Braillito Maps · Accessibility guides
Accessibility symbols: the wheelchair symbol and the others
The International Symbol of Accessibility, the figure in a wheelchair, marks entrances, restrooms, parking spaces and elevators that people with disabilities can use. It is not the only access symbol: the ADA defines others, and each country has a standard for how the symbol is drawn.
This is a summary. The official 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design are the reference.
What the wheelchair symbol means
The symbol says that a space, an entrance or a service meets the accessibility requirements. Where not all entrances to a building are accessible, the 2010 ADA Standards require the accessible ones to carry the symbol, and the others to have signs pointing to the nearest accessible entrance (2010 ADA Standards, 216.6).
The symbol and its background have a non-glare finish and contrast with each other, light on dark or dark on light (2010 ADA Standards, 703.7.1). The standard does not require a particular color.
Where the ADA requires it
| Where | When | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Parking spaces | every accessible space, with “van accessible” on van spaces | 2010 ADA Standards, 216.5 and 502.6 |
| Entrances | when not all entrances are accessible | 2010 ADA Standards, 216.6 |
| Elevators | when existing elevators do not all comply, on the ones that do | 2010 ADA Standards, 216.7 |
| Restrooms | when existing restrooms do not all comply, on the ones that do, and on directional signs to them | 2010 ADA Standards, 216.8 |
| Check-out aisles | when there is more than one, on the accessible ones | 2010 ADA Standards, 216.11 |
The other access symbols
The 2010 ADA Standards define three more symbols (2010 ADA Standards, 703.7.2):
- International Symbol of TTY, for a text telephone used by deaf and hard of hearing people;
- volume control telephone, a handset with radiating sound waves on a square field;
- International Symbol of Access for Hearing Loss, which marks assistive listening systems; assembly areas that must have them post signs with this symbol (2010 ADA Standards, 216.10).
Outside the United States
Other countries set the drawing in a national standard: Spain refers to UNE 41501 for the «Símbolo Internacional de Accesibilidad para la movilidad» (CTE DB SUA, SUA 9, 2.2), Argentina to IRAM 3722 for accessible restrooms (Decreto 914/1997, A.1.5.1) and Colombia to NTC 4139 (Decreto 1538 de 2005, article 4).
The Spanish version of this guide compares where each country requires it.
When the symbol is not enough
A symbol says something should be accessible, not how it is today. A parking space with the symbol painted on it but no access aisle, or a signed accessible restroom used as a storeroom, does not help anyone.
So it pays to check the details: the parking space, the restroom and the door.
Frequently asked questions
What does the wheelchair symbol mean?
That the space, entrance or service it marks is accessible. Under the ADA, it identifies accessible parking spaces, and accessible entrances, elevators and restrooms where not all of them are accessible (2010 ADA Standards, 216).
What is the wheelchair symbol called?
The International Symbol of Accessibility (2010 ADA Standards, 703.7.2.1).
Is there an accessibility symbol for deaf people?
Yes. The ADA defines the International Symbol of Access for Hearing Loss, for assistive listening systems, and the International Symbol of TTY (2010 ADA Standards, 703.7.2).
Does the accessibility symbol have to be blue?
The 2010 ADA Standards do not set a color: they require a non-glare finish and contrast, light on dark or dark on light (2010 ADA Standards, 703.7.1).
More accessibility guides
- Accessible parking: ADA parking requirements: how many spaces, how wide, the access aisle and the sign.
- ADA bathroom requirements: toilet height and position, grab bar height, sink height, stall sizes and turning space.
- ADA door width: 32 inches of clear width, maneuvering space, thresholds, hardware and opening force.
- Guide dogs: how they work, where they can go under the ADA, and how to act around one.
- All accessibility guides
Sources
Every figure in this guide comes from one of these official texts, which we read in October 2026.
- 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. U.S. Department of Justice, published September 15, 2010; required for new work since March 15, 2012.
- Código Técnico de la Edificación, Documento Básico SUA (Seguridad de utilización y accesibilidad). Ministerio de Transportes, Movilidad y Agenda Urbana (España), version with the amendments of Real Decreto 450/2022.
- Decreto 914/1997, reglamentación de los artículos 20, 21 y 22 de la Ley 22.431 (modificados por la Ley 24.314). Presidencia de la Nación (Argentina), original text of 1997.
- Decreto 1538 de 2005, accesibilidad al medio físico (compilado en el Decreto 1077 de 2015). Diario Oficial 45.913 (Colombia), en el normograma del Ministerio TIC, 17 de mayo de 2005.
Braillito Maps
Find places with ramps, accessible toilets or tactile paving near you in Braillito Maps
In Braillito Maps, every place answers ten questions: step-free entrance or ramp, wide doorway, accessible restroom, accessible parking, tactile paving, braille signage, braille menu, audible signals, guide dogs welcome and a quiet environment. It is built by the people who need it, and every place gets a score out of ten.
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