Accessible symbols
This website contains information on accessible guides, including a collection of pictograms and general information about accessible guides and signs.
The information is based on the joint Accessibility Symbols project by the Helsinki for All project and the stakeholders, carried out in 2010–2011. The project designed and collected accessibility-related pictograms, as well as pictograms pertaining to general services that must be accessible and understandable.
The databank contains symbols that were designed and drawn during the project, but also existing accessibility symbols. Previous designs of pictograms by various operators were used as the basis for the new symbols. The symbols designed during the project form a uniform set of symbols that can be used in a diverse way in service maps, signs, information boards and online notifications. The symbols were designed by Kokoro & Moi. The symbols created during the project can be found here (pdf, in Finnish).
In addition to the accessibility symbols, the databank contains symbols connected to various services. Furthermore, the website offers tips on standards and design guidelines that contain pictograms.
Accessibility
The accessibility section contains pictograms that can be used to describe a site’s accessibility on its website, communicate the locations of accessible services at the site or guide users to an accessible route.
When using the accessibility symbols, a service, space or building marked with a symbol must comply with the accessibility criteria. Help with assessing the accessibility of museums and other cultural services can be found on the Culture for All website.
The International Symbol of Access, ISA
The International Symbol of Access, ISA (jpg)
ISA stands for International Symbol of Access, the universal symbol for persons with reduced mobility.
The ISA symbol is used for instance to label a step-free entrance to a building, an accessible WC or parking spaces for the disabled. It may also be used to indicate a step-free access route or accessible service (e.g. the way to the lifts or an accessible dressing room at a sports facility).
The official ISA symbol may be used on a blue or black background. The symbol may be reversed.
Accessible Escape Route
An example of an accessible escape route sign.
Induction loop
This symbol is used to identify premises where an induction loop has been installed. There should be an induction loop in all public premises where people talk and listen (function rooms, auditoriums, meeting rooms, service counters).
A print-ready version of the induction loop symbol is available from the Finnish Federation of Hard of Hearing.
Sign-language services
Sign-language services (jpg)
Sign-language services (eps)
Sign-language services may include signed interpreting, audiovisual material with sign language or service personnel competent in sign language at a service point.
Services for the visually impaired,
visual impairment symbol
Services for the visually impaired (ai)
Services for the visually impaired (ai)
Services for the visually impaired include Braille, raised text and images, touchable objects in museums, etc., scale models and tactile maps. These services also include floor strips and tactile paving tiles, and descriptive narration.
Braille symbol
Service dogs
Service dogs (eps)
A service dog may be a guide dog, an assistance dog or a hearing dog. Service dogs are allowed to accompany their users in all service premises, but this symbol may be used to indicate that service dogs are particularly welcome. A resting place for dogs in a building may be designated by combining this with the P sign.
Source: Culture for All Service
Electric mobility scooter
Electric mobility scooter (ai)
Electric mobility scooter (ai)
The electric mobility scooter symbol can be used to designate a parking space. If there is an electrical outlet available for recharging the vehicle, this can be indicated by combining the symbol with the symbol for a recharging point
Rollator, walker
Rollator (ai)
Rollator ai
Large print, books, magazines, etc.
Large print (ai)
Large print ai
Large print materials must have a font size of preferably 14 pt but in any case no less than 12 pt. Font size 13–14 pt should be primarily used in materials intended for readers of all ages. If the target audience consists mostly of people who are visually impaired, the recommended font size is 16 pt.
The line spacing should be 1–4 points larger than the font size. The contrast between background and text is even more of an issue for readability than font size. Black text on a white background provides the best contrast.
The typeface should be simple and legible. Typefaces such as Arial, Georgia, Gill, Helvetica and Verdana are good. Legibility includes having clear differences between letters and other symbols. Each character should be uniquely identifiable. It must be possible to recognise each character quickly and correctly.
Lower-case text is easier to read than upper-case text. Lower-case letters are more distinctive than upper-case letters and therefore easier to identify. Text written in all upper case, underlined or tilted is difficult to read.
