Display of magazines, platter, stuffed seeing eye dog, doll with cane and other disability related ephemera. Courtesy/NMSL
NMSL News:
SANTA FE — New Mexico State Library (NMSL) invites the public to explore a unique exhibit honoring the history of disability awareness, open through Nov. 15, 2024.
The exhibit, organized in conjunction with National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) in October, features historical items that highlight the ongoing importance of employment inclusion and the contributions of individuals with disabilities in New Mexico and beyond.
State Librarian Eli Guinnee expressed enthusiasm for the initiative: “We are thrilled to partner with the Governor’s Commission on Disability to raise awareness of the significant contributions made by New Mexicans with disabilities and to introduce more people to our free Library for the Blind and Print Disabled.”
The exhibit features a diverse collection of artifacts, including pins, posters, postcards, postage stamps, DVDs, books, and magazines. Among the highlights is a colorful decorative platter from 1980 commemorating “A Century of Deaf Awareness,” adorned with sign language symbols. Visitors will also see a doll of a blind girl, complete with a white cane, posed alongside a plush seeing-eye dog.
The display aims to highlight the important work the state is doing to improve the quality of life of all New Mexicans with disabilities. The Governor’s Commission on Disability leads efforts to promote community living, employment access, assistive technology, accessible education, and a broad range of housing and transportation services.
Additionally, the New Mexico Library for the Blind and Print Disabled, administered by NMSL, provides extensive resources, including access to more than 100,000 digital audio books and magazines through the Braille and Audio Reading Download service and mobile apps. Braille books are also available by mail, reaching nearly 3,000 New Mexicans who are blind or visually impaired or have physical or reading disabilities.
The exhibit is free and open to the public 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday at the New Mexico State Library, 1209 Camino Carlos Rey in Santa Fe, via the public entrance on the top floor.