Dr. Ben Mitchell
@drlibraryben.bsky.social
(he/they) Scholar. Geek. Nova Scotian. 🌍 Libraries (#GLAM), medical humanities, history/public history, neurodiversity and disability studies. 🌍 Geekier at: @willow0wisp.bsky.social
Pinned
Dr. Ben Mitchell
libraryben.trubox.ca
Lots of new follows and following after being on those lists. Folks who are interested can see some of my work and video recording of recent talks I've given on my website: libraryben.trubox.ca
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
Really proud to have been involved in this piece of work exploring what co-production in research means to different communities and how we can do it better.
🤓Our new video explores the results of a zine-making workshop where community organisations reflected on their experiences of co-production in #research.
😊Participants included @commonambitionbs.bsky.social, Nilaari and the Barton Hill coffee mornings organiser
#CoPro #CoProduction
bit.ly/3COarTR
😊Participants included @commonambitionbs.bsky.social, Nilaari and the Barton Hill coffee mornings organiser
#CoPro #CoProduction
bit.ly/3COarTR
Video explores impact of co-production in research through zine-making workshop - ARC West
A new video produced with ARC West’s support explores the results of a zine-making workshop where community organisations reflected on their experiences of co-production in research. Co-production in ...
bit.ly
February 11, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Really proud to have been involved in this piece of work exploring what co-production in research means to different communities and how we can do it better.
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
A collection of environmental films made by Indigenous filmmakers that I've screened in Ecocinema over the years (shared today for obvious reasons):
1. It Starts with a Whisper (Shelley & Gronau Niro, 1993) vucavu.com/en/cfmdc/199...
1. It Starts with a Whisper (Shelley & Gronau Niro, 1993) vucavu.com/en/cfmdc/199...
It Starts With a Whisper
A celebration of the strength, wisdom, beauty and humour of Native women; of Native culture and people, surviving and thriving.
vucavu.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:53 PM
A collection of environmental films made by Indigenous filmmakers that I've screened in Ecocinema over the years (shared today for obvious reasons):
1. It Starts with a Whisper (Shelley & Gronau Niro, 1993) vucavu.com/en/cfmdc/199...
1. It Starts with a Whisper (Shelley & Gronau Niro, 1993) vucavu.com/en/cfmdc/199...
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
Really proud to share this editorial co-authored by me, @suereviews.bsky.social and @heasutherland.com
We discuss some of the complexities of doing research in service settings which support autistic people who have complex support needs.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
We discuss some of the complexities of doing research in service settings which support autistic people who have complex support needs.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Doing research in services for autistic people with complex support needs: Challenges and considerations based on UK experiences - Sarah Donald, Holly Elizabeth Anne Sutherland, Sue Fletcher-Watson, 2...
journals.sagepub.com
November 27, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Really proud to share this editorial co-authored by me, @suereviews.bsky.social and @heasutherland.com
We discuss some of the complexities of doing research in service settings which support autistic people who have complex support needs.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
We discuss some of the complexities of doing research in service settings which support autistic people who have complex support needs.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
"The fire in which Barbara Mackenzie died, according to Raible, "cannot have been major [....]." Yet this fire most certainly was major -- to Barbara Mackenzie who suffered such a horrible fate, and to those people in her personal life who loved her" #TorontoHistory
www.tumblr.com/libraryben/8...
www.tumblr.com/libraryben/8...
Post by @libraryben
💬 0 🔁 0 ❤️ 0 · Barbara Mackenzie ·
"In a 1994 article, Chris Raible identifies an insane asylum inmate with the actual full name of Barbara Mackenzie. She was a patient in the Provincial Lunati…
www.tumblr.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:43 PM
"The fire in which Barbara Mackenzie died, according to Raible, "cannot have been major [....]." Yet this fire most certainly was major -- to Barbara Mackenzie who suffered such a horrible fate, and to those people in her personal life who loved her" #TorontoHistory
www.tumblr.com/libraryben/8...
www.tumblr.com/libraryben/8...
