Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation (QEF) helps people with physical and learning disabilities gain new skills and independence. This project explored the history of disability in relation to employment over the past 80 years, using materials from the QEF archives. 

During the 16-month project volunteers helped digitise the collection of over 3,000 photographs, film, video and other documents, made publicly accessible online.

A school teacher involved in the project said: "It was a great way for the children to develop greater understanding and empathy for disabled people."

With training from the British Library, oral histories were recorded from past beneficiaries and staff. QEF worked with a design company to create an exhibition from the archive material, which opened in London and toured 12 venues including shopping centres and a racecourse. 

Freewheelers Theatre Company created a performance with disabled actors which toured schools and a QEF independent living services resident volunteered to provide sound-desk assistance to the production.

As a result, two schools made their facilities more accessible to people with disabilities, and the exhibition was put on permanent display at QEF headquarters.