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Welcome to
Education is Special
This is our online exhibition for CASBA’s project about special education in Birmingham supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. We hope you enjoy discovering new stories about this important part of local history.
This first section is a general introduction. After that you can learn about the history of special education, how special education is different to mainstream schools, what life in schools is like and what issues special school pupils face outside and after school.
Why are we doing
an online exhibition?

Originally, we planned to have exhibitions in community spaces around Birmingham. We wanted people to be able to explore the stories and listen to our interviewees talking about their experiences. Unfortunately, because of coronavirus restrictions, we had to move everything online.
We believe it is important to include the stories of people with Learning Disabilities in Birmingham’s heritage. We want as many people as possible to learn about this area. We want to challenge any myths and show what the students at these schools can do.
Not everyone with a Learning Disability goes to a special school. We think special schools play an important role. They give a lot of support. They create a community for the people who go there. Please explore the exhibition to find out more.
4 short films about our project

These animated films tell the story of our project. You can either watch them all now or come back to them later.
They are narrated by Jennifer Brown, our Heritage Project Assistant, who has personal experience of special schools.
Click the button
to watch each video

Our Magazine

We had a limited number of these magazines printed because it is hard to see people and give them out at the moment. Some of the material in the exhibition is based on the magazine, but they are not exactly the same, so please take your time and enjoy reading it.