THE DISABILITY EXPERIENCE CONFERENCE

From Art to Advocacy: The Accessible Icon ProjectLeah Serao, ‘14 Gordon

CollegeElementary Education, Linguistics,

and Special Education

BACKGROUND

• The Accessible Icon Project is an international movement that has changed the International Symbol of Access (ISA) into an image that is active and engaged

• It is part of a general attempt to bring about a public re-conception of what it means to have a disability

• Focusing on changing cultural perceptions and attitudes

CREATORS OF THE ACCESSIBLE ICON PROJECT

Sarah Hendren- graduate student from Harvard Graduate School of Design

Dr. Brain Glenney- associate philosophy professor at Gordon College

THE FIRST EDITION

•In 2009, Sara Hendren and Brian Glenney started a street art campaign in Boston to highlight the shortcomings of the current International Symbol of Access•Design focused on showing movement

ART CAMPAIGN TO ADVOCACY PROJECT

•Noticed by Biller Baker from the Boston Globes•Response to article changed direction of the project

REDESIGNING THE SYMBOL

•Abide by ISO DOT 50 Standards •Comply with ADA Regulations• Fit for parking signs and stencils

THE EVOLUTION OF THE SYMBOL

•ISO DOT 50 standards: a universally accepted icon set that determines the look of the figures you commonly see on bathroom signage

WHERE THE PROJECT IS NOW• Grown from a grass roots campaign to become a larger social design effort, now housed and run by Triangle

• The symbol is being used when old signs need to be replaced or fixed and when institutions want to switch their parking signs for public support

2 IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIPSTriangle Corporate partners like Clarks USA and Building Restoration Corp.

The mayor of Malden, MAGordon College Change signs around campus Funding for new website

PARTNERSUnited StatesMassachusetts, New Hampshire, Texas, New York, Iowa, Ohio, Missouri, Connecticut, Virginia, Arizona, North Carolina, Washington InternationalIndia, France, Brazil, Italy, Canada, Korea, Alaska, Mexico Types of PartnershipsBusinesses, Cities, Hospitals, Parks and Recreation Centers, Universities, Schools, Restaurants, Websites, Cruise Industry, Sport Teams

***Currently, the project is fortunate to have a number of partners who not only use the Icon in their buildings, but are also creating a stronger relationship with people with disabilities

GOALS• Symbol Shift

•Spark Conversation• Advocacy Activation

•Illustrate the active and engaged role people with disabilities play in society

• Community Change• Prompt people to include individuals with disabilities in the workplace, schools, and in society

***Changing the symbol is part of changing the universally accepted mindset about people with disabilities

WE ARE SEEING THIS HAPPEN• Now people all over the world use the symbol to signal their wishes for more inclusive institutions, economies, and workplaces everywhere

• Self Advocates such as Brendon Hildreth uses the symbol to talk to city council members

IN CONCLUSION

• Visual Representation Matters

• People Matter• The Accessible Icon Matters!

Contact: Leah Seraow. www.accessibleicon.orge. lserao@triangle-inc.orgp. 732-642-5415