others to steer traffic

其他的則在導引交通

or advance political causes.

或者推動政治目標

But there's one whose main purpose is to help people.

但有一個符號，主要目的是幫助人們

You may know it as the wheelchair symbol, or a sign for people with disabilities,

你可能知道它象徵輪椅，或者代表殘障人士的符號

but its formal title as maintained by the ISO

但它也是由國際標準組織ISO維護的正式名稱

is the International Symbol of Access.

屬於國際接取符號

But despite its familiarity,

但先撇開它的熟悉度

many people are unclear as to what the symbol actually means,

許多人不清楚這個符號實際上是什麼意思

which has a lot to do with the symbol itself and the way it came about.

它與符號本身和其出現方式有很大的關係

In 1968, the International Commission on Technology and Accessibility

1968年，國際科技暨無障礙委員會

held a design contest.

舉辦了設計大賽

They were looking for a symbol

當時他們正在尋找一個符號

that would be readily identifiable from a reasonable distance,

從合理的距離就可輕易識別

self-descriptive,

同時具自我描述功能

simple,

簡單

practical,

實際

and couldn't be confused with existing signage.

並且不會與現有標誌混淆

The winning design, which didn't have a head,

當時獲勝的設計，上面沒有人頭

was created by a Danish designer named Susanne Koefed.

由丹麥設計師蘇珊‧ 科飛所構建

The addition of a head a year later gave it a more human form,

一年後，在原符號加一個頭，就此給它一個更人性化的形式，

and within ten years,

並在十年內，

it was endorsed by both the United Nations and the ISO.

得到聯合國和國際標準組織的認可

With minimal cost and minimal fuss, a global icon was born.

用最小的成本和最小的挑戰，一個全球的圖標就此誕生了。

There have been a few tweaks over the decades.

而數十年來，還有一些調整

The Graphic Artists Guild added more rounded, human-like features,

圖形藝術家協會為它添加了圓、像人的功能

and in 2012, the Accessible Icon Project produced a more dynamic version.

並在2012年，接取符號專案組織並為它設計更動態的版本。

But what does it really represent?

但它真正代表什麼？

What's its purpose?

目的何在?

Put simply, it's a sign to identify where there are accessible facilities.

簡單來說，這是一個用來標定無障礙設施的所在的符號

The strength of such an internationally recognized image

這種國際公認的形象的力量

is that wherever you travel,

無論你旅行到何處

you don't need to speak the language or have in-depth cultural knowledge.

無需多說任何話，或者需要有深入的文化知識

If you require an accessible toilet, the sign shows the way.

如果你需要一個無障礙廁所，這個標誌就會帶路

But the confusion comes from the term accessibility

但是「無障礙」這個專有名詞卻常讓人一頭霧水

and what that actually means.

而它真正的意思是什麼

Many people assume that because the symbol depicts a wheelchair,

許多人認為，既然符號已畫出了輪椅，

that accessible facilities are meant only for people who use wheelchairs,

所以無障礙設施也僅適用於使用輪椅的人

or those, at the very least, who have a visible physical condition.

或者，至少至少，適用那些身體上有明顯狀況的朋友

But accessibility is a broad concept

但無障礙其實是個廣泛的概念

that applies to many, many different conditions.

可以應用到許多、許多不同情況

That includes people with autism,

包括自閉症患者

visual impairments,

視力障礙

and autoimmune diseases,

和自身免疫性疾病

like lupus, which can cause pain and fatigue,

像是狼瘡，它會引起疼痛和疲勞

along with many other conditions.

以及許多其他不同情況

In fact, the World Health Organization estimates

事實上，依世界衛生組織估計

that there are approximately 1 billion people

全球大約有10億人

who experience some form of disability,

遭受某種形式的殘疾

which means that this group is very likely to include yourself,

這也意味這個群體內，很可能包括你自己，

or a family member,

或是家族成員

a classmate,

同學

a friend,

朋友

or a work colleague.

或者是同事

And people who use wheelchairs only make up about 65 million,

而使用輪椅的人們只佔了6500萬，

or 15% of the total.

或者全部的 15%

The vast majority have non-visible disabilities.

絕大多數都屬非可見的殘疾

Accessible parking spaces, facilities, and entrances

而無障礙停車位、設施和入口

are designed with that entire group in mind.

則是設計給整個組群

So it's easy to see why in recent years people have begun to raise questions

所以很容易理解，為什麼近年來人們開始提出疑問

about whether the symbol is really appropriate for what it's meant to do.

認為這個符號是否真的適合它所代表的

And it's not just about accuracy.

這不僅僅是準確性問題

It's common for people to become indignant,

人們常常因此動怒

sometimes abusive,

有時還會咒罵

when they see people without visible disabilities using accessible facilities.

當他們看到沒有明顯殘疾的人來使用無障礙設施

The symbol is unfortunately creating widespread issues

可惜的是，這個符號反而引起廣泛的問題

for the very people and families it's meant to help.

因為它原本要幫助的正是這個群組或家族

The recent redesigns have attempted with some success

近來的重新設計希望能獲得些許成功

to acknowledge concerns over the current symbol.

以表達對現行符號的關注

But some think that a complete redesign is in order.

但有些人還是認為，一個完整的重新設計應循序漸進

It's a difficult task, though.

儘管它是一項難度頗高的任務

How do you replace a symbol that's familiar the world over?

而你要怎麼把世人都已熟悉的符號換掉？

And what do you replace it with?

又要用什麼來代替呢?