Each year on January 20th celebrates the acceptance of social disability in honor of the one that created the International Symbol of Acceptance, Annie Hopkins. The International Symbol of Acceptance is a wheelchair in the shape of a heart.
The founder of 3E Love, a company completely owned and operated by people's with disabilities, Annie Hopkins believed that perseverance and dedication in achieving one's dreams and successes is possible despite any physical limitations. Annie proved this with her own life, her indomitable spirit, winning every award in her high school choir talent show, tirelessly defending the rights of others, persuading a sorority to mount ramps so she could participate, among many others.
However, on January 20th, 2009, Annie passed away due to complications of a simple medical procedure. Yet her spirit continues to live on. The following year after her death, her brother, Steve, himself a founder of 3E Love, declared an annual celebration her of her life and her work by making January 20th, the International Day of Acceptance. On this day, it is encouraged to draw the Symbol of Acceptance on one's table, hand, or cheek, order merchandise from the company's websites, and simply change their social media profile picture to the symbol.
Please visit the 3E Love website: https://www.3elove.com/
To quote 3E Love: “Friends, tell the world 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.”
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