If you are a business owner, you and the ADA probably know each other pretty well by now. In finding ways to accommodate all of your potential customers, including the ones with disabilities, you will have had to get familiar with ADA guidelines and make sure that various parts of your facility are ADA compliant. However, what you might not know is that the ADA also has important guidance for signage to help your customers navigate your facility, including the parking lots and restrooms. This is a quick look at the ADA signage regulations for 2022 that will help your business provide equal opportunities to all customers!
Finish
In order to be ADA compliant, a sign needs to have a finish that won’t produce a glare. If the sun or a store light makes a glare across an important sign, it becomes difficult or uncomfortable for people who are visually impaired to read.
Contrast
A high level of contrast between the color of the text on your sign and the background on your sign makes it much easier to read. This rule is a little flexible since there are a lot of ways to have high contrast colors, so you’re not limited to black on white or vice versa, although that is a safe and very high contrast option that will be easy for everyone to make out.
Lettering
Font and size are very important when it comes to making sure your sign is accessible and can be read by everyone. Try to make your letters as big as possible to avoid people having to move around or squint to get a good look, and stick to plain, sans serif fonts that aren’t too busy. ADA approved fonts include Verdana, Helvetica, and Futura, although those aren’t your only options.
Braille Text
According to ADA requirements, any room or space that is permanent, like a bathroom or a kitchen, must have braille text included on the sign to allow your blind and visually impaired customers to navigate the space. The specific requirements for the size and spacing of braille dots can vary from state to state.
Placement
Your signs need to be in a place where it’s easy for everyone to see them, and more importantly, if they’re identifying a specific room, particularly if the sign includes braille, it should be placed right by the door leading into that room. This will help your customers to know where they’re going!
As you can see, tweaking your signs to make them ADA compliant is not actually very difficult. You’ll still have a lot of wiggle room to make them look the way you like, and with these small considerations you can make a world of difference for disabled people who are trying to navigate your space.
If you’re interested in new or updated signage for your business, Bartush Signs can help you. We are the premier display signage company in Orwigsburg, PA. Contact us here to get started on your next project!
