me@cvgroup.co.uk
01226 321 450
Register Sign in My Local Locksmith
The only independent Trade journal and online news publication dedicated to the locksmith industry
Announcement: Make sure your details are up to date on My Local Locksmith to get local work.

Replacing the accessibility symbol – what is happening and how to get involved

Posted on by

It is true that there is an ongoing debate relating to the potential replacement of the accessibility symbol – currently depicted by a wheelchair – with a new symbol which would be seen as more inclusive. It should be noted that one of the drivers for this is that some people who have a genuine need to use accessible facilities can often be challenged by members of the public because their disability is non-visible. GAI Technical Manager, Douglas Masterson, discusses the developments in this area.

The Guild of Architectural Ironmongers is currently working in association with the BSI Public information symbols committee, PH/8/2, to assess public and industry opinion on the international symbol for accessibility (currently depicted by a wheelchair) and the potential for it to be replaced by a new symbol.

CURRENT SYMBOL

This potential change would have a huge impact on all, not just those who are disabled and ambulant disabled and who use the accessible facilities, but wider society who would need to be educated in any change. In addition to this, industry such as those who manufacture and specify the relevant signage would be affected.

International competition

The International Union of Architects (UIA) and Rehabilitation International (RI) jointly invited submissions in 2022 for a twenty-first century symbol of accessibility to represent their core values of rights and inclusion, independence, physical and virtual accessibility for all, including people with disabilities. The intent would be for this new symbol of accessibility to better represent the variety of people who use buildings and other types of built environments. It would therefore replace the existing accessibility symbol which currently depicts a wheelchair.

The competition invited professional architects and graphic designers as well as architectural and graphic design students to design a new graphic symbol of accessibility, to be proposed to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for adoption as the new international symbol of accessibility.

The winning entry of this competition can be seen on this link: https://www.uia-architectes.org/en/competition/international-accessibility-symbol-design-competition/

PROPOSED SYMBOL

It was created by Ukrainian architect Maksym Holovko and was judged to be “easily recognisable, demonstrating originality of form while indicating an openness, simply and powerfully conveyed using basic shapes and principles”.

This symbol has now been proposed to ISO Committee TC 145 for inclusion in a future amendment to the ISO 7001 standard – Graphical Symbols. This is the standard which is generally applicable to public information symbols in all locations and all sectors where the public has access. It is important to note that whilst this new symbol has been proposed to this ISO Committee, it has not yet been accepted and the views of key stakeholders are being invited on this important issue.

Survey

GAI and ISO UK Mirror Committee PH/8/2 would like to ascertain the thoughts of industry through GAI providing an online survey, Provide LINK.

Questions asked include the following:

  1. Do you feel there is a requirement to replace the current accessibility symbol (currently depicted by a wheelchair?) Please elaborate.
  2. What do you see as the key impacts on society including the public, should the current symbol be replaced?
  3. What do you see as the key impacts on industry, should the current symbol be replaced?
  4. Having seen the new symbol what is your opinion of it?
  5. Do you feel that the new symbol depicts accessibility? Please elaborate.
  6. Do you have any further comments on this issue?

Some issues to consider when responding to the survey could include cost to industry, required education and training to all as well as impact on wider society.

The results of the survey which will be relayed to British Standards Institution BSI and ISO as well as our own GAI membership.

The following article provides background on the existing symbol as well as detailing a need for a new symbol: https://www.riglobal.org/about/intl-symbol-of-access/

An online quiz based on this feature is available on the GAI learning Hub. Completion of this quiz is worth one CPD point: https://learninghub.gai.org.uk/totara/dashboard/index.php