Slowly, tediously, editing out all my ummms, ahhhs, ya'knows, in a video presentation for OLA 2026 after months of not doing any video or sound editing and thinking of @brennacgray.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Slowly, tediously, editing out all my ummms, ahhhs, ya'knows, in a video presentation for OLA 2026 after months of not doing any video or sound editing and thinking of @brennacgray.bsky.social
Just read a 1889 Ontario Asylum report that described patients working in a "piggery," which is not a term I've heard before for a pigsty.
New Shakespearean-inspired insult unlocked: "Get the to a piggery!"
New Shakespearean-inspired insult unlocked: "Get the to a piggery!"
November 25, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Just read a 1889 Ontario Asylum report that described patients working in a "piggery," which is not a term I've heard before for a pigsty.
New Shakespearean-inspired insult unlocked: "Get the to a piggery!"
New Shakespearean-inspired insult unlocked: "Get the to a piggery!"
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
Calling all contingent historians and their editors--if you haven't submitted for this year's lists, why not? Seriously, these are our most highly read pieces of the year. They are a great way to get your scholarship in front of people and SELL YOUR BOOKS.
Thank you to @erinbartram.bsky.social for the idea as a public scholarly companion to Contingent's end of year list of publications from non-tenure track historians.
Submissions for @contingent-mag.bsky.social are due by November 29th if you haven't submitted yet!
Submissions for @contingent-mag.bsky.social are due by November 29th if you haven't submitted yet!
Publications by Non-Tenure-Track Historians
Since we began publishing in 2019, Contingent has published end-of-year lists of books and articles by non-tenure-track historians released in the past calendar year. To submit something for inclusion...
contingentmagazine.org
November 21, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Calling all contingent historians and their editors--if you haven't submitted for this year's lists, why not? Seriously, these are our most highly read pieces of the year. They are a great way to get your scholarship in front of people and SELL YOUR BOOKS.
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
Join us on Monday for this online symposium 'Towards Tourettic Studies' 👇
📅 Join us on Monday 24 November for an online interdisciplinary symposium on Tourette Syndrome, imagining a future of Tourettic Studies that is looking beyond the syndrome, featuring Bridging Fellow @danielpjones.bsky.social.
Find out more & register here 👇
medhumsplatform.org/event/toward...
Find out more & register here 👇
medhumsplatform.org/event/toward...
November 19, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Join us on Monday for this online symposium 'Towards Tourettic Studies' 👇
The Ontario College and University Library Association (OCULA)'s 2025 Accessibility Symposium www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
OCUL Accessibility Symposium 2.0 - YouTube
Hosted by the OCUL Accessibility Community, this three-day online event features presentations and panels on topics shaping accessibility in the post-seconda...
www.youtube.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:35 PM
The Ontario College and University Library Association (OCULA)'s 2025 Accessibility Symposium www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
How can European history be integrated into global history? This is the question at the heart of „Globalizing Europe“ edited by @davidmotadel.bsky.social. Here is my review.
Rez: D. Motadel (Hrsg.): Globalizing Europe
https://www.hsozkult.de/publicationreview/id/reb-152277
D. Motadel (Hrsg.): Globalizing Europe
https://www.hsozkult.de/publicationreview/id/reb-152277
D. Motadel (Hrsg.): Globalizing Europe
www.hsozkult.de
November 19, 2025 at 7:14 AM
How can European history be integrated into global history? This is the question at the heart of „Globalizing Europe“ edited by @davidmotadel.bsky.social. Here is my review.
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
Alice Wong was a visionary leader who left an indelible mark on the disability justice movement. Her legacy lives on in her work to ensure that people with disabilities are represented, as seen in the Disability Visibility Project. Alice's powerful words & relentless advocacy will be greatly missed.
Disability Visibility Project
"Creating, sharing, and amplifying disability media and culture"
disabilityvisibilityproject.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Alice Wong was a visionary leader who left an indelible mark on the disability justice movement. Her legacy lives on in her work to ensure that people with disabilities are represented, as seen in the Disability Visibility Project. Alice's powerful words & relentless advocacy will be greatly missed.
