Tuesday 30 May 2017

Much Ado About Spray-paint


I recently read an article where disability advocates were lobbying to get the symbol for accessibility changed from the one pictured above, to this:


A part of me understands why this new symbol would appeal to advocates and activists. It portrays the individual represented by the image as being active and doing something independently.

However, I have two major issues with it. First off, the current image in use (seen at the top of the post) is a universal symbol, similar to a red cross on white representing hospitals and healthcare, or the various male and female symbols that signify public washrooms. Anyone from Toronto to Tokyo can see symbols like these and, within reason, know what they are.

Additionally, the newer symbol looks a lot like someone in a race chair, an athlete. Compare this to the current one, which could represent any number of individuals, from those in electric wheelchairs, to people in manual ones, to simply someone who's broken their leg and needs a wheelchair for temporary assistance. Suddenly, the new image doesn't seem very inclusive. And isn't that what most advocates and activists are striving for?

I get that people with disabilities want society to see them as more independent and capable, but I also believe that people who are so up in arms over this symbol need to realize it's ultimately just a spray-painted image, one that everyone recognizes worldwide, and start concentrating their efforts towards bigger, more important issues.

Cheers!



 
 


 

1 comment:

  1. Such a great piece, you are very thoughtful when you write.

    ReplyDelete