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“Autistic Child Area” sign, on Edinborough Street in front of Bertoni Chairs and Things in Windsor, Ontario.

This sign generally rubbed me the wrong way, in part because it fails as a warning sign by conveying a specific danger and recommending a specific response. What is the proper response as a motorist for an autistic child? I have no clue, and I am an autistic person myself. If I’m a bit confused about what I’m supposed to do with it, I’m sure that others are, too. And if a road sign is not able to convey its message and then be interpreted and reacted to in an instant, then it has failed its purpose. I also felt like it was a bit infantilizing towards autistic people to put a sign up announcing their presence to drivers passing by, and expecting them to accommodate that in their driving, even though we have no idea what that accommodation might be.

More at The Schumin Web:
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Ben Schumin is a professional photographer who captures the intricacies of daily life. This image is all rights reserved. Contact me directly for licensing information.