Accessible Signage

The Message is Clear: ADA-Compliant Signage Helps Improve the Customer Experience and Break Down Barriers

12/3/2024

Are you confident that your signs are effectively reaching your entire intended audience in a welcoming and educational manner? For millions of Americans with disabilities, especially those with visual impairments, proper signage is critical for their safety, well-being, and independence. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one in four adults (28.7 percent) have some type of disability. The importance of having signs that are welcoming and educational for everyone cannot be underestimated.

Did you know?

Approximately 5.5 percent of adults in the US have a vision disability with blindness or serious difficulty seeing (even when wearing glasses).

Estimates indicate that 13.9 percent of Americans have cognition issues resulting in serious difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions.

A Sign of the Times – Americans with Disabilities Act

During the summer of 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – the most comprehensive piece of legislation to protect people with disabilities – was signed into law. This landmark civil rights law includes regulations to prevent discrimination against anyone with a disability.

One key component of the legislation is the requirement for ADA-compliant signage in all permanent areas of public buildings. These signs are essential for educating, enhancing, and promoting accessibility for individuals with disabilities. They help people navigate public spaces either visually or through braille or raised letters (tactile touch). The signage on display must comply with specific guidelines including size, font, contrast, and placement. By ensuring the high-contrast signage is accessible for all, every building can offer a more inclusive environment for the visually impaired, the blind, as well as senior citizens (categorized as 65 and older).

What is a Tactile Sign?

According to the ADA, a tactile sign is categorized as a sign with raised characters or symbols that can be read by touch. These signs are most often used by individuals who have low vision or are blind, but are unable to read braille dots.

What is braille?

The Braille Authority of North America indicates that braille is a system of touch reading in which the alphabet is represented by the arrangement of six dots in a space called a cell.

How to Create a More Welcoming, Inclusive and Educational Environment: 3 Steps for Success

While not all organizations and businesses are mandated to comply with the ADA, an increasing number are choosing to incorporate ADA-compliant signage. This trend reflects a growing commitment to and greater consideration for individuals with disabilities, regardless of a company’s industry or size. In the United States, ADA signage is required in many areas of public buildings such as restaurants, concert halls, bars, stadiums and arenas, grocery stores, hotels, banks and more.

When you have ADA-compliant signs in your facility, people with disabilities experience greater mobility and can navigate independently. These signs also improve public safety by clearly marketing entrances, emergency exits, stairs, elevators and bathrooms. Both visitors and customers who can easily locate places feel more welcomed by the business. Bonus: knowing where to go saves everyone time!

1. Follow These Guidelines for Effective Signage

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) signage is created to help people with disabilities navigate public spaces more effectively. The ADA’s Accessible Design standards specify detailed requirements for ADA-compliant signs (which can vary depending on the sign’s location and purpose):

Visual Requirements:

Signs must be accessible to individuals with low vision and may include raised characters, pictograms, and visual characters.
Text should be a in a simple sans serif font in a medium bold weight,and have a height of 5/8 to 2 inches. The most common size for text is 5/8 inches. You should allow 2 inches of height per line of text.
Characters and their background must have a non-glare finish.
Characters must contrast with the background (either with light characters on a dark background or dark characters on a light background).

Tactile Requirements:

Signs must be accessible to people who have low vision or blind. They may include raised characters or braille.
Raised characters must be at least 1/32 of an inch above their background, in uppercase, and duplicated in braille.
Braille must be of the type known as contracted (Grade 2).
Tactile requirements apply to signs typically located at doorways because doorways offer a cut for locating signs to touch.

The main areas where signage is required include:

Doors – ADA signs are generally required at the doorway of every permanent room and space. For single doors, tactile signs should be placed on the latch side of the door.

For double-leaf doors (also known as French doors or double doors), the sign should be placed on the inactive side if there is one (or to the right of the door if they are both inactive).

Parking Lots – ADA-compliant parking lots should clearly highlight handicap parking spaces. Signs should use simple, direct language and be easy to read. Fonts such as Helvetica, Verdana, and Futurae are all great options due to their timeless design and clear lines. Additionally, signs should be placed at a height that is easily visible for both pedestrians and drivers. These simple steps ensure that the designated spaces are easily identifiable and accessible.

Digital Signage – Did you know that digital signage enclosures should be positioned between 27 and 80 inches above the floor? Here’s a handy pro tip: measure from the highest point of the flooring. This allows for adequate ground space of at least 30 by 48 inches around the screen.

