Bob Casey.  

Additionally, those who attended in-person toured the State Archives and viewed historical documents about people with disabilities in Pennsylvania. The collaborative plans to keep growing, working on new projects, and expand its reach. 

Join the Interest List

Anyone interested in updates about future meetings or newsletters can send your name, email, and (if applicable) your organization to [click-for-email]. 

This article was composed from contributions from members of the PA Disability History Collaborative.