(Handicap) Accessible Signs: They're Not Just
for the
Parking Lot.

Imagine this: you use a wheelchair to get around. Today, you're heading to meet a new client at their office. How exciting! You roll up to the front of the building, get out of your vehicle but immediately notice the cascading stairs at the building entrance. Oh no! You only have a few minutes before the meeting starts. You begin to get worried but thankfully spot the clear directional sign pointing the way to an handicap accessible entrance. All is well, and you are on your way to a productive meeting with your new client.

Photo of an office building entrance with cascading stairs. A sign on the front of the building points towards the accessible entrance.

As you'll see, handicap accessible signs aren't just for parking lots. In fact, the world of disability signage goes a lot further and helps make your office or workplace both attractive and accessible to all customers, patrons, and visitors.

Types of Accessibility Symbols

While you may already be familiar with the International Symbol of Accessibility (ISA), you may not be as knowledgeable about the International Symbol of TTY, Volume Control Telephone, and the International Symbol of Access for Hearing Loss. Let's briefly explain each of the four accessibility symbols:

International Symbol of
Accessibility (ISA)

This wheelchair symbol indicates access for individuals who may have limited mobility, including wheelchair users. It may be used on handicapped signage to indicate accessible entrances, handicap parking spaces, accessible restrooms, or even a phone that is lowered for wheelchair users.

International Symbol
of TTY

This teletype accessibility symbol indicates the availability of a telecommunications device for the deaf, which provides a typed/visual transcript of the telephone conversation.

Volume Control
Telephone

This accessibility symbol marks telephones equipped with tools to assist the deaf or hard-of-hearing, including TTY, text telephone, voice carry-over telephone, or captioned telephones.

International Symbol of
Access for Hearing Loss

This accessibility symbol marks an area or tool that aids individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have some degree of hearing loss.

Photo of an handicapped parking sign on a post in front of an office building.

Does my office actually need accessible signs?

Yes! Even if your business does not serve the public, it must still comply with accessible design standards and, hence, needs accessible signs. Since Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) laws prohibit discrimination because of a person's disability, handicap signs would benefit any new employee with a physical disability or even a current employee who may find themselves unexpectedly using a wheelchair on a temporary or regular basis.

Here are a few accessible signs your office may need:

Accessible (Handicap) Parking Signs

Handicap parking signs indicate parking spaces accessible to those in wheelchairs or who have physical impairments (including hidden disabilities). Thanks to the ADA, these accessible parking spaces are often the closest to the office building entrance to allow visitors, customers, and employees with disabilities to easily access your building. Accessible parking spaces have at least a 60-inch aisle next to the parking spot for easy wheelchair access in and out of the vehicle. These signs also remind individuals who do not have disability placards or license plates to respect your office's parking rules.

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Accessible Directional Signs

Use accessible directional signs to point wheelchair users visiting your office building towards the direction of accessible entrances, exits, restrooms, and places that serve as an area of refuge. These access signs denote the (wheelchair) ISA symbol to further distinguish each sign. With accessible directional signs from signmojo.com, you can choose from 4 distinct sign options: restroom directional signs, accessible entrance signs, ADA exit signs, or signage indicating an area of refuge.

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Accessible Restroom Signs

Not all restrooms in the workplace may be accessible, so it is important to use handicap accessible restroom signs to indicate the ones that are. Give wheelchair users and those with other physical disabilities a hand with these ADA-compliant bathroom signs, so they can know right off the bat whether a restroom is accessible or not.

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Area of Refuge Signage

Some employees and visitors within your workplace may need extra assistance to safely exit your multi-story office building during an emergency. Use area of refuge signs to mark these designated safe waiting places where people can calmly wait for help. Choose from area of refuge location signs, exterior area of rescue signs, and area of refuge instructions.

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A quick note on why we call
them accessible signs.

You may be wondering why we refer to these signs more as Accessible Signs and less as Handicap Signs. In recent years, there has been a controversy surrounding the term 'handicapped,' particularly as many individuals with physical disabilities are autonomous and live normal lives like you and me. As a courtesy, signmojo.com prefers the term 'accessible signs,' however due to search limitations we often utilize both terms while holding hope that we can spread the message.

