Reppin' 3E Love

Do you know about the "International Symbol of Acceptance", aka the "wheelchair-heart logo"? If not, you definitely need to check out 3E Love's website and Facebook page. I saw someone with a wheelchair-heart this summer and loved the logo, but I had no idea where to look for them. When a friend of mine posted about the wheelchair-heart logo on Facebook in September I was hooked.

3E Love Sweatshirt

3E Love says on their website, "The symbol is an attitude and a lifestyle. It's accepting one's abilities and rallying around that diversity and turning it into strength. It's loving and living life to the fullest no matter who you are and what you look like, what you can or cannot do." Photos on their facebook page is full of happy people! No pity abound! Every time I look and the symbol it makes me smile; it's fun, quirky, and reflects the best of disability culture. The 3 E's send the message to embrace, educate, and empower life with a disability.

When I'm feeling overwhelmed due to dealing with nondisabled people and accessibility issues, reppin' 3E Love around campus reminds me there is a whole movement out there changing the perception of disability and fighting ableism. It also reminds me that educating others about disability and disability culture can be fun and doesn't have to be a struggle. It reminds me to have patience with people who are ignorant about disability/accessibility, something I'm currently trying to work on. And even when people don't get it or don't want to get it, the wheelchair-heart reminds me that disability culture is strong and something to be proud of.

Even Holden is showing some 3E Love on campus!

3E Love logo button

Aerial view of 3E Love logo button on Holden's service dog vest