Finding collections relating to d/Deaf, disabled and neurodiverse people

One of the aims of our project is to make collections relating to d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people more visible – and to share some of the objects our Fellows and Trainees are discovering.

Some will have quite obvious connections to disabled people’s lives – a walking stick, some braille or images of disabled people. But we will also be exploring less obvious connections too. Sometimes the significance of an object is its owner; its part in a bigger story, or the way someone with lived experience of disability has responded to it. In this way we hope to broaden the ways that d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent stories are told.

Collections

MEDRESCO HEARING AID (Hearing aid)

Current search< Previous recordNext record >

Rights information: Copyright: Black Country Living Museum

Description

It is a grey plastic hearing aid. On the side there is an old sticker which says the owner's name. On the base, there are the words 'Medresco government property OL-57'. On the back there is a silver metal clip. Above this are three small lines (speakers). On the top are two switches, and a cord is connected. The cord is a greyish green which is slightly discoloured in parts. This is connected to a plastic pale pink receiver. The receiver says 'Medresco OL-575 DAE 12/64' on the inside.

This item was added to the collection as part of a selection of hearing aids which were owned by a lady who lives in the Black Country. It is important in showing the evolution of hearing aid technology. Collecting items like this helps to diversify the collections at the Black Country Living Museum by recording and valuing disability history.

- Claudia Davies, Curating for Change Fellow at Black Country Living Museum

Meet our Fellows and Trainees

The Curating for Change project is running eight Fellowships over 18 months and eight Traineeships over 40 days based across 20 partner museums. Learn more about our Fellows and Trainees here.

Find out more