ADA Signs:
The Big Picture
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) specifies regulations for signs to help individuals with visual impairments use tactile senses to read signs. Many times people think adding Braille to a sign makes it ADA compliant. Not so. The ADA has specifications for signs, which include the following: Grade II Braille - Words and numbers must be translated into an abbreviated form of Braille. Grade II Braille is a translation of groups of letters, rather than a letter for letter translation.  Raised letters - Letters raised above the surface of the sign allow a person to feel the outline of the letters. Not all visually impaired individuals can read Braille, so some will rely on tracing the letters by touch to read the sign.  Minimum letter height and contrast requirements - Some visually impaired people can see signs when there is sufficient color contrast and letter height. Remember, color contrast, letter height, and raised letters can all be just as important as Braille when considering if your signs are ADA compliant. FASTSIGNS Louisville is familiar with all ADA requirements and can help you perform a compliance survey on your facility, making recommendations and suggestions to help you become ADA compliant. Plus, we do all of our Braille and raised-letter production in-house for a faster turnaround. | 
