Disability History
What Happened on the Trains That Brought Wounded World War II Soldiers Home?
The logistics of moving patients across the U.S. by rail were staggeringly complex
United Will Be the First U.S. Airline to Add Braille to Its Plane Interiors
The carrier announced that it will update its entire mainline fleet over the next three years
How Edith Wilson Kept Herself—and Her Husband—in the White House
A new book about the first lady reveals how she and the ailing President Woodrow Wilson silenced their critics
What Made Judy Heumann, Mother of the Disability Rights Movement, an American Hero
The tireless activist, who died this weekend at 75, spent decades advocating for Americans with disabilities
In 1946, a Black Pilot Returned to the Cockpit After a Double Amputation
Neal V. Loving, whose memoir will soon be released by Smithsonian Books, built his own planes, ran a flight school and conducted research for the Air Force
Why a London Museum Is Removing the Skeleton of an 'Irish Giant' From View
Charles Byrne asked for his body to be buried at sea. Instead, an anatomist bought his bones and displayed them to the public
Three Pioneering Scholars Who Died This Year
They believed that the stories of marginalized communities were worth chronicling
Inside a Trailblazing Surgeon's Quest to Reconstruct WWI Soldiers' Disfigured Faces
A new book profiles Harold Gillies, whose efforts to restore wounded warriors' visages laid the groundwork for modern plastic surgery
The Trailblazing Black Woman Chemist Who Discovered a Treatment for Leprosy
After Alice Ball's death in 1916 at age 24, a white man took credit for her research
Miniature by Sarah Biffin, 19th-Century Artist Born With No Arms or Legs, Exceeds Estimates at Auction
The painter forged a remarkable career as a disabled woman artist in 19th-century London
Why Proposed Renovations to Greece's Acropolis Are So Controversial
Scholars voiced concern about planned aesthetic changes and a lack of adequate accessibility measures for people with disabilities
The World's First Licensed Armless Pilot Is a Devoted Advocate for People Facing Similar Challenges
Jessica Cox, author of 'Disarm your Limits: The Flight Formula to Lift You to Success,' motivates people around the world to overcome their differences
The Paralyzed World War II Veterans Who Invented Wheelchair Basketball
In the late 1940s, paraplegics popularized the sport—and changed the game for the disability rights movement
This Frank Lloyd Wright Home Was a Trailblazing Example of Accessible Design
The Laurent House in Rockford, Illinois, was built 40 years before the Americans with Disabilities Act became law
Did the Ancient Greeks Design Temples With Accessibility in Mind?
Study suggests ramps found at ancient sites may have been used by people with disabilities, but some scholars remain skeptical
How a Spy Known as the ‘Limping Lady’ Helped the Allies Win WWII
A new biography explores the remarkable feats of Virginia Hall, a disabled secret agent determined to play her part in the fight against the Nazis
This London Gallery Is Working to Be One of the World's Most Accessible Museums
The Wellcome Collection's latest permanent exhibition focuses on design features and curatorial approaches suggested by individuals with disabilities
Japan Offers Apology and Compensation to Victims of Forced Sterilization
Between 1948 and 1993, an estimated 25,000 people were sterilized to prevent them from having ‘poor-quality descendants’
Amputee Marine Sets Record for Rowing Across the Atlantic Ocean From Europe to South America
Lee Spencer smashed the previous record by 36 days, rowing his boat solo and unsupported from Portugal to French Guiana in just 60 days
Eleven Never-Before-Seen Artworks Found in the Walls of James Castle's House
The renowned Idaho Outsider artist was known for squirreling his drawings and sculptures away in the walls and ceiling of his Boise home
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