Disabled people

A black and white group photo of about 30 people. The front row of people are using wheelchairs, with others standing on steps behind them.

A 1991 group photo of disability arts practitioners. David Hevey is standing fifth from the right in the second row. Photo: NDACA.

Blogs

Sharing radical heritage demands a radical approach

Shape Arts’ passionate director, David Hevey, is taking a disruptive, digital approach to sharing disabled people’s voices with the world.

04/12/2023

Esther Fox holding a metallic cross-fingers award

Videos

Esther Fox is the National Lottery Awards Heritage Winner for 2023

The award recognises her incredible support and leadership to make museums more accessible.

Four young people chatting and looking at a display of a small historical model settlement

Curating for Change Fellows at the Museum of London. Credit: Museum of London

Stories

How to make recruitment fair and open to all

Curating for Change – the National Lottery-funded work placement programme for D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent curators in museums – is challenging the heritage sector to consider equitable recruitment.

People in period costumes with children in front of an old train

Tour guides at the Foyle Valley Railway and Transport Museum posing with visitors. Credit: Destined

Stories

Why you should involve people with lived experience in your heritage project

An interpretive centre run by people with learning disabilities is showcasing Derry/Londonderry’s historic railway heritage and highlighting the importance of inclusion.

Four-wheel-drive ‘Tramper’ scheme, launching at Parc Cefn Onn in 2023

Projects

‘Into the garden and beyond’ – improving visitor access to Parc Cefn Onn

A £454,000 grant is enabling people to enjoy improved access to the Grade II listed historic park in Cardiff.

24/06/2014

Image of disabled person in 1990s, protesting with plaque saying public transport means me too

Activist Keith Armstrong in the 1990s, campaigning for accessible public transport. Credit: Shape Arts

News

Creating an archive for historic disability rights movement

Disability-led arts charity Shape Arts will showcase the movement's rich heritage and personal stories – coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the Disability Discrimination Act in 2025.

02/12/2022

The Science Museum in London had the highest score in the Heritage Access 2022 benchmark tool for online access information.

Stories

Report: museums and heritage sites need to improve online accessibility information

A research project led by charity VocalEyes is calling for organisations to create a more inclusive environment for disabled visitors online – committing to equality, inclusion and anti-ableism.

Two women looking into a glass museum display case.

An exhibition on the School for the Blind at the Museum of Liverpool.

Blogs

Diversifying workforces benefits staff, employers and heritage audiences

Esther Fox shares how even small changes can have big impacts on heritage workforces and build a more sustainable and equitable sector.

05/09/2022

Photograph of a young person sitting in the cockpit of a plane. Someone is passing him a helmet.

A trip to the RAF Museum. Photo: Plasma of Hope

Projects

Heritage Trips for Disadvantaged Young People

Young people with sickle cell disease and other genetic blood disorders and their families took part in social activities to experience local heritage, building confidence and connection.

27/05/2022

A group of female mountaineers on an expedition in the Himalayas in 1962

We helped the Pinnacle Club mark 100 years since the women's rock-climbing club was founded.

Hub

Inclusive heritage

Inclusion is about taking action to ensure that contemporary society in the UK is better represented in your heritage project.

Lindy Anderson

Projects

Touching stitches: embroidery access for the blind

This innovative project explored ways to enable blind and partially sighted people to access the Edinburgh College of Art’s historic textile collection, which spans over three centuries.

29/05/2019