Visual and Oral Stories of Disability

The Disability Mural is the first community artwork by people who have experienced or been touched by disability.

The vision behind the Mural is to recognize that individual everyday experiences and historic political struggles contribute to large-scale social change. Contributing artists are of all ages, backgrounds, abilities, and disabilities. While most monuments recognize “big history,” such as prominent leaders or events, the Disability Mural celebrates ordinary individuals for their ongoing contributions of self-determination, independence, agency, and joy.

The Mural was designed to be created by the entire community, express the artist’s experience, and be completely accessible. Artists collaged or painted on 12-inch square tiles so that people could work from any height or visual field. Each tile piece captures a person’s story in visual form. In addition to the tiles, some of the narratives have been recorded as oral histories.

Over 1,000 tiles were created individually or in many community-based organizations, such as Creativity Explored (a center for adults with developmental disabilities), and the Oakland Public Library (open to the public). The Mural was exhibited at over 30 venues before the Ed Roberts Campus was completed, including the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts in San Francisco, Oakland City Hall, and the Richmond Arts Center.

In collaboration with Magnolia Editions, 30 tiles were interpreted in ceramics as part of an exterior display along with an extensive interior collection of original tiles at the Disability Mural’s permanent home at the Ed Roberts Campus.

Osha Neuman and Jen Sermoneta were pivotal in the early stages of the project while Frances Valesco has been instrumental in expanding and guiding the Disability Mural for over 20 years.

Watch a short video about The Disability Mural (Opens a new window)