Welcome to this continiously growing digital exhibition, created by you and featuring your contributions! This exhibition is one way in which the House of Austrian History is opening up its museum space to everyone—you decide what can be seen. 

You too can contribute a photo or video to this exhibition about the fights for their rights and claims for agency by people with disabilities! 

How have people with disabilities been fighting to claim agency – in their own lives and in society?

In past and present, people with disabilities have often had to actively fight for their rights, to live indepedently and to claim agency in their lives as well as in society more broadly. This important aspect of Austrian history is rarely mentioned in many museums. In our museum – the House of Austrian History – the experiences and histories of people with disabilities are similarly underrepresented. One reason for this gap is that there are only very few objects on this topic in our collection. To change that, we have initiated a new project on Disability History.

As part of this project, we collect objects and stories about the experiences, political engagement and activism of people with disabilities. Our broad understanding of activism in this context also includes everyday acts that lead to greater awareness and visibility regarding disability. We invite people with disabilities to contribute objects and stories to a digital exhibition or to send us contributions via the contact details below. We also welcome the donation of objects to our permanent collection.

The objects should demonstrate, how people with disabilities have been fighting to claim agency to live independently and against barriers in their own lives as well as in society – and continue to do so:

1) What does independent living and agency mean for you?

For example: at work, in school, at university, when it comes to support and personal assistance, in your free time, in your family, among friends, in relationships, at home, in politics, in society, in art – also in terms of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

2) Have you ever had to fight for recognition, visibility and inclusion?

For example: of visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity, mental disabilities, diversity of language (e.g., sign language, easy read, Braille, diverse ways of communicating), etc.

3) How do you draw attention to your demands and concerns?

For example: at protests, in peer groups, in self-advocacy groups, through personal or written communication, through activism, at work, at home, at care and support facilities, via art (e.g.: painting, theatre, dance, music …)

4) In what ways have exchanges with others, activism, peer counselling, art or also sports opened new possibilities in your life?

5) How have you fought against discrimination, barriers and ableism?

6) What challenges and limits have you encountered in these contexts? Which successes have you experienced?

These questions are only some examples. We are interested in your experiences and memories!

Do you own objects that were significant or important for such struggles for agency and independent living? Have you kept something that reminds you of these moments?

These could, for instance, be protest signs or other objects from protests, clothes, aids, buttons, stickers, but also personal objects or other things. Please take a picture of your object and upload it or send it to us via the contact details below. If you do not have an object, you can also contribute an image or video that tells your story.

You can also contribute objects and stories of another person, as long as the person is presented in a dignified way and – if the person is alive – as long as they consent to the contribution.

We understand that these questions address sensitive topics. In case you decide to share your story with us, we will treat it with utmost care.

Would you like to offer the objects, images or videos that you have contributed here to the permanent museum collection?

When submitting a contribution through our digital exhibition, you only have to tick a box and someone from our team will get in touch with you. You can, however, also let us know via email, mail or phone. Please keep in mind that it might take a bit of time for our team to process all contributions and get back to you.

We look forward to learning about your story!

Contact

Email: dh-sammeln@hdgoe.at
Phone: (+43 1) 53410 – 795

Austrian National Library
House of Austrian History
Disability History Project
Josefsplatz 1
1015 Wien

Terms of Use 

This is a purely digital exhibition. Please post your contributions via the upload button at the top of this page and write to us at feedback@hdgoe.at with any questions. You can find all the legal and general terms and conditions for uploads summarised in our Terms of Use. 

All pictures and videos are visible immediately after a double check by the museum's team digitally here and in the museum's main exhibition at New Burg imperial palace at Vienna's Heldenplatz square. 

We invite you to tell a story based on a picture, a video or the photograph of an object. For any questions, contact us via feedback@hdgoe.at 

Credits

A digital exhibition of the House of Austrian History 

In cooperation with the  Federal Ministry of the Republic of Austria for Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection

Curator: Vanessa Tautter

Focus group: Irina Angerer, Florian Gravogl, Franz Groschan, Laura Hochsteiner, Franck Le Rhun, Barbara Levc, Elisabeth Magdlener, Volker Schönwiese, Maria Schwarr, Verein Lichterkette

Contributors of the Federal Ministry: Andreas Reinalter, Konrad Swietek, Alexander Miklautz, Peter Luschin, Laura Mendoza Velandia, Karin Miller-Fahringer, Robin Schmied-Kowarzik, Paula Walden, Theresia Weber, Hannah Zeisel

Head of Deparment I: Brigitte Zarfl

Head of Deparment IV: Martin Zach

Photography: David Tiefenthaler

Proof-readers for Easy Read German: Eva Lackinger, Franziska Mitter, Rene Morwind, Sarah Traxler

Further contributors of the House of Austrian History: Louise Beckershaus, Johanna Fuchs, Karolin Galter, Tanja Jenni, Linda Kral, Mara Metzmacher, Eva Meran, Marianna Nenning, Lorenz Paulus, Antonia Plessing, Johannes Pötzlberger

Head of Public History: Stefan Benedik

Director House of Austrian History: Monika Sommer

Many thanks to: bidok, Jennie Carvill Schellenbacher, Valerie Clarke, DISTA (Disability Studies Austria), Lern- und Gedenkort Schloss Hartheim (Florian Schwanninger and Lisa Maria Hofer), Kevin Thonhofer, Angela Wegscheider, WITAF (Eva Böhm)

A huge thank you to all our contributors! 

Design and coding: treat.agency