Saturday, November 28, 2009

(Dis)Ability Symbol

Usual disability figure in a wheelchair contrasted with a much more active figure that is using its arms to push the wheels on the chair
A friend sent me a link to this before and after graphic, from a blog called Graphicology. The newer design is by Brendan Murphy, in association with the Society for Environmental Graphic Design.

I hate to admit that until I saw the suggested redesign, I never realized how much I dislike the dominant disability symbol -- how clunky and static it is, and just what that implies about people with disabilities.

Murphy's design is from 1994. Fifteen years ago! The Graphicology blogger seems to think the design was done in an official capacity, and if so, it should have been disseminated into public spaces pretty widely by now.

I wonder why it hasn't been used?