The IDEA Study logo and what it means

Written by IDEA Study Research Assistant, Kaylan

The IDEA Study is a research study that Grandview Kids and Ontario Tech University have partnered on. It investigates the intersection of race and disability and how this intersection affects access to paediatric rehabilitation and developmental services. To help identify this study, a logo has been created, and it can be found on all material related to the IDEA Study. Read on to learn more about the IDEA Study logo!

Starting with the inner circle of the logo, this has the words “IDEA Study” in the centre. This comes from the fact that the research team is approaching this study through the lens of Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility. If put together, these words form the acronym “IDEA” which is how our study is known outside of its official name, “Building knowledge and understanding of the intersection of race and disability in accessing paediatric rehabilitation services.”

Inclusivity or inclusion involves appreciating, recognizing and using the skills and talents of individuals of all backgrounds.³ Diversity involves including the numerous identities, races, communities, backgrounds, abilities, ethnicities, beliefs and cultures of the people, including those from underserved communities.³ Equity involves systematically and consistently treating all individuals fairly, justly and impartially.³ Accessibility includes that programs and services, facilities and information and communication technology are constructed, designed, developed and maintained such that they can be used independently and fully by individuals with disabilities.³

The outer circle of the logo includes symbols that represent disability. The goal of using these symbols of disability was to represent the Grandview Kids community. Grandview Kids serves children and youth with physical, communication and developmental needs, and their families. As such, the symbols in the logo include a sunflower, which represents non-visible disability; the forward movement symbol of a person using a wheelchair which represents physical disability; a rainbow infinity symbol representing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) which is a developmental disability; and the universal access symbol for sign language interpretation which represents communicative disability. While not all disabilities are represented within this logo, these were chosen for their design aspects and their collective broad representation of the Grandview Kids community.

We hope that this explanation has clarified why the IDEA Study logo was created and what it symbolizes. For more information, please visit https://grandviewkids.ca/research/ideastudy/.

References

1. Autism symbols: What do they mean?
2. Communicating with universal access symbols
3. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the federal workforce
4. Grandview Kids — Every child and youth living at their full potential
5. Hidden disabilities sunflower
6. IDEA study
7. Living with non-visible disabilities
8. The forward movement

About the author

Kaylan is a current Ontario Tech undergraduate student working on the IDEA Study as a Research Assistant. She is also a former Grandview Kids client who is passionate about helping other children and youth with disabilities. She believes that being a part of the IDEA Study is a way to give back to the Grandview Kids community that helped her live the life she does today and to help other children and youth with disabilities like her.