The school’s poster initiative from Newbridge Access Group was originally designed and distributed to all schools in the Newbridge area in 2004. It is a disability awareness educational tool for teachers and children about disability. Maureen Walsh a local animator was the artist involved in creating the cartoons in both colour and black and white. They have been used for colouring competitions in schools, social media posts and local newsletters.
The purpose is to educate children in our community about how to remove some physical, attitudinal and communication barriers. The posters feature young and old disabled characters and encourage engagement and dialogue. Clever rhymes composed by Ann Kelly, a blind member convey messages to help foster inclusion, normalise difference and remove barriers. They also promote better understanding of the difficulties and various barriers faced by disabled people in our community and help foster long-term positive attitudes. Children in turn take home the messages they have received from the cartoons.
Disabled children may feel less isolate when they see cartoon characters they can relate to in our poster. It gives them a sense of belonging. Importantly the images provide opportunities for teachers to discuss disability in the classroom. They are particularly useful for resource teachers and special needs assistants who work very closely with disabled children.
There are 14 images which focus on obstacles and human behaviour, and on the needs of disabled people:
- Bins causing obstruction
- Cars and bikes blocking footpaths
- Skating on footpaths
- Fireworks terrifying guide dogs
- Pavement clutter
- Dog litter on footpaths
- Staring at disabled people
- Accessible picnic benches
- Sign language
- Deaf people, sign language, hearing aids and lip reading,
- Difference in stature/shape
- Blindness
