Taking experiences with historic collections outside the archive’s walls

Article written by

David Hevey, Artistic Director of Shape Arts

06/08/2026

An archive image showing a person in a wheelchair holding a sign in front a double double bus. There is a police officer on the left hand side.

The project uncovered Keith Armstrong's photographic archive, who photographed events from within. Credit: Shape Arts.

Shape Arts shares how it worked with disabled people to remove barriers, share power and build an archive informed by lived experience.

Creating an archive about the fights for disability rights means thinking differently from the start. When we began creating the National Disability Movement Archive and Collection (NDMAC), we knew that preserving history was only part of the job. We also needed to think about how that history and heritage would be collected, who would feel able to contribute and who could access it.

Too often, archives can feel distant. They are places where history is stored behind glass cabinets, with formal catalogues and specialist language that can make people feel excluded. We wanted NDMAC to be very different.

How we removed barriers

With £840,000 in support from the Heritage Fund, our aim was to build an archive that reflected the Disability Rights Movement itself: practical, welcoming, collaborative and rooted in lived experience.

Taking the archive to people

Many disabled people face all sorts of barriers, such as inaccessible transport, cost, support needs and health conditions, which can all make visiting an archive difficult.

Rather than expecting people to come to us, we often went to them. We visited contributors in their homes to collect photographs, banners, badges, documents and other objects that told their stories. We digitised collections so people did not have to part with treasured items, while making them available to audiences across the UK.

We also recognised that many people now access heritage online. Creating a digital archive means people can explore the collection from home, removing another barrier to participation.

Recognising people as experts by experience

Some contributors told us they felt nervous about taking part in the filmed oral history interviews.

To help people feel comfortable, we shared interview questions in advance, giving contributors time to prepare.

Most importantly, we did not expect people to become historians overnight. Instead, we asked them to tell us about their own experiences: what did they personally witness in our history and what is their own story?

People are the experts on their own lives. Their memories, emotions and personal stories are what make the archive particularly meaningful.

Interestingly, many contributors were surprised to discover that events they had simply attended – such as demonstrations outside Parliament or protests for accessible transport – are now recognised as important moments in UK rights history.

A line of people in wheelchairs stick their arm out as a red double decker bus passes them. — The archive documenting decades of disability activism in the UK launched in June 2026. Credit: Shape Arts.

Language matters

Words can open doors, but they can also create barriers.

Traditional archive catalogues often rely on language that does not reflect how disabled people describe themselves or their experiences.

Working with disabled colleagues, we developed a ‘Crip Thesaurus’ to help people search using language from lived experience rather than outdated or medical terminology.

For many disabled activists, reclaiming words such as ‘crip’ is part of their political identity. Using that language thoughtfully helps people recognise that this archive has been created by people who understand the movement from within.

Disabled people shaped the project

Representation was built into every stage of NDMAC. Around 80% of the core production team had lived experience of disability, including the project director, archivist and senior leadership.

Most contributors had been part of the Disability Rights Movement or, as others call it, the Disabled People’s Movement. That shared experience built trust and informed decisions throughout the project.

Accessibility was built in from the beginning

Throughout NDMAC we made access part of the design. This included:

subtitled oral history films
audio description for graphic content
large text options
clear website design
plain English content
Easy Read guides
digital and printed resources to suit different audiences

Our aim was to give people choices about how they engage with the archive.

The impact of the national archive

The project has already created lasting change.

David Hevey speaks into a microphone at an event — David Hevey at an event launching the NDACA. Photo: Andy Barker.

NDMAC now includes a major digital archive featuring oral histories, photographs, films, documents and downloadable resources that preserve the story of the UK's Disability Rights Movement.

The Keith Armstrong collection has reached audiences through DAM IN VENICE , where the exhibition attracted more than 73,000 visitors across two venues and an estimated audience of more than two million through wider engagement.

The project has also inspired new learning resources, including a repository and wellbeing spaces at Buckinghamshire New University. We distributed more than 1,000 copies of our graphic comic exploring disability rights in its first month.

Perhaps most importantly, disabled people have told us the project reflects their lives and experiences. As one visitor wrote: "Keep being brave! No-one else is!"

That response captures what NDMAC has always been about: not simply preserving history, but ensuring the story of the Disability Rights Movement remains relevant, accessible and available to inspire future generations.

Find out more

Explore the National Disability Movement Archive and Collection to discover the people, protests and personal stories that transformed disability rights in the UK.

Or look at how the Heritage Fund is investing in disability heritage.