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
👀
From hospital records to family papers, collections give unique insights into health across time and place.
But they don’t just have historical value. Collections have incredible potential for discovery research – and we need to unlock it.
Learn more in our report: wellcome.org/insights/rep...
But they don’t just have historical value. Collections have incredible potential for discovery research – and we need to unlock it.
Learn more in our report: wellcome.org/insights/rep...
Archives, manuscripts and material culture in health and wellbeing research | Reports | Wellcome
Archives, manuscripts and material culture collections hold profound potential for advancing knowledge about life, health and wellbeing. This report examines how these collections are currently used i...
wellcome.org
November 18, 2025 at 4:52 PM
👀
If you insist on having candidates attend a full day interview process, consider putting the more performance heavy parts earlier in the day rather than at the very end. They're enough of an accessibility gauntlet already.
November 18, 2025 at 7:15 PM
If you insist on having candidates attend a full day interview process, consider putting the more performance heavy parts earlier in the day rather than at the very end. They're enough of an accessibility gauntlet already.
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
It is genuinely incredible to me how much evidence there is to support investing in the public good and how much animus there is to do this simple, effective thing.
November 18, 2025 at 3:00 AM
It is genuinely incredible to me how much evidence there is to support investing in the public good and how much animus there is to do this simple, effective thing.
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
As a child, I killed several Teddies Ruxpin because I absolutely could not be convinced that I didn’t have to put coins in it to make it work, which probably says a lot about my lifelong understanding of earning and deserving joy.
The sound he makes while digesting a dime is nausea-inducing.
The sound he makes while digesting a dime is nausea-inducing.
Like it or not this technology is here to stay and if you don’t use it you’ll fall behind in your industry
November 17, 2025 at 12:33 AM
As a child, I killed several Teddies Ruxpin because I absolutely could not be convinced that I didn’t have to put coins in it to make it work, which probably says a lot about my lifelong understanding of earning and deserving joy.
The sound he makes while digesting a dime is nausea-inducing.
The sound he makes while digesting a dime is nausea-inducing.
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
Speechless at Inuk artist Billy Gauthier’s newish sculpture, Silatsualimâk, Anânavut (The Earth, Our Mother), at The Rooms. Carved from a fin whale skull, the installation next to view of St John’s harbour is spectacular even on a gloomy evening.
November 16, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Speechless at Inuk artist Billy Gauthier’s newish sculpture, Silatsualimâk, Anânavut (The Earth, Our Mother), at The Rooms. Carved from a fin whale skull, the installation next to view of St John’s harbour is spectacular even on a gloomy evening.
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
Here is an obituary for Alice Wong from The Sick Times, a publication aligned with disability rights and disability activism, if you are looking for an alternative to reading the nyt one: thesicktimes.org/2025/11/15/a...
Alice Wong, disability activist and luminary, dies at 51 - The Sick Times
Alice Wong platformed and uplifted people with Long COVID in her final chapter as a lifelong disability advocate and storyteller.
thesicktimes.org
November 16, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Here is an obituary for Alice Wong from The Sick Times, a publication aligned with disability rights and disability activism, if you are looking for an alternative to reading the nyt one: thesicktimes.org/2025/11/15/a...
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
For those learning about the devastating loss of Alice Wong or those newly discovering this fierce disability activist, you can get to know her through her own words here, (via @emilybeitiks.bsky.social) disabilityvisibilityproject.com/author/alwon...
Alice Wong
Read all of the posts by Alice Wong on Disability Visibility Project
disabilityvisibilityproject.com
November 16, 2025 at 3:12 AM
For those learning about the devastating loss of Alice Wong or those newly discovering this fierce disability activist, you can get to know her through her own words here, (via @emilybeitiks.bsky.social) disabilityvisibilityproject.com/author/alwon...
Sometimes I think that medical phone "please hold" music/sounds, static, and tinniness, are specifically designed to make people with sensory issues just hang up.
November 15, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Sometimes I think that medical phone "please hold" music/sounds, static, and tinniness, are specifically designed to make people with sensory issues just hang up.