Permanent Rooms – An ADA-compliant permanent room sign should be available to assist visually impaired individuals so they can easily find a specific location. A sign in these areas must be mounted so that the baselines of the raised characters are between 48 and 60 inches above the ground. The following are examples of permanent rooms:

Rooms with permanent fixtures: Since the fixtures are unlikely to be moved, these rooms must be labeled by name, not simply a number. Proper labeling helps identify the location and improve accessibility. Examples include: electrical rooms, storage rooms, mechanical areas, kitchens and bathrooms.
Rooms with infrastructure that define their specific use: These rooms, such as restrooms and stairwells, are often defined by their unique infrastructure. The presence of plumbing, electrical systems and other essential utilities will determine the functionality and primary use of the space.
Rooms unlikely to change function: These are often categorized as offices, classrooms and all-purpose meeting rooms.

2. Be Creative … and ADA-Compliant!

Your signage can be both visually appealing and ADA-compliant! Discover fun and creative elements to engage your audience and improve the aesthetic of your space – while adhering to all necessary guidelines:

Use a Vibrant Color Palette – While maintaining high contrast for readability, consider using vibrant and inviting colors that align with your brand’s color scheme. This approach will make your signs more attractive and engaging. The pop of color will get noticed!
Add Artistic Touches – Incorporate uncomplicated artistic designs and patterns that complement your brand and the surrounding area. Subtle specialty laminates, textures, or 3D motifs add visual interest without compromising readability.
Customize Materials and Shapes – Explore custom or thematic shapes that match the aesthetic of your space. Materials such as wood, acrylic, or even metal will garner attention and create a lasting memory!
Incorporate Texture – Looking to enhance the user experience? Adding some textile elements (especially for visually impaired individuals) will create a more engaging environment.
Include Graphics, Icons and Shapes – Think beyond the standard rectangular sign. Use distinctive icons related to the function of a room alongside braille and tactile letters. This addition can be both helpful and pleasing to the eye.
Integrate Educational Elements – Add some educational content on your signs. A sign near an escalator can briefly describe important accessibility features. Small details like this will be appreciated!
Choose a Complementary Border or Edge – Adding a simple, decorative edge or border instantly adds a touch of elegance to any design. A little creativity goes a long way!
Utilize Branding At Its Best – Create a cohesive environment. Your signs should have a similar look and feel and positively reflect your brand.
Seek Professionals for Design Advice – The experts at Image360 are available to assist you. Our team will ensure compliance with ADA guidelines and suggest innovative solutions that will make your guests feel welcomed and valued.

Enjoy the process of designing unique, engaging, and memorable signs that balance creativity with compliance. Remember, place all signs in well-lit areas at eye level for maximum exposure.

3. Get Feedback Where it Matters Most!

Gathering valuable feedback from visitors or customers is a great way to ensure your ADA signage is user-friendly, helpful, and beneficial for everyone. Offer a small incentive such as a raffle entry, discount, or small token of appreciation to increase response rates. When asking for feedback, it is important to consider the differing abilities that will provide it. Here are a few options:

Questionnaires and surveys: Generate brief surveys or questionnaires your customers can fill out. These can be distributed digitally or through a QR code on the signs themselves. Ask specific and direct questions about visibility, design, and overall readability.
In-person feedback: Train your staff to ask customers for direct feedback. Have them start a friendly conversation. They can ask questions such as “Did you find our signs to be helpful?” or “Is there anything we can do to improve our signage in the building?”
Follow-up Emails: After a visit, send a follow-up email asking for feedback. Include a link to a brief survey or provide a simple reply option.
Social Media Reviews: Are you engaging with your followers on social media? Encourage your customers to share their opinions by asking direct questions about your signage. This can help get the conversation rolling. Additionally, make sure to regularly monitor your site for comments about your signage.
All-Inclusive Feedback Methods: Are your feedback options accessible to everyone so all voices are heard? Include options in braille, large print or in an audio recording. By doing so, you can gather more meaningful and diverse feedback.
Observe: How are your customers interacting with the signage? Are you noticing patterns – good or bad? Are they asking similar questions? Body language can also be telling. Note any difficulties or positives they may encounter and mark areas for improvement.

Follow-up With Your Customers

Don’t forget to promptly share the results of any improvements you plan to make with your customers. This demonstrates that you genuinely value their input. If they know their feedback is making a real difference, they will be more likely to participate in a future survey.

ADA Signage Matters

The message is clear. ADA signage fosters a safe, inclusive, educational, and welcoming environment for everyone. By investing in ADA-compliant signs, businesses and organizations can help create an atmosphere where everyone feels respected, appreciated, and empowered to be their best! Caregivers and companions of individuals with disabilities also appreciate the thoughtfulness of an establishment that ensures everyone can easily pinpoint what they need to do and where they should go. It’s a win-win for everyone. Let’s continue to work together to make accessibility for all a priority!

Need Help Creating ADA-compliant Signs?

Rely on the experts at Image360 to guide you through everything you need to know about ADA signage for your business. We’ll make certain all of your graphics align with your brand, creating a unified and creative look that both you and your customers will appreciate!