What are your opinions about the symbol for disability access?
The international symbol for access (disability access) shows a white wheelchair on blue background. It‘s used to symbolize disability access, such as disability accessible parking spaces, parking permissions for those spaces, accessible transport vehicles, accessible bathrooms, buttons for automatic doors etc. It is also sometimes used to symbolize people with disabilities.
I'm interested in your opinions about this symbol and how it represents disabilities and disability access.
Do you feel that this symbol is a good symbol for disability access?
Do you feel that this symbol represents access for people with all kinds of disabilities or only for wheelchair users?
Do you think it‘s clear who the disability access is intended for or do you feel that the symbol may be misunderstood sometimes?
Do you think that the symbol affects people‘s awareness or ideas about various types of disabilities?
Do you think some other symbol would be better to represent all people with disabilities?
?2011-01-19T12:05:22Z
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1. From a design / usability stand point, I'd have to say it is a good symbol because it has been is use for a long time and it is widely recognized.
2 & 3. I do consider this symbol to be for all levels of ability, but I work in the accessibility industry. I think people without my background / experience don't always remember there are "invisible disabilities" that don't necessarily require a mobility aid.
4. No, I think lack of experience / education results in people taking the symbol very literally.
5. Maybe? The symbol with the wheelchair has been in use for a long time. In my perfect world we wouldn't need the symbol at all, because all public spaces, not just the restrooms, would be designed following the principals of universal design. This would ensure they meet the needs of all sorts of people.
The International Symbol of Access (ISA) was designed by Susanne Koefed in 1968 at the request of Rehabilitation International’s International Commission on Technology and Accessibility (ICTA). Copyrighted by the Committee, it was decided to make the use of this symbol open to all. It has been accepted and used around the world as a symbol of access for persons with any type of mobility disability.
Additional symbols have become popular and are used to promote specific types of access for persons with other types of disabilites - for example, sign language use, large print, Braille etc. The symbols are a handy way to quickly reference what type of accessibility is available. I have used several on brochures or meeting invitations to let people know right away if there is wheelchair access, captioning, sign language or other accommodations available. They are also handy used on maps or guidebooks. I have put a link to some in the references below.
If we ever get to the point where a single access symbol is all that's needed, we won't actually need the sign since everything would be universally accessible to all, whatever disAbility a person happens to have. What a day THAT will be!
On one hand the symbol is used universally and it is to at least some degree understood, but on the other and it focuses on only one type of access. A new symbol is in use and I like it much better. It is a blue A inside a circle. I've suggested combining the two so people get used to the A for access and slowly fade out the wheelchair.
Although that may not cover all disabled people but I never had a problem with it, just whatever. On another note, I really don't mind it because I'd hate to see the new international symbol for mentally disabled as opposed to physically disabled, LOL.
I feel that the symbol specifically symbolizes physical disabilities. It is not a universal symbol for disabilities. If you don't have a physical handicap, why should you be entitled to such accommodations?