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
in the q&a, tonight’s speaker nails my fave thing abt being able to learn at #HSS2025 — it is deliciously interdisciplinary. i’m no historian by trade, but i have been tracking a unique history (HCQ’s spectacularization) that relies on science to be understood, n thus i look forward to reading this!
So what can historians of science do?
Valencius answers by citing an exciting, forthcoming resource for #histSTM & #STS practitioners--A Historian's Handbook to Saving the World, edited by @alixhui.bsky.social & @emilypawley.bsky.social.
More info: docs.google.com/document/d/1... #HSS2025 #histSTM
Valencius answers by citing an exciting, forthcoming resource for #histSTM & #STS practitioners--A Historian's Handbook to Saving the World, edited by @alixhui.bsky.social & @emilypawley.bsky.social.
More info: docs.google.com/document/d/1... #HSS2025 #histSTM
Historians' Handbook for Saving the World TOC
A Historian’s Handbook for Saving the World: Responding to the Global Climate Emergency Co-organized by Alexandra Hui and Emily Pawley Table of Contents Acknowledgements and List of Contributors ...
docs.google.com
November 15, 2025 at 1:06 AM
in the q&a, tonight’s speaker nails my fave thing abt being able to learn at #HSS2025 — it is deliciously interdisciplinary. i’m no historian by trade, but i have been tracking a unique history (HCQ’s spectacularization) that relies on science to be understood, n thus i look forward to reading this!
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
The wonderful people at @uncpress.bsky.social sent me an advance copy of my book and I think I’ll have a little cry now. You can order it from here and it will arrive soon (use code 01UNCP30) for a discount uncpress.org/978146968920...
November 13, 2025 at 11:33 PM
The wonderful people at @uncpress.bsky.social sent me an advance copy of my book and I think I’ll have a little cry now. You can order it from here and it will arrive soon (use code 01UNCP30) for a discount uncpress.org/978146968920...
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
Journalists rarely treat my autistic son with respect—instead foisting negative stereotypes on him; never seeing him as the human he is. But @stevesilberman.bsky.social always treated Leo as a fellow traveler. He had my complete trust. And I miss him so much.
thinkingautismguide.com/2024/12/reme...
thinkingautismguide.com/2024/12/reme...
Remembering Steve Silberman
NeuroTribes author Steve Silberman centered autistic voices, and was just a mensch. Anne Borden King and Shannon Rosa discuss his legacy.
thinkingautismguide.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Journalists rarely treat my autistic son with respect—instead foisting negative stereotypes on him; never seeing him as the human he is. But @stevesilberman.bsky.social always treated Leo as a fellow traveler. He had my complete trust. And I miss him so much.
thinkingautismguide.com/2024/12/reme...
thinkingautismguide.com/2024/12/reme...
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
combining the humanities, social sciences, and climate science into our new School of AAAARRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH
November 14, 2025 at 7:43 PM
combining the humanities, social sciences, and climate science into our new School of AAAARRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
‘Liverpool went from having a single slave ship in 1709 to more than a hundred six decades later. By 1795 it controlled almost half of the European slave trade.’
John Kerrigan on Liverpool, the Atlantic slave trade and m. nourbeSe philip’s long poem 𝘡𝘰𝘯𝘨!
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
John Kerrigan on Liverpool, the Atlantic slave trade and m. nourbeSe philip’s long poem 𝘡𝘰𝘯𝘨!
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
John Kerrigan · No Illusions: Syntax of Slavery
Slavery was accepted across most of the early modern world. No one wanted to be a slave, except when the alternative was...
www.lrb.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 7:10 PM
‘Liverpool went from having a single slave ship in 1709 to more than a hundred six decades later. By 1795 it controlled almost half of the European slave trade.’
John Kerrigan on Liverpool, the Atlantic slave trade and m. nourbeSe philip’s long poem 𝘡𝘰𝘯𝘨!
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
John Kerrigan on Liverpool, the Atlantic slave trade and m. nourbeSe philip’s long poem 𝘡𝘰𝘯𝘨!
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...