This was with the aim of sharing and celebrating the history of people with this condition as part of the charity SHINE’s 50th anniversary. Various activities contributed to a final permanent exhibition and online archive library. A visitor commented: “I think the exhibition is a fabulous mix of history and personal experiences, and the displays really make our history come alive”.

[quote]“I think the exhibition is a fabulous mix of history and personal experiences, and the displays really make our history come alive”.[/quote]

The exhibition featured interpretation panels, images, objects relating to spina bifida and hydrocephalus, audio- and tactile-interactive displays and listening posts hosting oral histories, there was a very strong emphasis on accessibility on both and physical and conceptual level. It is a modular exhibition which means it can go on tour in the future offering flexibility in the number/range of display items.

The ‘SHINE Library’, available online here and as a physical archive in Peterborough, is sharing resources and collections with a wide audience.

1 SHINE stands for Spina Bifida, Hydrocephalus, Information, Networking, Equality. Formerly known as the Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (ASBAH).