Segnaletica e Universal Design

Among those most widely used, the best known symbol is the one identified as "man on a wheelchair", designed in 1969 on behalf of the International Society for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled. In the years to follow, this symbol was adopted in a great many nations by organizations for the disabled and, in some countries, it even enjoys copyright protection. In 1972, the European Council, made up of eight countries comprising Italy, issued a declaration expressing its support in favour of the use of the International Accessibility Symbol (as it is officially called), and passed a resolution to this effect. In Italy the "Regulation for the implementation of art. 27 of Law no. 118 of 1971", shows this symbol (measuring 10x11 cm), with a blue background and the figure and borders in white. In some European countries, this symbol is used to indicate specific measures taken in favour of people with physical and motor disabilities, while specific symbols have been studied to indicate places and equipment designed for those with sight and hearing impairments. Such a requirement stems from having used the initial symbol as an all-comprehensive indication, thus creating confusion among users.