"Odd" request - new standard for unisex restroom ADA signage

[MikePro]

state project, involving a college campus, that we recently completed. Every type of sign imaginable in multiple buildings.

anyways, just got a request to "re-identify" the term "Unisex" for the ADA compliant room identifying signage.
I believe they're leaning toward "Private Toilet" or "Private Restroom", but I have yet to come across a proper pictogram of a Toilet.

Has anyone done something like this? Or is there a standard that is already in use that would appease this crowd?

"Single stall restrooms meet the accessibility needs of many groups of people including, but not limited to, pregnant or nursing parents, people who use wheelchairs or mobility assistance devices, people who require the assistance of an attendant, transgender people, and gender variant/ gender non-conforming people.

The following are emerging/best practices for inclusive language for placement outside of single stall restrooms:

All Gender Restroom
Gender Neutral Restroom
Single Stall Toilet

We do not recommend the use of person-shaped pictograms as an indicator of the accessibility of a restroom. We do recommend a pictogram of a toilet to indicate the location of a restroom, as this may be particularly important for non-English speakers.

We do not recommend any use of the “family restroom” naming convention.

currently, we have simply labeled these restrooms as "Unisex", like the attached picture, but it is simply... not enough?

 

[genericname]

That's infuriating. And this is coming from someone who has a deep interest in gender politics.

I can see "Gender Neutral" being an acceptable term for a place where many people will find themselves at the same time, but for a single, private stall? That's just a freakin' toilet, and gender doesn't come into it.

This actually really interests me, so I'll put some feelers out to some friends in the LGBTQ community, and see if I can get back to you.

 

[Gino]

I'm not sure if someone is trying not to offend transsexuals or what with that verbiage, but aren't the laws kinda strict as to what the world-wide icons for these signs universally are/mean ??

I don't think they can just re-write the ADA rules, just because they want to. I would think they'd have to conform and just not be so Politically Correct.

Seems like a real winner..... good luck.


And I thought English/Spanish was going overboard.

 

[JERHEMI]

"Universal" then include the spanish translation underneath it?

 

[genericname]

Okay, no answers from friends yet, but I did a bit of digging. Don't know that I'll tell you anything you aren't already thinking with this: Sounds like the client is the one trying to seem overly sensitive, instead of actually trying to appease the crowd.

Among most attempts at gender neutral washroom, it generally seems that "man" and "woman" pictographs are preferable. They just need to be side to side. That's it.

There have been a few attempts to update, with a third pictograph of a half woman, half man, kind of... thing. Those seem to be the result of the same kind of walking on glass garbage though, and in the end actually offend, as it portrays trans people as otherly or in-between, or just people in drag.

The client also hasn't done their homework in wanting a pictograph of a toilet, for "non-English speakers", as toilets vary all over the world, and the only standard that's universally understood is, you guessed it, the man and woman pictographs.

So far, I don't know what to say. I feel you've done everything right with your unisex sign.

 

[MikePro]

aye its a headache, especially since I'm giving away design-time to develop a new standard for only a handful of room identifiers BUT this isn't just some joe-schmoe walking in our front door.

I'll definitely keep this thread posted of the progress...

I'm not crazy thinking that there currently is not a pictogram for a "toilet", correct?
anything and everything I've seen has been M/W/Handicap, even in Europe.

tell you what, however, digging has been pretty entertaining

 

[J Hill Designs]

 

[genericname]

No I think you're right about there not being a standard "toilet" pictograph. Same reason I stated above; most people that make the signs realize that it's not a universal communicator. Some people literately squat in holes to do their business.

I will say this though. The squat toilet pictographs did help me identify which washrooms to avoid in Japan.

 

[MikePro]

I will say this though. The squat toilet pictographs did help me identify which washrooms to avoid in Japan.

LOL.
Agreed. Tho' you can't avoid squat toilets in Lithuania... as they're EVERYWHERE unless you're in a hotel/restaurant/mall.... I just wander-off into the woods instead

 

[Moze]

state project, involving a college campus, that we recently completed. Every type of sign imaginable in multiple buildings.

anyways, just got a request to "re-identify" the term "Unisex" for the ADA compliant room identifying signage.
I believe they're leaning toward "Private Toilet" or "Private Restroom", but I have yet to come across a proper pictogram of a Toilet.

Has anyone done something like this? Or is there a standard that is already in use that would appease this crowd?

"Single stall restrooms meet the accessibility needs of many groups of people including, but not limited to, pregnant or nursing parents, people who use wheelchairs or mobility assistance devices, people who require the assistance of an attendant, transgender people, and gender variant/ gender non-conforming people.

The following are emerging/best practices for inclusive language for placement outside of single stall restrooms:

All Gender Restroom
Gender Neutral Restroom
Single Stall Toilet

We do not recommend the use of person-shaped pictograms as an indicator of the accessibility of a restroom. We do recommend a pictogram of a toilet to indicate the location of a restroom, as this may be particularly important for non-English speakers.

We do not recommend any use of the “family restroom” naming convention.

currently, we have simply labeled these restrooms as "Unisex", like the attached picture, but it is simply... not enough?

The ones I've installed simply contain the descriptor text "RESTROOM". The pictograms (the man, the woman, the wheelchair) imply the fact that it's accessible to all individuals.

Just a heads-up, the text cannot be within the 6" pictogram field.

 

[AzGene]

Here's what I'd do. Design the sign the way they want it and have them sign off on it along with a disclaimer that it may not be ADA compliant and they take full responsibility for any compliance issues.

 

[John Butto]

http://thenounproject.com/noun/toilet/#icon-No3121

 

[MikePro]

http://thenounproject.com/noun/toilet/#icon-No3121

there's my start! thanks John!

as far as a disclaimer/sign off, I'm not really worried about it, and I've got an email trail to back me up and these are the people that would raise a stink anyways. I'm sure the general population of students will be like "wtf" "ok, i guess".

 

[slappy]

 

[GAC05]

One symbol to rule them all

 

[Moze]

Cinnamon buns...?

 

[Gino]

Cinnamon buns...?

Fresh from the oven, still steamin'................

Fweeesh as a dwaisy
​

 

[John Butto]

Slapakiss: you gave me grief for my harmless cartoon porn and you post the bathroom pics. "That stuff should not be on the wall but under your bed".

 

[slappy]

Slapakiss: you gave me grief for my harmless cartoon porn and you post the bathroom pics. "That stuff should not be on the wall but under your bed".

guess it depends on what day of the week you catch me...

or the other me.... sometimes that's the nice me

get your mind out the gutter, that's a hand exercising tool and a fish symbol at a 90 degree angle

BTW, that was certainly not no cartoon sir unless your referring to the dialogue bubble you placed on it, that was more like a screen shot jpeg of porn in action, that's why i stated "it belonged under your bed"....but i do apologize for my tone to you after you displayed that. I do owe you that and will try to play nice from now on.

 

[Gino]

Dammit..... I missed another good steamy part..........​