More Than A Wheelchair: Accessibility Symbols

More Than A Wheelchair: Accessibility Symbols Lesson PDF

Summary:
Students will consider the icon of the person in a wheelchair, the “International Symbol of Access.” They will learn about its history and the recent Accessibility Icon project that updated it. They will also consider other disability symbols, both in the US and internationally (such as symbols that indicate Deafness, Hidden Disabilities, and Autism, and how they are used/not used in other countries). 

Art extensions include photography assignments to document iconography in their school and in everyday life and new symbol-making where students make new symbols that could replace the wheelchair, and be more inclusive.

Geography extension is a study of symbols and use/news about them in other countries. Students will be assigned a country to study either individually or in groups, and explore disability iconography in that place. This activity would work well as a library-based extension as well.

Subject and topic: 

Social Studies, Art, Disability History, Geography

Grade level: 

4th - 8th grade

Duration: 

Single day, approximately 1.5 hours (if focus is just on the main lesson), or 3-5 days if art/geography extensions are used