Teaching Disability History Conference - July 8, 2025 - Keene, New Hampshire

A group of ADAPT Activists protest for accessible public transportation in the street outside a transit center. The activists are mostly wheelchair users. They hold or wear handmade signs, including one saying, "I can't even get to the back of the bus."

Tue, 07/08/2025

July 8, 2025 - Teach Disability History Conference - Keene State College - Keene, New Hampshire - 9:00am - 4:00pm

K-12 teachers, instructors of pre-service teachers, disability historians, disability studies educators, and disability rights advocates from across the U.S. will share resources and discuss ways to expand and strengthen the teaching of stories of disability history in K-12 schools.
Lunch will be provided in a Keene State cafeteria with options for people with food sensitivities. Coffee and snacks provided.
The conference is free thanks to a Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources grant.
Teachers and disability advocates may receive $100 stipends to help with travel or other costs. Apply with registration.

Conference Logistics

Register for the conference and apply for the teacher / disability advocate $100 stipend. Register by July 1.

Interpretation - There will be CART and American Sign Language interpreters for all sessions from 9:00-12:00am and 1:00-4:00pm.
Parking - The Elliot Lot and Science Lot are free for that day.
Rooms - We will begin the day in the Auditorium (Room 101) at the Putnam Science Center, with breakout sessions in the Science Center and at the Mason Library. Lunch will be in the Zorn Dining Commons.
In-Person - All sessions will be in-person. (We also organize a fully online conference.)
Dress - Dress is professional casual. It will likely be New England hot (in the 80s or 90s), so dress comfortably. Bring a sweater (anticipating cool air conditioning).
Link to a Campus Map.

Keene 2025 Conference Travel Guide
Keene 2025 Conference Lodging
- Hotel options include:
  - Courtyard Keene Downtown - half a mile to the college.
  - Best Western Plus Keene Hotel - one and a half miles to the college.
- Make your own arrangements; we did not reserve rooms.

July 8 Session Schedule

Morning Program

8:30-9:00 Registration + Coffee & Snacks - 1st floor outside Putnam Science Center Auditorium
9:00-9:50 Plenary 1 Science Center Auditorium (Room 122) - What is the role of student study of disability history in America today? - Rich Cairn & Graham Warder - Desi Forte, Easterseals Massachusetts - Kate Okeson, New Jersey Department of Education & Allison Connolly, Teacher
10:00-11:00 Breakout 1-A - Science Center Auditorium - Legislation and Disability, the Process and Impacts of the Law - Hope Bibens
10:00-11:00 Breakout 1-B - Mason Library - Eugenics, Genocide and Disability - Graham Warder and Rich Cairn
11:10-12:00 Breakout 2-A - Science Center Auditorium - State and Local Sources - Brian Burford, Alan Rumrill, Lee Fleming, Sam Moore and Jenna Carroll
11:10-12:00 Breakout 2-B - Mason Library - Teacher Education: How Does Disability History Apply in Your Context? - Lance Neeper, Nancy Peck, John Sturtz and Rich Cairn

Afternoon Program

12:00-12:50 LUNCH - No program - (no ASL) - Zorn Dining Commons
1:00-1:40 Plenary 2 - Science Center Auditorium (Room 122) - Disability History Coming of Age - Chris Rosa, Viscardi Center Museum of Disability History - Patricia Chadwick, Disability Social History Project
1:50-3:20 Breakout 3-A - Mason Library - Impacts of Slavery on Disability - Labor & Disability - Jenifer Barclay & Sarah F. Rose
1:50-3:20 Breakout 3-B - Science Center Auditorium - How to Teach Disability History? Curriculum, Strategies and Resources - Ross Newton, Kate Benson, Rick Howes, Graham Warder, Patricia Chadwick
3:30-4:00 Plenary 3 - Science Center Auditorium (Room 122) - Where Do We Go from Here? The Future of Teaching Disability History - Rich Cairn & Graham Warder - Jen Barclay, University at Buffalo and Disability History Association - Hope Bibens, Harkin Institute Drake University

Watch for further details and updates.

Conference Program Details

Disability History in America Today:
- Desi Forte, Easterseals Massachusetts; Kate Okeson, New Jersey Department of Education, and Allison Connolly, Teacher; Rich Cairn, Emerging America
Disability History Coming of Age:
- Chris Rosa, Viscardi Center; Graham Warder, Keene State College
Deep Exploration of Disability History:
- Impacts of Slavery on Disability: Jenifer Barclay, Associate Professor of History, Department of History, & Associate Director, Center for Disability Studies, College of Arts and Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York
- Labor and Disability: Sarah F. Rose, Associate Professor in History & Director of the Minor in Disability Studies, University of Texas at Arlington
Finding and Using Source Material on Disability:
- Legislation and Disability, the Process and Impacts of the Law: Hope Bibens, Associate Professor of Librarianship and Director, University Archives and Special Collections, and Curator of the Political Papers Collection of Tom Harkin, Cowles Library, Drake University
- State and Local Sources, Rural and Urban- New Hampshire and Beyond: Rodney Obien, Head of Special Collections & Archives and Associate Professor, Keene State College; Jenna Carroll, Executive Director, and Alan Rumrill, Historical Society of Cheshire County; Brian Burford, former New Hampshire State Archivist; Lee Fleming and Sam Moore, Keene State Graduate Students
Integrating Disability History into Teacher Preparation:
- Innovative Strategies Lance Neeper, Associate Professor, Special Education, Keene State College (KSC); Nancy F. Peck, Professor, Early Childhood Education, KSC; John Sturtz, Professor, Social Studies Education, KSC
How We Teach Disability History:
- Panel of veteran teachers in K-12 and college, possibly including: Ross Newton, high school history teacher, HEC Academy; Kate Benson, Special Education professional and President of the Belchertown State School Friends Association; Graham Warder, Associate Professor of History, Keene State College.
Tools and Resources to Implement a Teaching Disability History Program:
- Viscardi Center, Museum of Disability History, Albertson, New York.
- Emerging America.
- Disability Social History Project

Learn More About the Teaching Disability History Project

Learn more about the Teaching Disability History project at Keene State College, supported by a Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources grant. Keene State College received a Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) project grant in October, 2024. Link to the project announcement.

Project partners will host the annual conference at the Harkin Institute at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa (2026), and at the University of Texas at Arlington (2027).