Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book provides evidence to suggest there are physiological aspects of touch directly linked to emotional feelings which guide and motivate behaviour and reinforce memories. It describes the development and impact of a 1940s/1950s nostalgia room at Newham University Hospital. The book highlights the size of the challenge remaining in order for the cultural rights of disabled and visually impaired people to be recognized. Weisen sets out a critique of European social and cultural policies that seek to encourage museums to provide object handling for visually and mobility impaired visitors. The combination of theoretical analysis, policy assessment and detailed case material presented provides a powerful message of the importance of object handling and the potential for museums to play a vital role in knowledge transfer, social care and health care.