International Symbol of Access

The International Symbol of Access (ISA), when integrated into signage, is meant to designate spaces and facilities made accessible to persons who otherwise would face barriers to their mobility. Since 1969, when this symbol was chosen and defined as the ISA, it has become ubiquitous throughout the world. Attempting to communicate issues of physical access, the (wheelchair) mobility symbol—and related access symbols for vision, hearing, and information—have become among the most widely recognized disability representations. In addition to encounters with disabled individuals themselves, these symbols provide daily interactions with the issues of accessibility and disability.