Change the Sign, Change the Attitude Representation Matters

Stephen Morris of Canton, CT recently posted the Petition update · WE DID IT: Self-Advocates Change the Handicapped Parking Sign in Connecticut! You can read his comments about the "Change the Sign" petition at change.org and learn about policies in your own state as well.

My Facebook and Twitter accounts are filled to the brim with disability activism campaigns, CriptheVote posts, articles regarding institutional violence perpetuated onto disability culture and blog posts written by activists and disability advocates alike. Here is the thing, I re-post all kinds of social justice articles (mostly disability related but a good number that are not) and calls-to-action on social media. Three family members have unfriended me because they are sick of hearing about it all. I suppose I could slow down for familial harmony but lets face it, if they are dumping me for what I consider to be the essence of who I am we have greater problems than my social media habits right? But, I digress.

What I have noticed more and more is that when I post an article about race based injustice, gender oppression, Trans equality, LGBT issues, Donald Trump (UGH), Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, the education system.. pretty much ANY issue regarding social injustices that are not disability related... the story attracts multiple 'likes' and a fair amount of people will even share on their own pages. GOOD I say, this is how it should be... power in numbers right?

However.. my posts about disability activism, representation, issues and abuse RARELY get liked and a 'share' is a rare as a sun-lizard in Alaska (okay, no I have no idea if there are sun-lizards in Alaska so just go with me here). I noticed this phenomenon, if you will permit me to call it a phenomenon, around three months ago and thought I might just be a little touchy so, I started to pay particular attention. It turns out my thesis was a little bit wrong and a lot right.

When I post an issue that has a particular focus on PARENTS raising their children with disabilities those posts most definitely get thumbs up and shares, a lot of shares. The vacuum surrounds those issues, posts and concerns regarding adults with disabilities.... and the crickets REALLY come out when I post serious issues regarding the abuse, misrepresentation or dehumanization of Autistic adults and Developmental Disability culture in general. Examples of recent headlines I wish had garnered more attention include "Science, Race & the Invisibility of Black Autism," "Link Between Wealth and Disability Accommodations," and "Past Time to Ban Skin Shocks to Disabled." Now I am sure it comes as no surprise that I do not allow lack of interest or attention to slow me down and I continue my disability justice posts with annoying regularity and optimistic fury. Who knows, maybe I will even find myself dumped by a few more annoying relatives.

So given my observations you can imagine my intrigue when only moments after posting the above image regarding the "Change the Sign. Change the Attitude" campaign I noticed several likes and multiple shares. This is very cool to be certain but I cannot help but wonder why? Why this particular post? What is it about this image? I do not imagine for a moment that people have time to actually read about the issue before sharing or liking the article so it must have something to do with the image but WHY? I think the answer is as simple as Representation Matters. Let me explain.

The image on the left is a social icon. What seems as simple as a sign informing the public the space is set aside for those drivers with disabilities is actually a a culturally produced representation of disability. For many people across the U.S., the familiar blue background, static wheelchair, benign rider icon and antiquated "HANDICAPPED" signifier nestled at the bottom define the very essence of disability.

HANDICAPPED. For many, the first introduction to what it means to live under the socially constructed category of disability. Something undesired, different and living outside of the so-called norm. This very specific way of representing disability is ubiquitous and appears in every town, every business (or it SHOULD) and public space across the country. Most people don't give its social meaning a second thought. Basically, this culturally produced and socially accepted representation has traveled across time and place to create common, and I would argue handicapping, assumptions about disability. These signs are quite powerful. When images or signs are all around us they become universally accepted and people develop attitudes and assumptions without questioning whether the assumption is in any way connected to reality. I truly believe the representational power of the new parking sign, the one on the right, is precisely why my post has garnered so much positive attention.

The new sign is ACTIVE and represents motion, movement and access. HANDICAPPED is gone and replaced by the powerful RESERVED status. The wheels are written in motion, powered by the person controlling it rather than the technology rendering human embodiment passive and inert. Of course this is my interpretation, signs and images are read in may ways but I read the image on the right as depicting power and independence, while the image on the left writes a visual story of handicapping dependence.

I think people responded to this post because the images challenge what they have come to know about disabilities. It challenges but also provides an alternate interpretation, a positive depiction and a new way of thinking. The post offers an intervention that most of the articles about disability that I share do not. Stories about sheltered workshops, seclusion rooms, shock treatments and sub-minimum wages are hard to read and I suppose even harder to want to share. The "Change the Sign' post effectively demonstrates the power of visual advocacy. The significant change in meaning between the old sign and the new is easy to read, feel good about and understand. Maybe this is why? If so, I look forward to the day when I can offer more stories like "Change the Sign" on my social media for everyone to 'like.'

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* for more information about "Change the Sign. Change the Attitude" visit the ARC of Farmington Valley.

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#disability #disabilityactivism #accessibility #representation #media #disabilityculture