Disability+Access+Symbols

The following 12 symbols, along with accompanying text, were developed by the Disability Access Project by the Graphic Artists Guild Foundation. The Office of special Constituencies, National Endowment for the Arts also provided support and technical assistance for this project. These symbols may be used to promote and publicize accessibility of places, programs and other activities for people with various disabilities.

Any language accompanying the symbols should focus on the accommodation or service, not on who uses it. For example, "Ramped Entrance" may accompany the wheelchair symbol. This is important because not only do individuals in wheelchairs use ramps, but so do people with baby carriages, luggage, etc. Language that fosters dignity is important, too. For example, "Reserved Parking" or "Accessible Parking" may be used with the wheelchair symbol to indicate parking spaces designated for people with disabilities. 

__Information Symbol:__ The most valuable commodity of today's society is information; to a person with a disability, it is essential. For example, the symbol may be used on signage or on a floorplan to indicate the location of the information or security desk, where there is more specific information or materials concerning access accommodations and services such as "LARGE PRINT" materials, audio cassette recordings of materials, or sign-interpreted tours.

__International Symbol for Accessibility:__ The wheelchair symbol should only be used to indicate access for individuals with limited mobility, including wheelchair users. For example, the symbol is used to indicate an accessible entrance or bathroom or that a phone is lowered for wheelchair users. Remember that a ramped entrance is not completely accessible if there are no curb cuts. An elevator is not accessible if it can only be reached via steps.

__Live Audio Description:__ A service for people who are blind or have low vision that makes the performing and visual arts accessible. A trained Audio Describer offers live commentary or narration (via headphones and a small transmitter) consisting of concise, objective descriptions of visual elements. For example, a theater performance or a visual arts exhibition at a museum may be audio described.

__Audio Description for TV, Video and Film:__ This service makes television, video, and film more accessible for persons who are blind or have low vision. Description of visual elements is provided by a trained Audio Describer through the Secondary Audio Program (SAP) of televisions and monitors equipped with stereo sound.

__Accessible Print:__ The symbol for large print is "Large Print" printed in 18 point or larger text. In addition to indicating that large-print versions of books, pamphlets and museum guides are available, use of the symbol on conference or membership forms can indicate that print materials are available in large format. Sans serif or modified serif print with good contrast is highly recommended, and special attention should be paid to letter and word spacing. 

__Access for Individuals (Other Than Print or Braille) Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision:__ This symbol may be used to indicate access for people who are blind or have low vision, including a guided tour, a path to a nature trail or a scent garden in a park; and a tactile tour or a museum exhibition that may be touched.

__Braille Symbol:__ This symbol indicates that printed matter is available in Braille, including exhibition labeling, publications, and signage **.**

 __Telephone Typewriter (TTY):__ Also known as text telephone (TT), or telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), TTY indicates a device used with the telephone (and the phone number) for communication between deaf, hard of hearing, speech-impaired, and/or hearing persons.

__Sign-Language Interpreted:__ The symbol indicates that Sign-Language Interpretation is provided for a lecture, tour, performance, conference, or other program.

__Assisted Listening Systems:__ These systems transmit amplified sound via hearing aids or headsets. They include infrared, loop, and FM systems. Portable systems may be available from the same audiovisual equipment suppliers that service conferences and meetings.

__Volume Control Telephone:__ This symbol indicates the location of telephones that have handsets with amplified sound and/or adjustable volume controls.

__Closed Captioning (CC):__ <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: normal;">This symbol indicates that a television program or videotape is closed captioned for deaf or hard-of-hearing persons (and others). TV sets that have a built-in or a separate decoder are equipped to display dialogue for programs that are captioned. The Television Decoder Circuitry Act of 1990 requires new TV sets (with screens 330 mm [13 in.] or larger) to have built-in decoders as of July 1993. Also, videos that are part of exhibitions may be closed captioned using the symbol with instructions to press a button for captioning.

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