A 麻花视频 University (WNE) faculty member is helping lead a timely conversation on how disability is portrayed—and why it matters.
Erin Murray, OTD-PP, an Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at WNE, has been working with students and colleagues to challenge outdated narratives around disability and promote more accurate, empowering representations.
“I want our students—especially those who will go on to work in health care, education, or communication—to see that the language and imagery they use matters,” she said. “When we elevate lived experiences and challenge stereotypes, we create a more inclusive society.” Dr. Murray works with occupational therapy (OT) students at WNE’s B.E.A.R. P.A.W. Center, which stands for Bringing Equity, Accessibility, and Rehabilitation to People Achieving Wellness. The Center is one of the first student-run occupational therapy pro bono clinics in the country.
Last year, WNE’s Occupational Therapy students led a meaningful university initiative to update parking logos and signage around School of Law in which the BEAR Paw Clinic is located and in the center of campus, to reflect a more inclusive and respectful approach.
Murray has created a to create awareness and to urge Massachusetts to update its use of the outdated International Symbol of Access and adopt the more modern, inclusive “Accessible Icon” in public signage.
In a recent MassLive op-ed titled, Murray highlights the growing national and international momentum behind the symbol—a dynamic image of a person in motion, actively pushing a wheelchair—that was originally developed by disability advocates and artists in Cambridge more than a decade ago.
“While our neighboring states have embraced this more empowering visual, Massachusetts has not,” Murray wrote. “It’s time for that to change.”
New York adopted the Accessible Icon statewide in 2013, followed by Connecticut in 2017. Cities such as Phoenix, El Paso, and Colorado Springs—as well as countries across Europe (and gondolas in Italy!)—have followed suit. In Massachusetts, some local municipalities, including Salem and Malden, have independently made the switch. As the Salem Disability Commission put it: “People like it, so we just kept using it.”
According to Murray, the change requires minimal or no added cost. The icon can be phased in gradually, applied to new signage or used to replace aging signs as part of regular updates—just as Connecticut and New York have done. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the use of alternative symbols is permitted as long as they provide “substantially equivalent or greater accessibility.”
For those still uncertain, consider what this icon represents. It’s not just a wheelchair. It’s movement. It’s autonomy. It’s a person — not a passive figure. In a world where visual language matters more than ever, this symbol sends a powerful message: People with disabilities are not objects of care, but agents of their own lives.
Murray, who frequently travels between Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts, says the difference in public symbols is striking—and meaningful.
“It’s a small shift with big implications,” she said. “We’re not asking for a complete overhaul. We’re asking for signs that reflect dignity, movement, and the full participation of people with disabilities in our communities.”
As an occupational therapist, Murray draws a direct connection between representation and the self-image of her patients. “I work every day with individuals who are building independence after life-changing injuries or diagnoses. When they see themselves represented as capable and in control—even in something as simple as a sign—it reinforces the work they’re doing to reclaim agency in their lives. That matters.”
Disability rights have never been won easily. Change is often slow, and even small steps forward can face resistance. But that’s no excuse for complacency. If enough municipalities adopt the Accessible Icon, it could prompt our state to reconsider its stance — just as Connecticut and New York did.
The outcome, she argues, benefits everyone: “People with disabilities gain respectful representation. The public becomes more informed. Businesses and institutions gain clarity on inclusive practices. And our communities move closer to being truly welcoming for all.”
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