“The Forward Movement” has been working with schools, colleges, universities, as well as hospitals and corporations to adopt the new accessible icon. We have also worked with over ten municipalities in Ontario to successfully update their bylaws to mandate the new icon.
permission, of course). Host a parking-lot painting party to bring your community together and learn about the lived experiences of individuals who use barrier-free access. Best of all, these activities easily fit into the social studies curriculum.
While current provincial laws require the old icon be used in several applications, you are free to use the new icon on wayfinding signs and on parking lot pavements.
You can visit TheForwardMovement.ca for more guidance on how to update the accessible icon in your school.
Of course signs per se do not remove barriers to access. But they are catalysts for change; they can help spark discussions and reframe the conversation around ability, all of which can lead to tangible improvements. You can bring the new icon to your school. Work with your students to affix new way-finding signs within the school (with your principal’s
And now that you’re thinking about implicit curriculum, take a look around your school for other outdated signs teaching outdated lessons to your students, and think about how you can work with your students to change those signs.
Jonathan Silver is a co-founder of TheForwardMovement.ca.
HEY, TEACH! FALL 2019
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