 | James M. Boles, EdD and Rhonda Frederick, MPA. | |
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| People Inc. Announces Retirement of James Boles, EdD as President/CEO; Appoints Current COO Rhonda Frederick as Successor Effective October 1 It was recently announced by the Board of Directors of People Inc., Western New York’s leading non-profit human services agency and the Museum of disABILITY History’s parent agency, that James M. Boles, EdD, will retire as president and chief executive officer effective October 1, 2014, and will be succeeded by Rhonda Frederick, currently chief operating officer for People Inc. Dr. Boles is the founder of the Museum of disABILITY History. He was honored for his work with the Hervey B. Wilbur Preservation Award from the American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Frederick first began working at People Inc. in 1980 as a direct care staff member and rose through the ranks to become the agency’s chief operating officer in 2002. Frederick was responsible for overseeing all residential and day services, service coordination, in-home supports, senior services and health-related services; and administrative oversight of the quality improvement, government relations, program development and legal functions. She is People Inc.’s lead liaison with regulatory and government funding agencies and serves as president of the Developmental Disabilities Alliance of Western New York. After the leadership change becomes effective October 1, Dr. Boles will continue to serve in an advisory capacity and assist in the transition until the end of 2014, before continuing in his education, advocacy and research role supporting the work of the Museum of disABILITY History and producing publications through People Ink Press.
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 | Mark J. F. Schroeder, Buffalo comptroller; Dave Mack Hardiman, People Inc.; and Mildred Kellner, a family member. | |
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| Monument for the Forgotten Now on Display
The Museum of disABILITY History hosted a grand opening of the Monument for the Forgotten exhibit on July 12, 2014. The exhibit highlights the Museum’s efforts to restore local unmarked and desolate institutional cemeteries and pays homage to more than 2,000 local individuals who died in the area institutions only to be left in unmarked graves and now-abandoned cemeteries. With the help of numerous volunteers and businesses supporters, the Museum of disABILITY History and People Inc., the Museum’s parent agency, have undertaken a massive restoration project to restore the grave sites and bring awareness and closure to the families of these lost individuals. In doing so, there are a number of local individuals who have learned of family members they did not previously know about. A feature of the exhibit includes an art piece by local artist Brian Nesline, owner of Faces of Buffalo. Event speakers included: Mark J. F. Schroeder, Buffalo comptroller; Brian Nesline, Faces of Buffalo LLC owner and creative director; and Mildred Kellner, a family member.
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Interactive Tour Room Under Construction at Museum of disABILITY History The Museum of disABILITY History is excited to share that construction is underway for a new educational exhibit that will provide visitors a unique learning experience. Existing space is being re-used to create a small theater and interactive exhibit to be called the Tour Room.
The Tour Room will be the first area visited by a variety of audiences. Short videos and vignettes, along with personal stories and testimonials related to disability history will be presented.
The Museum of disABILITY is grateful to The Western New York Foundation who committed to the first major donation to create the Tour Room with a grant of $19,118. The People Inc. Foundation is also a significant contributor awarding $15,200 to the Museum for this exciting expansion.
Please pardon our dust as we sort out the details of this great new project. Completion is expected by the end of the year. The Museum will be open during its normal business hours, Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Museum of disABILITY History Tour Room Mock Up by Hadley Exhibits Inc.
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UB Anthropology Department to Present at Dialogues on disABILITY Speaker Series
Anthropologist Rosanne Higgins, PhD and University at Buffalo Anthropology Department staff will explain their work at the old Erie County Almshouse Cemetery, located throughout the UB South Campus between Bailey and Main Streets in Buffalo. This close neighbor to the Museum of disABILITY History is also the site of thousands of nameless burials. Dr. Higgins and her colleagues will explain their pressing work involving reinterring hundreds of bodies already discovered. When: Friday, August 22, 7 p.m. Where: Museum of disABILITY History, 3826 Main Street, Buffalo Cost: Adults – $5, Students, Seniors, and Human Service Employees – $2.50, Members of the Museum of disABILITY History – free Information/RSVP: Call 716.629.3626.
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“Like” us on Facebook....and Write a Positive Review What do you love most about the Museum of disABILITY History? Do you have a favorite exhibit or event? Why not write a review on the Museum of disABILITY History Facebook page and let others know more about it? Your positive comments will help promote our exhibits, events and educational activities and spread disABILITY awareness! The “review option” is currently located at the top of the Museum of disABILITY History Facebook page, underneath the cover photo.
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