New Icon
Old Icon
The new symbol garnered some negatives from critics, as noted in this article. Among other things, blind people objected because the icon seems to equate disabilities with mobility disabilities only, thus leaving blind or perhaps deaf people out.
Moreover, others simply didn't see a need to change. After all, the traditional wheelchair symbol enjoys universal recognition in the industrialized world.
So why change? I'd argue that more than saying "this facility offers access to people with disabilities," it serves another perhaps higher purpose--branding disability.
