The 'That Sign Can't Stop Me Because I Can't Read' meme features a two-panel image of the character D.W. from the children's animated television series Arthur. In the first panel, D.W. is shown facing a door sign that attempts to bar her entry. The second panel shows D.W. confidently disregarding the sign with her now-famous quote, expressing persistence despite her inability to read, which humorously reflects ignoring warnings or restrictions.
The meme originates from an episode titled 'D.W.'s Name Game' in the second season of Arthur, which debuted on April 16, 1998. In the storyline, D.W. confronts a sign on her brother Arthur's door stating 'Arthur's room. D.W. not allowed.' She retorts with 'That sign can't stop me, because I can't read,' humorously illustrating her persistence. This scene was later turned into a popular meme by a Tumblr user named meowie on July 5, 2012, who posted a two-panel image macro encapsulating the scene. You can read the full transcript of the episode here.[1]