International Day of Acceptance: Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve Jan 20th

posted on Jan 19 by Snow in the Advocacy, Disability News, Fun, Interesting Links, Opinion and Discussion, Wheelchair Accessibility category

January 20th is International Day of Acceptance. This day of celebration and advocacy was created by the people at 3E Love in order to achieve social acceptance of disability. Disability pride awareness focuses on the abilities, not disabilities, of each person.

3E Love was established by sibling co-founders Stevie and Annie Hopkins as a “social entrepreneurial experiment to change the perception of disability.” Annie said the 3E Love name stands for, “Embrace diversity. Educate your community. Empower each other. Love life.”

They believe you should tell the world that you embrace who you are: a person with social rights, who has an opinion, who has interests, who has goals, and who loves life; a person who is empowered to make a difference in the world and not be without a voice in society. You are not living disabled; you are living. As parents, siblings, relatives, spouses, children, lovers, coworkers, teachers, personal assistants, friends – tell the world that you are accepting of people with disabilities. You impact the future by demonstrating your acceptance to others today.

Annie also designed and trademarked the company’s logo, a twist on the International Symbol of Access that replaces the wheel of the wheelchair symbol with a heart. 3E Love calls it the “International Symbol of Acceptance.”

Sadly, Annie passed away on January 20, 2009 at age 24 due to complications from a surgery. She was an advocate, entrepreneur, artist, student, and she demonstrated what is possible when you love life. Though she used a wheelchair most of her life, Annie pursued a doctoral degree and started her own company, 3E Love.

“Annie was a beautiful, vibrant woman with an unmatched sense of humor,” said Katie Arnold, Annie’s life-long best friend. “She taught me so much about independence, acceptance of others, and always striving to do the best for yourself, your body, your friends, family and community.”

Annie’s accomplishments in her academic, social, and family life were vast and will be remembered dearly, but her spirit and message can live on forever through the work she left for others to finish.

It was in honor of her memory that her brother Stevie Hopkins picked up the reigns of 3E Love and created the International Day of Acceptance. Stevie is 3E Love’s “Director of Awesome” and works tirelessly to promote awareness of people’s abilities, regardless of any so-called disability.

“3E Love is more than living disabled but is simply about living.” says the website. “Everyone has the freedom to live their life.”

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Start the conversation on January 20th with the International Symbol of Acceptance: Wear a t-shirt. Use a bag. Pin a button to your jacket. Put a sticker on your chair back or backpack. Get a tattoo like Annie’s! Or draw one on if you prefer. Ask your friends to join us as well. For a final touch, change your profile picture on Facebook to the symbol. Get people talking!

Sources:
3elove.com
dayofacceptance.com
facebook.com/3elove