Can you tell us  little about yourselves?
We have both worked in the area of disability advocacy for over 40 years each. Joanne MacDonald, OC, ONL, LLD, is a three-time Paralympian, retired from the federal government and still keeps her finger in the disability movement. Mary Reid, ONL, has worked at the community, provincial and federal level in the area of disability policy. We are strong proponents of accessibility, equity and disability rights, and members of the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Can you share a description of the History of Disability Rights NL Inc?
The history of disability in Newfoundland and Labrador has long been an area of interest for us. Throughout our careers, we frequently identified documents we believed should be preserved for historical purposes. We became increasingly concerned by the lack of value placed on materials that documented our collective history. Proposals, annual reports, research papers, and other records addressing employment, housing, accessibility, home support, rehabilitation, and related issues were being discarded, leaving future generations without a record of the journey toward disability rights and inclusion.
In September 2018, we began researching what historical resources existed on disability in the province. We visited both The Rooms Provincial Archives and Memorial University’s Centre for Newfoundland and Labrador Studies, only to discover there was virtually no historical documentation of the existence, experiences, or contributions of people with disabilities in Newfoundland and Labrador. It is widely recognized that when history is not documented, important events and contributions can be forgotten, lost, or even rewritten. We were determined this would not happen. So began our journey to research and document disability history in Newfoundland and Labrador.
History of Disability Rights – NL Inc was established and incorporated in 2019. To guide its work, a Board of Directors was formed, and the organization was incorporated as a non-governmental organization (NGO) in July 2019. The organization’s purpose was to preserve and promote the history of people with disabilities in Newfoundland and Labrador, ensuring their experiences, achievements, and contributions are documented and accessible for future generations.
To accomplish this goal, we had three key initiatives in mind. First was the creation of a comprehensive timeline documenting significant developments in legislation, public policy, organizations, language, and other milestones — both positive and negative — that shaped the province’s disability rights movement. The second involved collecting important documents to support and enrich the timeline. The third was to capture oral histories. The stories of 13 disability activists whose leadership and contributions played a significant role in advancing the disability rights movement were professionally recorded as video interviews. The resulting timeline, oral histories, and documents were ultimately donated to Archives and Special Collections, Queen Elizabeth II Library at MUN to ensure their long-term preservation and accessibility.
We initially set ourselves a two-year timeline to complete this project and dissolve the organization. As with many ambitious undertakings the work proved far more extensive than we had anticipated.
The development of [the] 1810-2010 (Timeline) required significant research, documentation, source verification, meetings with organizations and individuals, cataloguing archival materials, and countless hours of reviewing historical records. Work on the Timeline began in the fall of 2018, with a final digitized product given to Archives and Special Collections on July 2, 2026.
The project did not require seven years of continuous work. Progress was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought lockdowns, public health restrictions, and interruptions to our work. Like any long-term volunteer initiative, the project was also shaped by the realities of everyday life, including family responsibilities, health issues, and other personal commitments.

The Timeline
The creation of the Timeline relied heavily on research using documents donated by community-based disability organizations, along with information from our provincial legislative library, public library of Newfoundland & Labrador, Human Rights Commission, and key witnesses.
Considerable time was devoted to reviewing each document and preparing concise summaries for inclusion in the Timeline. These documents were then donated to MUN’s Archives and Special Collections. Additional historical information was gathered through research in MUN’s Digital Archives and Special Collections. Finally, we were fortunate to discover Patricia O’Brien’s book, Out of Mind, Out of Sight: A History of the Waterford which proved to be an invaluable resource. It preserved important aspects of disability history that might otherwise have remained inaccessible, providing insights found only within its pages.
The Timeline spans a 200-year period, from 1810 to 2010, documenting the history of disability in Newfoundland and Labrador across a wide range of topics. These include the development of disability organizations, the evolution of language and terminology, education, accessibility, transportation, employment, institutional policies, and many other significant aspects of our shared history. This is an extensive document at 877 pages in length.
To help readers navigate this extensive record, highlights of key periods have been included, providing quick references to important events, milestones, and developments. We believe this Timeline will serve as a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, decision-makers, students, community organizations, and anyone interested in understanding the history of disability and the progress toward inclusion and accessibility in our province.

Important Documents
Our work within the disability community has spanned several decades, giving us firsthand knowledge of the wealth of historical documents that existed on shelves, in basements, and filing cabinets. We knew these records — valuable accounts of the disability rights movement and the work of community organizations — might never again see the light of day and, over time, could be lost to shredders or deposited to landfills.
To preserve this important history, we reached out to disability organizations inviting them to donate or loan documents that would contribute to the development of our Timeline.
We were thrilled with the response. Organizations entrusted us with a remarkable collection of historical records, and we were proud to donate seven bankers’ boxes of material to Archives and Special Collections. The collection contains approximately 600 individual documents, including position papers, annual reports, brochures, consultation reports, strategic plans, policy submissions, lived experience recordings, and so much more.
Together, these records document decades of advocacy, collaboration, and innovation by disability organizations, individuals with disabilities, governments, and the private sector. They provide an invaluable record of the collective efforts to build a more accessible, inclusive, and equitable province. However, we recognize this donation is just a mere accounting of what truly exists in other basements, hallways, government departments, provincial organizations yet to be uncovered.
As part of this work, we met with disability organizations to discuss the importance of retaining and documenting their history. We encouraged them to retain records that capture their achievements, and contributions as well as other materials that reflect their work in advancing disability rights, services, and advocacy.

