Embracing Possibility Exhibit at Tubman Museum Celebrates Georgians with Disabilities

The "Embracing Possibility: Georgia's Disability Justice Journey" exhibit opened this May at the Tubman Museum in Macon, GA. The opening celebration celebrated the exhibit's goal to change how people think about people with disabilities and honor the work that people with disabilities have done throughout Georgia's history. The opening welcomed hundreds of people from across Georgia to the museum for an evening that combined music, powerful artwork, and meaningful connections in Georgia’s disability community.

The event, which was the official launch of this year-long exhibit, featured the Gifted Harmony Choir and performances by Dean Brown. Their talents created an atmosphere of joy and celebration that perfectly captured the spirit of the disability rights movement in Georgia.

Participants left the opening celebration with renewed energy and thoughts on disability. One attendee said that the exhibit "helped restore a bit of my faith and humanity.” Other attendees described feeling "joy and renewed" after experiencing the exhibit for the first time. Many visitors said that the displays made them think about "the endless possibilities that exist in the disability community."

The exhibit shows how disability justice has grown in Georgia while highlighting the ongoing work needed to create a truly inclusive society.

Gillian Grable from the Institute on Human Development and Disability at the University of Georgia is a member of the exhibit organizing committee. "Seeing the community come together to celebrate our shared history and picture our future together was exactly what we hoped for," said Grable. "This exhibit isn't just about the past. It's about people seeing themselves as part of a movement for inclusion. The excitement in the room tonight shows that Georgia is ready to support our disability community."

Attendees felt the opening celebration was a success, showing the need in Georgia's communities for real stories of disability experiences and history. The goal of the exhibit is to create a lasting impact that extends far beyond the walls of the Tubman Museum.

The "Embracing Possibility" exhibit will remain at the Tubman Museum through June 2026 giving visitors to the museum an opportunity to engage and learn more about Georgia’s history. The extended run ensures that school groups, families, and community organizations can see the exhibit within the year.

There is more planned programming to support the exhibit. That includes family days and book readings featuring authors who have contributed to disability literature and advocacy.

The event was made possible through the generous support of the following partners:

• The Arc Macon
• Center for Leadership in Disability
• Crimminz & Associates
• Derek’s Doodles
• Georgia Advocacy Office
• Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities
• Inclusion Press
• Institute on Human Development and Disability at the University of Georgia
• Otis W. Butler Youth Foundation
• Sangha Unity Network
• The Shefa Fund
• Southern Poverty Law Center of Georgia
• Tubman African American Museum
• Walton Options
• Wesley Glen Ministries
• Wesleyan College
• Dr. Beth Mount, Val Bradley, Bob Herrin, Sally Lockwood, Cynthis Moe and many other disability advocates throughout the state of Georgia

For more information about the exhibit, follow GCDD’s social media channels or visit https://tubmanmuseum.com/embracing-possibility/ or www.gcdd.org for upcoming Embracing Possibility events.