Individuals and families explore parts of life with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), a hidden disability. The activity offers experiential opportunity for exploration and reflection. By crafting their own Diabetes Care Kit, participants are afforded time to learn about what a person with T1D uses on a daily basis. This allows exploration of the materials, the science behind blood sugar, dosing of medication, and insulin. The activity enables a review of process and procedure in daily practices. It also affords participants with opportunity to consider compassion for others in myriad ways.

Disability is experienced by 26% of the US population, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2023).

Exploring what a day in the life with T1D looks like offers space for understanding, reflection, and development of compassion. Participants may benefit from the experiential activity by developing additional insights into the lives of people and families living with hidden and visible disabilities.

Participants will:

•    Experience a day in the life of a person living with Type I Diabetes

•    Gain insights about the time commitment involved in managing life with Type I Diabetes

•    Reflect on their experience while considering values and ideas around hidden disability.

This is a drop-in program that will run approximately 30 minutes and will run between 1PM and 3PM. The program is free with Museum Admission, which can be purchased online at imss.org or at the front door.

This public program was developed as part of the visual arts exhibition Strips & Needles—a day in the life, by artist, Michael L. Zirulnik. The exhibit and artworks explore a year of one man’s life with Type I Diabetes (T1D). The works seek to prompt contemplation, conversation, and collaboration among publics by exploring humanity and hidden disability.