Disability Access Signs Get Active

A new wheelchair accessibility symbol is coming soon to parking spots and taxi cab windows across New York City, .

The new symbol looks like the traditional blue and white wheelchair symbol, only italicized. The old one is pretty passive — the wheelchair user is sitting back, arms straight out. In the new symbol, the user is leaning forward, arms back and bent, like she’s pushing the wheels.

All state agencies are required to use the new logo, under a law signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in June. The law also eliminates the use of the word handicapped in official communications and signage, replaced by the word accessible.

Officials at the New York City Department of Transportation say the agency is ahead of schedule on rolling out the new symbol, which is coming soon to all agency parking lots and garages, as well as parking permits for people with disabilities. Many accessible yellow and green taxis already have the new logo. 

“The new symbol is more progressive and illustrates how we as people with disabilities are much more active at all levels including areas of employment, housing and recreation,” Douglas Hovey, executive director of Independent Living, Inc., said when the law was signed.‎ “It shows people with disabilities moving forward."