Photo of a restroom with a men's restroom sign with ISA next to the door.

What's the Difference Between
a Symbol and a Pictogram?

Great question! While they may look exactly alike, it is the application that differentiates a pictogram from a symbol. Pictograms are used to designate a space with a visual representation through their resemblance to a physical object or place. Pictograms have a minimum field height with tactile text and Braille underneath. For example, an area of refuge sign would identify the permanent space by displaying an ISA symbol with raised text and Braille to help visually-impaired users.

Symbols, on the other hand, are used to give additional information about an area. They must have proper color contrast between the symbol and its background. Otherwise, there are no requirements on size or location. Restroom signs, for example, have a pictogram that designates if the space is for men, women, or both. Next to the pictogram, however, you may have an ISA symbol on the sign to give the additional information that the restroom is also accessible.

Diagram of an Apex Women's Restroom sign detailing the features of an ADA-compliant sign, and the difference between a symbol and a pictogram.

Photo showing and area of refuge next to an elevator with relevant signage.

Which states require the dynamic ISA symbol?

Dynamic ISA symbols (sometimes known as the 'accessible icon') are slightly different from traditional ISA symbols: these (modified) dynamic ISA symbols show a person in a wheelchair in action. Disability activists and advocacy groups or organizations recommend using this symbol to show that those with wheelchairs can still lead normal lives. These symbols are required within Connecticut (Public Act No. 16-78, Substitute House Bill No. 5050) and New York (per 19 CRR-0NY 300.5). For residents other than Connecticut and New York, consult your state's ADA affiliate to see if the dynamic ISA symbol is accepted within your jurisdiction.

What Is an Area of Refuge, and Do I Need One?

An area of refuge is a wheelchair-friendly, designated location within your office or workplace specially designed to hold people who are not able to safely exit a building during an emergency without special assistance—until first responders or help arrives for safe evacuation. Areas of refuge are designed for wheelchair and walker users, as well as young children or elderly individuals, the sick, the blind, or those who simply do not feel safe to exit the building on their own. All office area of refuge signs must include the wheelchair ISA symbol to indicate that wheelchairs are permitted (and welcomed).

According to the International Building Code (IBC), all new construction requires an area of refuge unless the building has a supervised automated sprinkler and a wheelchair-friendly route out and away from the building. In addition, single-story buildings are not required to have refuge areas. Learn more about IBC area of refuge requirements or contact us if you have any additional questions about areas of refuge.

Learn more about the required area of refuge signs you may need:

Area of Refuge Identification Signs

Featuring a wheelchair ISA symbol, these signs identify the location of interior and exterior areas of refuge within your office building. These areas can hold individuals who are in wheelchairs or walkers who are not able to safely exit a building during an emergency without the help of first responders.

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Hi-Rise Exterior Area for Assisted Rescue Sign

Photoluminescent Area of Refuge Signs

Photoluminescent area of refuge signs are used in addition to the regular area of refuge identification signs. These signs self-illuminate under low-light conditions and are helpful under fire, smoke, fog, and other situations where visibility may be compromised.

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Area of Refuge Directional Signs

Use area of refuge directional signs to point building occupants towards each floor's area of refuge. Signs feature a wheelchair symbol to indicate that the area of refuge is wheelchair-friendly.

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Area of Refuge Instructions Signs

Instructions and additional information are always appreciated. Area of refuge instructions signs help occupants follow building protocol during emergency situations.

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Stuck on figuring out which accessible signs you need? Try SignSpec©. By using our free SignSpec© quoting system, our sales team will work with you to determine your office building needs and figure out which accessible signs you need. Should you have any additional questions about the ins and outs of door signs, talk to a friendly customer service artisan! Otherwise, get ready for some seriously great accessible signs to help everyone orient your building.

(Handicap) Accessible Signs: They're Not Just for the Parking Lot.