Artifacts of Ableism: Semiotics of the Built Environment and Disability Identity on University Campuses

Abstract This article examines the impact that signs, readable as texts and discourse embedded in architecture and the built environment, have on shaping disability knowledge among undergraduate students on college campuses. Using reflexive photography as a research tool, we speculate that architectural signs, the artifacts of ableism, are (mis)representing disability and essentializing what it means to be disabled – which results in an “othering” of the disabled population, perpetuates stereotypes about disability on college campuses, and limits a sense of inclusion. Further, by remaining focused on access, this distortion obscures identities within the disabled community and operates counterfactually to the disabled community’s culture. We present several solutions, including a universal design approach, that can help modernize the language of the built environment, help improve access, and create a sense of belonging for contemporary undergraduate students with disabilities.