American Able

Photographer Holly Norris on her photo series "American Able", a spoof on the hyper-sexualized American Apparel print advertisements:

"Too often, the pervasive influence of imagery in mass media goes unexamined, consumed en masse by the public. However, this imagery has real, oppressive effects on people who are continuously ‘othered’ by society. The model, Jes Sachse, and I intend to reveal these stories by placing her in a position where women with disabilities are typically excluded."

Touch the Universe

Be sure to click on the image to view at full size.

In 2002, NASA published a book featuring images of the universe with raised textures to help people experiencing blindness understand astronomical phenomenon.  Raised ridges, bumps, and swirls act as a tactile language explaining the gasses and energy that make up our universe.  

Touch the Universe

Tactile Maps

The inuits of Greenland carved these tactile "maps" of the coastline. Why?  So that they could feel their location without taking their hands out of their pockets. 

via middle savage