On Tuesday, November 1, at 10:00 am, the City of North Wildwood, New Jersey will mark the City's adoption of the New Accessible Icon to mark designated parking spaces for persons with disabilities with a ceremonial "first parking spot painting" at the Moore’s Inlet parking lot (Spruce and Olde New Jersey Avenues.)
The imagery used in the New Accessible Icon replaces the old icon (which depicts persons with disabilities as being dependent on others to help them get around) with a new silhouette that depicts independence and motion.
In adopting the New Accessible Icon, North Wildwood joins municipalities including the states Connecticut and New York, the City of Philadelphia, and organizations/companies including the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and Citizens Bank Park that have adopted the new icon to better represent persons with disabilities.
North Wildwood decided to make the switch to the New Accessible Icon thanks to the efforts of local advocate for persons with disabilities, Chad DeSatnick, who lobbied for the switch using presentation materials provided by MossRehab in Philadelphia. (MossRehab, now part of Jeffersn Health) adopted the New Accessible Icon in 2014 and has successfully advocated for other organizations and municipalities, including Philadelphia, to adopt the icon as well. MossRehab even has New Accessible Icon stencils to provide free of charge to those that want to make the switch.)
"We are proud to be adopting the New Accessible Icon, said North Wildwood Mayor, Patrick Rosenello. "We believe the new Icon is more inclusive to represent people of all different abilities that come to our town to enjoy our beautiful beaches, businesses and shore community."
"MossRehab applauds North Wildwood, New Jersey for adopting the Accessible Icon," said Julie Hensler-Cullen, Director of Education & Quality at MossRehab. "By doing so, this city demonstrates in a public, visible way its support of a more inclusive future."