A web accessibility icon is a small symbol, most often a figure with open arms inside a circle, that points people to accessibility settings, features or a statement, but the icon on its own never tells you whether a site is accessible. Only the code and content behind it decide that.
Below you will find the symbols you are likely to meet, what each one means, how to add one without creating new barriers, and what the official WCAG conformance logos from W3C do and do not say.
Quick facts
Most used online
A figure with open arms in a circle, meaning accessibility in generalWheelchair symbol
Physical, step-free access; a poor fit for websitesMedia symbols
CC for captions, AD for audio description, hands for sign languageWCAG logos
W3C badges for Level A, AA or AAA, used as a claim by the site ownerNot a fix
An icon or widget button does not make a page conform to WCAGIcon buttons
Need an accessible name and 3:1 contrast, like any control
Common web accessibility icon types and their meaning
| Symbol | What it shows | Typical use online |
|---|---|---|
| Figure with open arms in a circle | Accessibility in general, including digital access | Link to an accessibility statement or settings page |
| Person in a wheelchair | Physical access: ramps, lifts, step-free entry | Venue and travel information, not web features |
| CC in a box | Closed captions are available | Video players |
| AD | Audio description of visual content | Video players, film and event listings |
| Two hands signing | Sign language interpretation | Video, events, customer service |
| Ear with a slash or loop | Hearing access or assistive listening | Venue and event pages |
| Eye or magnifier | Low vision options, large print, zoom | Display settings, printed materials |
| Braille dots | Braille versions available | Documents and packaging information |
Many of these symbols are shared for free use, but each has its own terms. Check the source before you print them on products.
The digital accessibility icon vs the wheelchair symbol
The wheelchair symbol is the best known sign for access, so people reach for it on websites. Online it sends the wrong message. Most web barriers affect blind and low vision users, deaf users, keyboard-only users and people with cognitive disabilities, not only wheelchair users.
That is why the figure with open arms became the usual digital accessibility icon: it stands for access in general. If you need one symbol for a link to accessibility information, use that one, with a text label beside it.
An icon does not make a site accessible
Many sites show a floating button with an accessibility symbol that opens a toolbar of font sizes and color filters. The symbol suggests the site has been made accessible. It has not, unless the code underneath meets WCAG.
No overlay widget can bring a page up to WCAG by itself. Screen reader and magnifier users already have their own settings, and a toolbar does not fix missing labels, broken keyboard access or unclear structure. Some users find these buttons get in the way. Read more on our accessibility widgets page.
What earns trust is a working site plus an honest accessibility statement: what still fails, and how people can tell you about fresh barriers. To find what needs fixing, start with accessibility testing.
Making icon buttons accessible
Icons inside buttons and links often break 1.1.1 (text alternatives) and 4.1.2 as well. A screen reader user hears only "button" and has to guess.
Fails: the button has no name, so it is announced as just a button.
<button class="a11y-open">
<svg viewBox="0 0 24 24">...</svg>
</button>Passes: visible text names the button and the decorative graphic is hidden.
<button class="a11y-open">
<svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" viewBox="0 0 24 24">...</svg>
Accessibility
</button>If the design has no room for words, give the button an aria-label instead; our page on ARIA labels shows how. The icon shape also needs 3:1 contrast with its background, under the non-text contrast rule.
WCAG logo: what the conformance badges mean
W3C offers conformance logos for WCAG Level A, Level AA and Level AAA. A site owner may display one to say that the pages it covers meet that level. Three points matter:
- It is a claim, not a certificate. W3C does not test or approve sites that use the logo. The owner makes the claim and is responsible for it being true.
- It must match reality. Each covered page has to pass every criterion at the claimed level plus the levels beneath it. If a new page or plugin breaks something, the claim is no longer accurate.
- Misuse misleads people. Showing an AA badge on a site that fails AA can mislead users and buyers, and some legal systems treat false claims seriously.
Badges sold by other companies that say a site is WCAG certified are not W3C logos and carry no official weight. Learn what a real claim involves on our WCAG compliance and levels A, AA and AAA pages, and read W3C's WCAG overview for the source.
Where to place an accessibility link
Most users look for accessibility information in the footer, next to privacy and contact links. Put a text link there, with or without the icon, that goes to your accessibility statement. A good statement lists:
- the standard you aim for, for instance WCAG 2.2 Level AA;
- known problems and when you plan to fix them;
- how to ask for content in another format;
- how to report a barrier, and how quickly you reply.
Keep the link in the same place on every page. Consistent placement of help and navigation is itself part of WCAG.
Designing your own accessibility symbol
If your brand team wants a custom version, keep it simple and recognizable. Keep the shape at a contrast of 3:1 or more with whatever sits behind it, keep the clickable area 24 CSS px square or larger, and always pair it with a text label. Test it with a few users, including someone who uses a screen reader and someone who uses magnification, before you roll it out.
Questions people ask
What is the digital accessibility icon?
It is usually a simple figure with open arms inside a circle. It stands for accessibility in general, including digital access, and is used to mark links to accessibility settings or statements.
Can I use the WCAG logo on my website?
Yes, if the pages it covers really meet the level shown. The logo is your own claim; W3C does not check it, and a false claim can mislead users.
Does a wheelchair symbol mean a website is accessible?
No. It traditionally marks physical access. On a website it says nothing about whether screen reader, keyboard or low vision users can use the content.
Do I need an accessibility icon on my site?
No. WCAG does not require any icon. It does help to have a clear footer link to an accessibility statement, labelled in words.
What alt text should an accessibility icon have?
If the icon sits next to the word Accessibility, hide it from screen readers and let the text do the work. If it is on its own in a link, the link needs a name such as Accessibility statement.
Is there an official WCAG logo for compliance?
W3C offers conformance logos for Level A, AA and AAA. They show a claim made by the site owner, not a certificate from W3C.