#Access4All Sticker Campaign
The international symbol of access depicts a stationary person with outstretched arms, sitting idle as if waiting for someone to come give a push from behind. This sign is no good.
Representing people [with disability/who experience disability/PWD] by focusing on what they cannot do is a a negative message, and prevents us from thinking of these persons in terms of what they can do. The above symbol stigmatizes disability. The Accessible Icon Project's updated international symbol of access elegantly indicates disability while [focusing on/highlighting] ability.
The #Access4All Sticker is a small yet powerful way to expedite Toronto's transition into a world-leading city that is fit for all human beings. Though it may be possible to convince the city and businesses to formally adopt the new icon, bureaucracies are often slow-moving, and equal access for all can't come soon enough
The sticker intends to speed up this change in three ways:
(i) Providing businesses with a quick-fix they can use to redesign their spaces.
(ii) Helping make the new symbol so commonplace that the city and businesses come to accept it as the new standard, and they begin using the new icon themselves.
(iii) Since the sticker prompts a shift in attitude towards disability, as more stickers go up, a greater shift public consciousness will take place. The ultimate goal is that the sticker helps lead to increased “funding, rights, provisions and guarantees, policies, and overall better conditions for people with disabilities” (accessibleicon.org).
(i) Providing businesses with a quick-fix they can use to redesign their spaces.
(ii) Helping make the new symbol so commonplace that the city and businesses come to accept it as the new standard, and they begin using the new icon themselves.
(iii) Since the sticker prompts a shift in attitude towards disability, as more stickers go up, a greater shift public consciousness will take place. The ultimate goal is that the sticker helps lead to increased “funding, rights, provisions and guarantees, policies, and overall better conditions for people with disabilities” (accessibleicon.org).
In some cases, the sticker will cover up the outdated accessibility icon, effectively replacing the old icon with the new.
But it's hard to have a one-size-fits all design since the outdated icon appears in so many different shapes, sizes, colours and textures.
But it's hard to have a one-size-fits all design since the outdated icon appears in so many different shapes, sizes, colours and textures.
Not to worry! The sticker can simply be placed next to the old icon. Like so, it raises awareness by highlighting the disparity between the old icon and the new; it questions the status quo and proposes a different way of describing people who experience disability.
The sticker should appeal to whomever identifies as having disability or has friends or family who do. But even if you don't fit the description above, there's no telling that you won't sometime down the road. You may need to spend time recovering from an operation, may become injured, or may lose range of motion due to pregnancy, disease, or aging. Since we can't be sure if or when we will need accessible design, it is in everyone's best interest to have a more accessible city. (For the philosophers out there: this is a spin on John Rawls's veil of ignorance.)
Free 2”x2” weatherproof stickers are available during regular weekday business hours at 215 Spadina Ave, 4th floor, on the magazine rack adjacent to the elevator.
Order 1”x1”, 4”x4” or custom size/colour stickers here.
The #Access4All sticker campaign in Toronto is an independent project and is not affiliated with any other accessibility organizations. But here's where to go if you want t to learn more about accessibility:
http://stopgap.ca/
http://accessibleicon.org/
Order 1”x1”, 4”x4” or custom size/colour stickers here.
The #Access4All sticker campaign in Toronto is an independent project and is not affiliated with any other accessibility organizations. But here's where to go if you want t to learn more about accessibility:
http://stopgap.ca/
http://accessibleicon.org/