Source: Finnish Federation of the Visually Impaired
Plain language logo
In order to use the plain language logo, you must obtain permission from Selkokeskus (the plain language centre). The logo must be accompanied by a descriptive text: plain-language book; plain-language magazine; plain-language signage; plain-language website.
For more information on the plain language logo and how to obtain permission to use it, contact: selkokeskus
Source: Selkokeskus
Assistive device lending
Assistive device lending (ai)
Assistive device lending (ai)
This symbol may be used for instance on the website of a facility offering the loan of assistive devices as part of accessibility services. The equipment available may be listed adjacent to the symbol: a shower wheelchair at a swimming path or visual aids at a museum. This symbol may also be used on site to mark the location where the assistive devices are kept and where they should be returned.
Audio guides
Audio guides (ai)
Audio guides (ai)
The audio guide symbol may be used at cultural venues where information on the works displayed is available for listening through earphones.
Listen
Listen (ai)
Listen (ai)
The Listen symbol can be used on a website to indicate that the text can be listened to, or for instance at railway or bus stations to indicate an audio timetable or transport information service.
Prams
Source: HSL
Public transport
The pictograms in the ‘Public transport’ section are used to guide the public transport in Helsinki in generally and in the point of view of accessibility.
For more information on these symbols, please contact to Helsinki Region Transport, HSL.
Train
Bus
Taxi
Helsinki Region Transport (HSL)
Bus
Commuter train
Metro
Tram
Ferry
Accessible bus/tram stop
Prams
Source: HSL
Leisure time
The ‘Leisure time’ section includes pictograms related to culture, sports and other recreation. These pictograms can be used in signage, on maps and in brochures.
Tactile images for playground equipment and the symbols intended for them were developed in the design segment of the Helsinki for All project, where a design guideline for tactile images for outdoor use was compiled and pilot versions of tactile maps were developed. These symbols and signs are designed mainly for tactile images and maps for visually impaired persons.
The design segment was conducted in cooperation with the City of Helsinki craft workshop, the Finnish Federation of the Visually Impaired, the Finnish Association of People with Physical Disabilities and Sito Oy.
Museum
Museum (ai)
Museum (ai)
Theatre
Theatre (ai)
Theatre (ai)
Swimming bath
Swimming bath (ai)
Swimming bath (ai)
Swimming place
Nature trail
Tourist attraction
Tactile images on playground equipment
The tactile images and signs for playground equpment were designed for the accessible playground in Ratsaspuisto in Helsinki. The illustrations include the figure of a child at the same scale as the equipment depicted.
Sand table
Sand table (ai)
Sand table (ai)
A sand table is installed on the side of a sand box so that a person in a wheelchair can access it.
Roundabout
Roundabout (ai)
Roundabout (ai)
This roundabout at the Ratsaspuisto playground is a pedal roundabout; its symbol shows the saddle seats.
Swing
Swing (ai)
Swing (ai)
Playground shelter
Playground shelter (ai)
Playground shelter (ai)
Slide
Slide (ai)
Slide (ai)
Lying board at a sandbox
Lying board at a sandbox (ai)
Lying board at a sandbox (ai)
A lying board is a platform fixed to a sandbox on which a child can lie down and reach the sand with his/her hands. The board may be placed on the side or in the middle of a sandbox.
Platform rocker
Platform rocker (ai)
Platform rocker (ai)
Pony, wooden animal figure
Pony (ai)
Pony (ai)
There are three pony figures of different sizes in Ratsaspuisto; the Pony sign was developed to illustrate them.
Rocking swing
Rocking swing (ai)
Rocking swing (ai)
Premises and services
The ‘Premises and services’ section contains symbols needed for signs and maps at various facilities. These symbols may also be used in indoor signs, some of them as tactile images.