Oral Histories
In 2020 funding was secured from Library and Archives Canada to record the oral histories of 13 disability rights activists whose work helped shape disability policy and advocacy at both the provincial and national levels. Each interview, averaging approximately 50 minutes in length, is available in perpetuity through Archives and Special Collections at Memorial University
The 13 activists spoke passionately about their experiences advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities during the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s. They reflected on the many challenges encountered, the celebrated successes, the frustrations they endured, and the setbacks faced along the way. While the work was often demanding and progress could be slow, they spoke of the satisfaction when policies were changed, legislation was enacted, accessible housing initiatives were introduced, and new employment opportunities were created. The activists had much in common, but nothing more noteworthy than their grit; their ability to keep going when the going got rough, their perseverance as they keep their focus on long term goals of equity and fairness.
Many described the mode of operando of seeking out and working alongside dedicated individuals and organizations who had a shared vision of equality and inclusion. Their stories highlight the importance of collaboration, perseverance, and collective advocacy in achieving meaningful social change. And indeed the 1970s and 1980s were a period of community activism, corporate interest and government support and of significant social change.
The oral history interviews were designed as conversations between each activist and the interviewer, encouraging participants to share their experiences in their own words. To support these discussions, a profile was prepared on each activist and provided to the interviewer in advance, along with a set of guiding questions. These questions were also provided to the activist in preparation for their interview.
Each profile included a brief overview of the activist’s journey, exploring topics such as what inspired them to become an advocate, the issues they worked on, their greatest successes and challenges, the individuals and organizations that supported their efforts, whether they found joy and fulfillment in their work, and how long they had been involved in disability advocacy.
To ensure the interviews were accessible, every video was professionally captioned, interpreted in American Sign Language (ASL), and fully transcribed. These accessibility features ensure the oral histories can be enjoyed and studied by a broad audience while preserving the voices and experiences of this province’s disability activists.
To celebrate the completion of the Oral History Project, the QEII Library at Memorial University hosted a public launch of the oral history video collection. The event was attended by members of the media, disability organizations, individuals from the disability community, and featured a performance by the NL Deaf Choir.

Additional Work
Beyond the initiatives described above, a collection of approximately 500 historical photographs was donated to MUN’s Archives and Special Collections. Dating back to the mid-1950s, the black-and-white photographs document the history, growth, and culture of both the Sunshine Camp and the Children’s Rehabilitation Centre. Originally established on the outskirts of St John’s as a summer camp for disadvantaged children, the Sunshine Camp Association expanded its mandate during the 1954 polio epidemic to provide rehabilitation services for children affected by poliomyelitis. In 1964, with financial support from the provincial government and private donors, the association relocated to a newly renovated facility in St John’s, which became known as the Children’s Rehabilitation Centre.
This collection provides a rare visual record of rehabilitation services during this important period in NL’s history. The photographs capture children participating in therapy, recreation, and educational activities, as well as staff, volunteers, special events, and the evolution of rehabilitation practices. Together, they offer valuable insight into the lived experiences of children with disabilities and those who supported their care.
To ensure the long-term preservation and accessibility of the collection, each photograph was digitized, catalogued, and, where possible, the individuals, locations, and events depicted were identified. The collection now serves as an important archival resource for researchers, students, historians, families, and others interested in the history of disability, rehabilitation, and healthcare in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Were there themes that really stood out for you?
Language was a theme that stood out for us. The change in language as to how people were described changed dramatically over the years. From archaic language in the 1800s to more respectful language used today. Early NL censuses used language such as imbeciles, deaf and dumb, lunatics and idiots.
Another theme was the correlation between people working together and progress being made. When community organizations, governments, and private industry worked in concert there was greater movement towards equity.

Was there an individual story that really struck you?
The story that stands out is about an interesting problem with a fabulous solution. Between 1964 and 1977 students from the School for the Deaf went home for the Christmas holidays however, travel to rural and remote communities, during the winter months, often required several days. This made their holidays at home much shorter. A parent organization came up with an exciting solution: helicopter service. The group collaborated with Sealand Helicopters, Fishery Products Ltd, and the Air, Search and Rescue Centre enabling students to be transported home in a matter of hours. Simply brilliant!

What is the most Important lesson for people to learn from this project?
Disability is a significant and rich part of this province’s history. If the history is not protected it gets lost. The rights attained can also get lost. Access and equity will erode if they are not recognized, secured and protected.