SPEEDWAY, Ind. (WTHR) — To kick off National Mobility Awareness Month, Indiana-based company BraunAbility revealed the first-ever 3D parking space in Speedway.
The 3D accessible parking design is meant to build awareness about the issues people with mobility disabilities face, including the frequent misuse of the access aisle with disable parking spaces.
"The ADA has been in place for nearly 30 years, but we know our customers face unnecessary burdens in their daily lives — from lack of employment opportunities to having to enter a building through the backdoor where the wheelchair ramp is located. We want to unify our community and join with them in enacting change across the country,” said BrauAbility CEO Staci Kroon. "When voices of those with mobility disabilities are included, all of society benefits."
It's all part of BraunAbility's "Drive for Inclusion" campaign which is aims to unite voices from across the mobility disability spectrum, including caregivers, to take action for greater access, and ultimately inclusion.
BraunAbility said, "The 3D optical illusion of a raised barrier is designed to stop someone from parking on the access aisles and blocking someone from deploying their wheelchair van ramp."
The location revealed in Speedway, outside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is the organization's official 3D test location to determine if the optical illusion parking space helps to prevent the abuse of the parking spaces.
Internationally renowned artist Tracy Lee Stum created the 3D design and Indianapolis muralist Pamela Bliss installed it.
A similar 3D design has also been used to draw attention to crosswalks in school zones.