Sunday, March 11, 2012

Polio at the Smithsonion

Thanks to a link from Clark I discovered that the Smithsonian National Museum of American History has a fantastic online exhibition about Polio.

I think they've done a great job with a nice combination of text, pictures and audiovisual material. In addition to the direct impact of the disease itself it is interesting to read how the large number of disabilities caused by it led to fundamental changes in the way that the disabled were treated in this country.

Before Mom found an opportunity to go down to the grade school office to register me, three members of the school board came to visit us …. ‘It has been brought to my attention that you folks have a son in a wheelchair. It is our duty to inform you he will be unable to attend school….’”
—Don Kirkendall, 1973

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

This site, the images and the diagram of how one contracts polio were all very helpful. I suggest everyone checks it out, very informative.

Marisa DeBiase said...

The images, diagrams and pictures were very helpful. I suggest you check it out if you need extra study help.