Accessibility

The City of Seattle employs many policies and design standards for physical treatments to help people with varying abilities move around the city. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), enacted in 1990, extended comprehensive civil rights protections to people with disabilities. Many of the physical treatments that may enhance accessibility seem common today; however, over the years, the addition of curb ramps, raised crosswalks, push buttons for signals, and specialty signage have made walking easier for all pedestrians. Now, treatments such as tactile warning strips, audible signals, reflective signage, pavement treatments, and in-pavement lighting are installed regularly, and new approaches are continually in development. The examples below illustrate some existing tools. We encourage you to observe how these treatments benefit all users while walking in your neighborhood and business area.

Specialty Signs
alert drivers to special users	alert drivers to upcoming crossing	alert users to high use location
Construction Zone Access	Handrails	Bus Stop Landings
benefits all pedestrians	help people climb steep streets and provide a fixture to hold to while resting	facilitate level access to transit
Push Buttons	Countdown Signals	Audible Signals
may activate a walk signal	tell people how long they have to complete a crossing	provide directional guidance
Curb Ramps	Tactile Warning Strips	Change in Pavement Color or Texture
provide easy grade transition for all users	alert users before they enter a street; yellow is the common color for visibility	indicate pedestrian zone