Nearly 40 million people are blind yet many businesses forget to include braille room signs when putting the finishing touches on their establishment. This can make some patrons very uncomfortable. If you want your business to be a lot more inclusive and ADA compliant, you’ll need these braille room signs.
What are ADA compliant braille room signs?
ADA stands for the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was signed into federal law in 1990. This law prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in nearly all businesses or public accommodations, meaning it’s required by law to have ADA signage. To meet the ADA standards, there are a lot of specific things to keep in mind, including what’s on the sign and where it’s placed. That’s why it’s important to use sites like Braille Sign Pros, who will have all ADA-approved signage in one place.
Where must ADA compliant braille signs be?
The specifics will depend on your exact business, but there are some universal areas where braille room signs are recommended to keep customers safe:
● Restrooms
● Exits and emergency exits, including doors, stairs, and routes
● Accessible parking spaces
● Elevators and elevator car controls
● Any directional or informational signage needed should have accompanying ADA signs
● Accessible checkout aisles
If your building has any non-accessible exits, restrooms, or elevators, you must place directional signage that will lead them to the nearest accessible option.
Requirements for ADA compliant braille room signs
When it comes to what’s on the sign itself, there are certain requirements that you must meet. Here is what you have to keep in mind.
First is the type. The braille should be a standard grade 2 variant. The braille dots should be rounded instead of flat or pointed.
When it comes to capitalization, uppercase letters should only be used before the first word of a sentence, in front of proper nouns and names, and for any single letters or acronyms.
The braille should always be positioned the same. It should be below the corresponding text. If there are multiple rows of text, the braille should be placed below the last line of text, below all of it still. Dots should be separated by at least ⅜ of an inch from other characters, borders, and decorations.
Other Regulations
All ADA signs that have visuals or tactile lettering should have a non-glare finish. There should be high contrast between the text and background. You’ll often see them with a very light background and dark characters or white letters on a dark colored background.
Braille signs have to be placed on the wall on the latch side of a door. If there is not enough wall space on the latch side, the sign should be placed on the nearest adjacent wall. Keep in mind that there should be clear floor space for the person to read the sign without getting hit by a swinging door. There should be no signs that block exits or emergency equipment.
Why Braille Sign Pros?
Braille Sign pros have all of the ADA-approved signs you’ll need in one place to keep your business inclusive and safe. This includes bathroom signs, room number signs, stairwell signs, window signs, and more.
Braille Sign Pros have over 20 years of experience in the ADA sign industry. They are up to date on all laws and regulations to ensure you are compliant.
If you have any questions, there’s a team of friendly and experienced customer service reps that can help you figure out exactly what signs you need within your budget.
