The Accessible Education Center will present the Disability History Exhibit, a collage that traces the history of disabilities within societies from 3,500 B.C. to today,  from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, May 7, at the Willamette Hall Atrium.

The collage combines images spanning thousands of years with text explaining societal views of disabilities in different time periods. The exhibit notes parallels between ancient practices and modern stereotypes, from biblical passages to the killing of thousands of disabled people during the Holocaust.

 The exhibit closes on a hopeful note, presenting self-advocates from around the world fighting for societal change and human rights.

The exhibit, created by Advocating for Change in Alaska, is currently touring through Oregon before heading to other parts of the United States.  Hilary Gerdes, director of the Accessible Education Center, said she “jumped at the chance to bring it here, given the powerful messages it provides and the attention to medical, social and moral perceptions of this important history.”