Bucks New University (Bucks) is helping more people discover the history of the UK’s Disability Rights Movement by hosting the Learning Wing of the National Disability Movement Archive and Collection (NDMAC).
Led by Shape Arts with £840,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, NDMAC brings together decades of photographs, films, oral histories, documents and other materials that tell the story of disabled people’s experiences and activism in the UK.
Launched at Bucks in June 2026, the collection builds on the legacy of the National Disability Arts Collection and Archive (NDACA), which was first opened to the public in 2018. Created with accessibility and lived experience at its heart, around 80% of NDMAC's core production team have a disability, helping to ensure disabled people's experiences and perspectives remain central to the archive.
Charlotte Stewart, Head of Disability & Inclusion at Bucks said: “As a university committed to inclusion, the NDACA and NDMAC Learning Wing is an important reminder that disability is not only a matter of access and support, but also of culture, identity, creativity and social change. Preserving and sharing disability history matters because too many disabled people's stories have been overlooked or lost. Through the archive, students, researchers, artists and community groups can connect with the rich legacy of the disability arts and rights movements, drawing inspiration from those who challenged barriers and transformed society. The Learning Wing ensures that these voices continue to educate, influence and empower future generations."
The Learning Wing at Bucks gives students, researchers, staff and the wider community a place to explore this history. Visitors can discover key moments in the Disability Rights Movement alongside the personal stories of people involved in demonstrations, campaigns and community organising.
NDMAC includes materials in accessible formats including Easy Read, large text, subtitles and audio description. Making these resources available online, alongside the Learning Wing, helps more people access and engage with the history of disability activism.
David Hevey, Shape CEO and NDMAC Project Director said: "We are delighted to work again with Bucks to create this landmark disability movement archive, collection and learning wing at Bucks. With zines, print journals, gaming manuals, video games in the Wing and more produced by NDMAC, all people can visit the wing, see the publications and learn more about this unique movement for rights."
For Shape Arts and Bucks New University, NDMAC is about more than preserving the past. It is about keeping the history of disability activism accessible and relevant for future generations.