Disabled Children’s Rights: Pilot Participatory Cataloguing Workshops for the Scope Archive

This project, led by Dr Vicky Long (Newcastle University) aims to develop new research into the history of disabled children’s rights. Your participation can help Long and her collaborators identify what insights can be gained into this history by examining materials from the archives of the charity, Scope. You can also help Long and her collaborators at Wellcome Collection identify how cataloguing Scope’s archive can make the collection more accessible for disabled people who want to use it.

These pilot participatory cataloguing workshops are part of a wider research project led by Long on Disabled Children’s Rights in Post-War Britain. Long’s project is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, and is a collaboration with Wellcome Collection, Scope, Down’s Syndrome Association, and Shine (Spina Bifida. Hydrocephalus. Information. Networking. Exchange).

Who they are looking for:

• Adults (18+) who are interested in the recent history of disabled people’s experiences and campaigns for disabled people’s rights
• Participants should be willing to examine different records from the Scope archive at an in-person workshop
• No prior knowledge of archives or Scope is required

Expected commitment from participants:

• Long and her collaborators are asking participants to take part in three workshops:
  • One online workshop, to be held on 3^rd June 2026, 13:30 – 16:00 (1.30-4pm)
  • One in-person workshop to be held on 12^th June 2026, 10:30 – 15:15 (10.30am-3.15pm) at Wellcome Collection in London (near to Euston Station)
  • One final online workshop on 22^nd June 2026, 13:30 – 16:00 (1.30-4pm)

Closing date to apply: This is a rolling deadline; the opportunity remains open until sufficient participants have been recruited. If you want to participate and would like travel and accommodation booked for the in-person workshop, you are encouraged to get in touch with Long as early as possible to enable arrangements to be made.

Long and her collaborators at Wellcome Collection are committed to making these events accessible. They will send a pre-event access checklist to participants and encourage participants to reach out with any questions. They commit to:

• Send you clear event information and outline the questions we will discuss during the sessions a week in advance of each one.
• Build in regular breaks to all workshop sessions.
• Build in processing time to all workshop sessions.
• Offer verbal and non-speaking ways of engaging.
• Online meetings will be hosted on Microsoft Teams, and real-time transcription will be provided.
• At the in-person workshop, provide a decompression space away from the archival material.
• Provide visualisers and magnification tools for viewing physical archival material.
• Provide a lunch for the in-person workshop which can cater to dietary requirements. You are also welcome to bring your own safe food.
• Cover UK transport to the in-person workshop for participants and personal assistants, and nearby accommodation if needed. This will be arranged by Long through Newcastle University’s travel provider.

The materials in Scope’s archive reflect the attitudes of the time they were produced in. The organisation was founded in 1952 as the Spastics Society, retaining this name until 1994. Ableist and other offensive language is present throughout the collection and can be challenging to encounter. Challenging content will be highlighted before you look at material, and you will be given the option to choose not to look at materials you feel may be particularly difficult to encounter. A trained facilitator will be on hand throughout all workshops to support you. Breaks will be built into all workshops, and you will be encouraged to take additional breaks if you feel this would be helpful.