Universal Accessibility icon...?
I'm still searching for a widely accepted (or at least acceptable) icon, denoting universal accessibility (e.g. language options, CC, magnification, tts - the lot...)
Any ideas?
Cheers
Phil
Share: 
Not sure such a universal icon exists. Previous threads from a few years back discussed accessibility icons and, before that, this forum's own icon. Lots of meandering debate but no solid conclusions drawn!
Although there are some good points against using the wheelchair sign, it still seems to be the most universally recognised one.
James Coltham - Local gov web manager by day, web and accessibility blogger at lunchtime, freelancer by night. Tweets at @prettysimple.
Share:
Cheers. I think I mumbled on in that one too at some point. 
No I think I'm after something slightly different (e.g. foreign speakers wouldn't click on a wheelchair, hoping for translation options).
So I'll risk a separate thread (merge at will, powers that be).
I want to sum up 'Help', I guess, but not in the usual sense - more assistance rather than info.
Thoughts?
Share:
I would bow to convention and go with the wheelchair for additional accessibility and flags for the translations. The flag method is flawed as well, languages obviously don't neatly match up with countries just like wheelchairs don't imply issues with vision and so on but the most important aspect is that a person will be able to work out the implication, for which both work very well.
Besides, I'm not sure translations comfortably fit under the banner of additional accessibility, I've never seen them grouped in that way before.
Share:
I'd like to at least try and improve on the predominant stus quo. Mainly for all the incongruities mentioned. I want it to be accessibility, not 'physical disabilities over here - and foreign types over here' if you see what I mean.
Just and all round, heres some practical assistance
Share:
I'd consider a question mark symbol. A lot of people will understand that as 'help' or 'how to'...Jack Pickard The Pickards Information Services| Blog | Twit
Share:
I suppose
Had used that for Help (as in the usual info type help...)
So I'd still prefer something that more about offering assistance than information
Last edited by Phil Teare on 14 Jun 2009 07:24 pm; edited 1 time in total
Share:
Any of these do it for anyone:
Share:
Well, as I said, I like the question mark.
2nd one is presumably meant to be a helping hand, but looks more like a wagging finger to me (as in "Phil! put that down at once!")
Toolbox looks like configuration options or possibly admin. If it does provide the chance to change config, this might work but otherwise would steer clear.
Last one works for me, but I'm not convinced people would know what the icon would mean..
| Phil Teare wrote: |
| Had used that for Help (as in the usual info type help...)
So I'd still prefer something that more about offering assistance than information |
Why separate out different types of help? Surely including accessibility information/options in with the normal help is effectively making the accessibility aspect more 'mainstream' rather than being sidelined into a little accessibility cul-de-sac that's a special little place for those brave disabled people ... ?
Jack Pickard The Pickards Information Services| Blog | Twit
Share:
Chrs for that. I like the last comment. Got me thinkin...
Still I leave it out there peeps. Anyone have any views either way?
Share:
OK - looking at it again baring your last comment in mind Jack, my only real problems with that are - too many clicks, and there may already be another help link.
I want the button to be on each page and to launch the assistive features on click, rather than present info, which then affords feature launch details (i.e. too many clicks)
And the page may have a site help page, linked from most/all pages. I don't want to confuse the two.
Share:
In an Accessibility Icon topic from 2006, I mentioned Joe Clark's review of accessibility icons. He favours the Mac's Universal Access icon.
The screenshot in the review is pretty grainy. But you can find better screenshots elsewhere on the web. I imagine Apple have intellectual property rights on their specific representations. You could ask them if they allow other projects to re-use the concept, though.
Share:
ah
Yes. I didn't see the right icon I think. Reading it I seem to have thought it was a secure payment thing. Which it doesn't look like at all now (although I've owned a Mac for 2 years now, so maybe I've just got used to it).
hmm...
Share:
we might have a winner: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gnome-preferences-desktop-accessibility.svg
Last remaining concern, it looks a little childish/childlike.
Share:
Phil, not sure if I like that one...it took me a while to figure that it was meant as 'open arms'? Or is that just me? 
Plus, I agree with you that it looks a little childish.
Share: