I raraely post messages on behalf of reasearchers seeking to locate archives,
but I hope fellow list members will bear with me sending the following message
out, as I think it is a project well worth supporting. Please contact the
researcher, Nigel Ingham, directly and not through me.
Bruce Jackson
Lancashire Record Office
11 March
Learning Disability Digital Archive Project
The Open University’s Social History of Learning Disability research group
(http://www.open.ac.uk/hsc/ldsite/ ) together with the University of East
London’s Rix Centre, are working together to create an on-line digital archive
of learning disability history. At the heart of this living archive would be a
multi-media collection of stories and testimonies from people with learning
disabilities and the key people in their lives.
Developed collaboratively with people with learning disabilities and other key
stakeholders in the social history of learning disability, this open-ended,
interactive archive will stand alone in its own right, as well as having uses as
a research, educational and training resource.
What’s happening now?
The project group has received a grant from the Rix-Thompson-Rothenberg
Foundation. Between now and July 2010, a small Open University team, with
involvement of users (especially people with learning disabilities) and the Rix
Centre, is researching key financial, resource, ethical, accessibility, technical
and design issues associated with the development of the archive.
It is intended that once the initial groundwork is in place the project group will
prepare a proposal for substantial funding for the creation of the digital
archive and for its longer term maintenance – if possible, in conjunction with
the development of a museum of learning disability history.
How can you help?
You may be able to help in two ways:
1. We are trying to identify what is already out there, so do you know
of the existence of social history of learning disability materials and resources?
These could be in any format (audio, video, photographic, on-line,
documentary, digital, physical artefacts…) and about any aspect relating to
people with learning difficulties and their history.
It may be that you have collections or the odd item or two, or, as importantly,
know of others who do. Either way we would be interested in any assistance
you could provide as we draw up an inventory.
Clearly there are potential ethical and ownership issues with any materials,
and we are very concerned to identify and explore these as part of our initial
investigation.
2. Would you be interested in becoming involved in this digital archive
project – either at this point or some later stage?
If you can help or have any questions please contact myself, Nigel Ingham, by
email: [log in to unmask] or Penny Wilkinson on 01908 858373.
Contact the list owner for assistance at [log in to unmask]
For information about joining, leaving and suspending mail (eg during a holiday) see the list website at
https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=archives-nra
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