Jan 20th, 2013/wear your heart on your sleeve

[attachment=0:17rnn3o3]740922_10151238191782659_757548781_o.png[/attachment:17rnn3o3]What is January 20th, International Day of Acceptance and how did it start?

3E Love’s founder and creator of their “wheelchair heart” symbol, Annie Hopkins was an advocate, entrepreneur, artist, and student, and she demonstrated what is possible when you love life. She created 3E Love with the idea that our symbol unified people of all abilities and it ignites conversations every day that will help change attitudes for the better. She believed that 3E Love could be a vehicle to introduce people to the symbol and her message. Her ideas didn’t stop there: she wanted to create a social entrepreneurial endeavor, disability owned and disability operated, that one day, when successful, would be further empowerment and a statement that we can achieve without charity. Social acceptance is the key, not pity and ignorance. Embrace diversity. Educate your community. Empower each other. Love life!

On January 20th, 2009, the survival of the symbol and the idea behind Annie’s 3E Love movement was threatened when she passed away from unexpected complications to a simple medical procedure. Overwhelming support from friends, family, and the disability community helped keep her ideals alive! Stevie Hopkins, her brother who helped her start 3E Love, took the reins and never looked back.

On the first year anniversary of her passing, Stevie and family wanted to turn the memory of a terrible day into the best day of the year! January 20th would now be an International holiday and we will celebrate Annie’s life, her ideas, and the 3E Love movement instead of mourning the tragedy.

So on January 20th, 2013, we ask you to join us in celebration of social acceptance! Get involved by “wearing your heart on your sleeve”. You can do that in many ways! Draw our symbol on your hand or cheek, wear our temporary tattoos, buttons, t-shirts, whatever you have! Change your profile picture and cover photo to ours! Invite your friends to get involved!

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.

To our supporters, join us in telling the world that you are accepting of people with disabilities. As our parents, siblings, relatives, spouses, children, lovers, coworkers, teachers, personal assistants, friends, and anyone else – you also have a role in our culture and life. And you can have an impact on the future if you demonstrate your acceptance to others.

Start the conversation of acceptance today!

Thank you for your love and support these past 4 years! Annie’s dream is alive and the 3E Love movement is stronger than ever.

Please spread the LOVE!

Comment on this photo and tell us what the symbol means to you! learn more at http://www.dayofacceptance.com/