Legislators Seek Law to Modernize Sign for People with Disabilities

State Assemblywoman Sandra Galef (D/Ossining) and Senator David Carlucci (D) joined advocates for people with disabilities in Ossining this week to urge Governor Andrew Cuomo to sign legislation to modernize the Universal Symbol of Access.

The legislation, which passed in both the Assembly and the Senate, would make New York the first state in the nation to eliminate the word “handicapped” and change the 46-year-old icon symbol on signs to represent a wheelchair-bound individual in motion.

“A picture is worth a thousand words.,” Galef said. “These new signs and this new language call for businesses, schools, governments and organizations to help change negative to positive, static to mobile, and help to further incorporate our differently abled community into the mainstream.”

“We are again leading the way by being the first state in the nation to pass legislation to update our outdated ‘handicap’ signs with a more active, engaging accessibility symbol,” Carlucci said.

Mel Tanzman, executive director of Westchester Disabled on the Move, said he hoped Cuomo signed the legislation before the 24^th anniversary of the Americans with Disability Act on July 26.

“Language and stereotypical images have limited and marginalized people with disabilities for too long,” he said. “It’s time for government to lead through its actions.”

Rick Pezzullo

Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/