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People Inc.’s Museum of disABILITY History Receives Assessment Grant

Grant Money is Used to Perform a General Overview of the Museum  

BUFFALO , N.Y., July 11, 2006: The Museum of disABILITY History, a project of People Inc. along with 115 other museums in the United States has been awarded a grant by the American Association of Museums and the Institute of Museum and Library Services that allows for an Institutional Assessment of the Museum.

The Museum Assessment grant will allow the Museum of disABILITY History to undertake a lengthy self-study and to retain a consultant who will visit the Museum to review its overall operations. Based on the consultant’s written assessment report, the Museum of disABILITY History will use the report to improve in order to be eligible for Accreditation by the American Association of Museums. According to People Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer James M. Boles, Ed.D., “The Museum of disABILITY has so much potential to help educate the community. We are grateful to be one of the museums selected to receive this grant, it will prove to be very beneficial in improving operations.”

The American Association of Museums has been dedicated to promoting excellence within the museum community for over 100 years. AAM’s mission is to enhance the value of museums to their communities through leadership, advocacy and service.  AAM is the only organization representing the nation’s entire museum community. For more about AAM, please visit www.aam-us.org

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Through its grant making, convenings, research and publications, the Institute empowers museums and libraries nationwide to provide leadership and services to enhance learning in communities, sustain cultural heritage, build twenty-first-century skills, and increase civic participation. To learn more about the Institute, please visit: http://www.imls.gov.

People Inc. is a not-for-profit health and human services agency providing programs and services to at least 10,000 people with special needs, their families, and seniors throughout Western New York. Since 1971, People Inc. has assisted individuals to achieve greater degrees of independence and productivity.

The Museum of disABILITY History is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and display of artifacts relating to the history of people with disabilities. The mission is to tell the story of the lives, struggles and triumphs of people with disabilities as well as society’s reactions. The Museum of disABILITY History is located at 1291 North Forest Rd.. Williamsville. It is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. or by appointment. Admission is free. For further information call 817-7261 or visit www.museumofdisability.org.