Disability history collection

Disability history collection

These objects from the Museum of Liverpool’s collections reflect the diverse lived experiences of disabled people in the city. They show how the community have contributed to Liverpool life over time and reflect issues affecting disabled people and the ongoing fight for equality.

Explore personal stories and reflect upon society's changing attitudes towards disability.

Curating for Change

The collection highlights were researched, reinterpreted, and brought together for the first time as part of Curating for Change. This initiative was delivered in partnership with Accentuate and Screen South, providing opportunities for D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people, to pursue a curatorial career in museums.

Logo with text 'Curating for change' in a circle of dots and dashesLogo: hand with fingers crossed and text: Made possible with Heritage FundLogo with text: Art Fund

Logo with 'Arts Council England' forming a circle next to text: Supported using public funding by Arts Council England     Pink 'A' with text across the middle: Accentuate     Logo with text: Screen South    Logo with lion and unicorn on a coat of arms and text: Funded by UK Government

Use of language

Some of these objects contain language around disability that is considered outdated and offensive. In consultation with local disabled people, we decided it was important to preserve this original terminology to give a historically accurate representation of how attitudes and language used towards disabled people have changed over time. This ensures that the realities which disabled communities have faced, and continue to face, are not erased.

We recognise that these may be triggering and harmful words, and we have worked to identify them and add warnings wherever possible.