People Inc.'s Museum of disABILITY History will host a presentation and lecture by Jan Nichols, author and polio pioneer on Thursday, October 6, at 5 p.m. at the Museum of disABILITY History, 3826 Main Street in Buffalo.

Janice Nichols is a polio survivor. In 1954, she was one of nearly two million children in the United States, Canada, and Finland who participated in the Salk vaccine trial, which is the largest vaccine trial in the history of the world. Nichols made a complete recovery. Her book, "Twin Voices: A Memoir of Polio, the Forgotten Killer," was published in 2007. The book wraps her family's personal story around the greater story of polio, the disease.

Polio, short for poliomyelitis, is a disease that can damage the nervous system and cause paralysis, and sometimes death. Since polio immunization has become widespread in the United States, cases of polio are rare. However, polio remains a problem in many parts of the world.

A childhood victim of the 1953 Dewitt, New York, polio epidemic, Nichols personal and professional life have been profoundly shaped by her experience. Nichols lost her twin brother, Frankie, to the disease and suffered temporary paralysis, leading her to choose a career as a rehabilitation counselor. Despite setbacks, Nichols has never lost her optimism.

Nichols earned a BA in psychology from Seton Hill University and a MEd in rehabilitation counseling from the University of Pittsburgh. She worked in the social service department at Community General Hospital in Syracuse, New York, and was an instructor in the social work graduate department at Syracuse University.

For more information about the presentation, call 716.629.3613.

The Museum of disABILITY History is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and display of artifacts relating to the history of people with disabilities. The mission is to tell the story of the lives, triumphs, and struggles of people with disabilities as well as society's reactions. Located in the Amherst/Buffalo border and at www.museumofdisability.org, the Museum offers educational exhibits and activities that expand community awareness.

People Inc. is a not-for-profit health and human services agency providing programs and services to more than 10,000 people with special needs, their families, and seniors throughout Western New York. Since 1971, People Inc. has assisted individuals to achieve greater degrees of independence and productivity.