The update comes after Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed two bills into law. They replace the word “handicapped” with “reserved” and change a stationary logo of a person in a wheelchair to a more active wheelchair user.
Disability Network Michigan spokesperson Teri Langley says while these changes may seem minimal, they’re significant for the disability community.
“This change in parking in signs represents the change in beliefs and the change in attitudes toward people with a disabilities," said Langley.
Langley says the network is working on getting the Secretary of State to adopt the design for other parking materials and signs. Businesses aren’t required to replace current signage, but should they need new ones, they will need to use the updated sign.