Moving and operating in a space
Accessible parking place
Information desk
Information desk (jpg)
neInformation desk (eps)
Ticket sales
Ticket sales (jpg)
Ticket sales (eps)
Cloakroom
Cloakroom (jpg)
Cloakroom (eps)
Storage lockers
Storage lockers (ai)
Storage lockers (ai)
Recharging point, electrical outlet
Recharging point (ai)
Recharging point (ai)
Lift
Lift (ai)
Lift (ai)
Ramp
Ramp (ai)
Ramp (ai)
Staircase
Staircase (ai)
Staircase (ai)
Wheelchair lift, platform lift
Wheelchair lift (ai)
Wheelchair lift (ai)
Stairlift
Stairlift (ai)
Stairlift (ai)
Women
Women (ai)
Women (ai)
Men
Men (ai)
Men (ai)
WC, women and men
WC, women and men (ai)
WC, women and men (ai)
WC
wc (ai)
Accessible WC
Accessible WC: one-sided access
Accessible WC: one-sided access (ai)
Accessible WC: one-sided access (ai)
Accessible WC: one-sided access (ai)
Accessible WC: one-sided access (ai)
The ‘one-sided access WC’ symbol should be used with the ISA symbol when the minimum lateral space of 800 mm for a wheelchair user is only available on one side of the toilet seat
Such a WC is primarily suitable for unassisted wheelchair users. Such WCs may be provided in mirror-image pairs, in which case users can choose which one to use according to their capabilities.
Child care room
Child care room (ai)
Child care room (ai)
Dressing room, women
Dressing room, women (ai)
Dressing room, women (ai)
Dressing room, men
Dressing room, men (ai)
Dressing room, men (ai)
Washroom, women
Washroom, women (ai)
Washroom, women(ai)
Washroom, men
Washroom, men (ai)
Washroom, men (ai)
Marking an accessible dressing room and washroom
An accessible dressing room and washroom can be marked with the ISA symbol alone if they are separate and intended for unisex or family use.
An accessible room adjacent to women’s or men’s dressing rooms and washrooms can be designated using the dressing room and washroom symbols shown above together with the ISA symbol.
Washroom, shower
shower (ai)
shower (ai)
A washroom or shower can be designated with the shower icon alone, if it is adjacent to a women’s or men’s dressing room. An accessible washroom can be designated with the shower icon together with the ISA symbol.
Sauna
sauna (ai)
sauna (ai)
An accessible sauna can be designated with the sauna icon together with the ISA symbol.
Meeting room
Meeting room (ai)
Meeting room (ai)
Internet access point
Internet access point (ai)
Internet access point (ai)
Cafe
Cafe (ai)
Cafe (ai)
Service points, offices
Church, parish hall
Church (ai)
Church (ai)
Post office
Post office (ai)
Post office (ai)
Museum
Museum (ai)
Museum (ai)
Theatre
Theatre (ai)
Theatre (ai)
Sheltered accommodation for the elderly
Sheltered accommodation for the elderly (ai)
Sheltered accommodation for the elderly (ai)
Service centre for the elderly
Service centre for the elderly (ai)
Service centre for the elderly (ai)
Standardised symbols
The standardised symbols section contains pictograms and signs whose use involves certain restrictions. The International Symbol of Access (ISA) is standardised, but it is also defined as public domain, even though the use of standardised pictograms usually requires a licence. With some pictograms or signs, a service must meet certain predetermined requirements and a right to use them must be applied for from the operator that controls them. For example, the symbol of an accessible nature trail may only be used if the trail meets particular requirements, e.g. in terms of gradient, flatness and width.
ISA symbol
ISA stands for International Symbol of Access, the universal symbol for persons with reduced mobility.
The ISA symbol is used for instance to label a step-free entrance to a building, an accessible WC or parking spaces for the disabled. It may also be used to indicate a step-free access route or accessible service (e.g. the way to the lifts or an accessible dressing room at a sports facility).
The official ISA symbol may be used on a blue or black background. The symbol may be reversed.
Induction loop
Symbols to identify telecommunications facilities for deaf and hard of hearing people.A print-ready version of the induction loop symbol is available from the Finnish Federation of Hard of Hearing.
Plain language logo
For more information on the plain language logo and how to obtain permission to use it, contactSelkokeskusSource: Selkokeskus
First aid station
Source: SFS 4424
Train
Bus
Taxi