MODI – The Museum of Diversity and Inclusion

Abstract

For the last 29 years, our mission has been to facilitate social inclusion of disabled, disadvantaged, and elderly people on a global basis. All Dialogue exhibitions and products are based on experiential learning and encounter, leading to a transformative learning experience. In short, nothing is more powerful than experiencing something yourself, rather than hearing about it. No matter what the discrimination is based on, marginalized groups exist in all countries, regions, and cultures. It would be challenging to put the impact of marginalization in numbers, but the costs -- let them be social, political, or economic --are likely to be impressive. Besides the consequences for the affected individuals themselves, it does result in productivity losses to an entire economy, as the situation of people with a disability (PWD) is often characterized by poverty and social exclusion. They face discrimination and isolation, lack access to education, employment, housing, transportation, digital technology, health care, financial services, and full participation in the political process, to name only a selection of issues. Elderly citizens, on the other hand, are often degraded to stereotypes of either being a burden to society, causing increasing social costs, or as “silver surfers,” enjoying their lives while the younger generation is struggling to find proper jobs or housing. Given that the demographic change will affect all European societies on a large scale over the next 30 years, with people getting older and staying healthier every year (every second girl born in Germany today has the chance to reach 100 years of age), the image of aging has to be disrupted and improved in order to allow societies to look for new ways to adapt to this growing number of elderly citizens and embrace their capabilities rather than their challenges.