In 1990 the United States Congress enacted the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a far 
reaching legislation that prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities. In addition to protecting the right to employment, the ADA ensures access to public transportation and full and equal opportunity to enjoy goods, services and use public accommodations. Consequently business establishments that serve the public are required by law to comply with a variety of requisites including some very specific guidelines for signage.
Most of us think immediately of braille signs, but the ADA requirements go far beyond signage for the blind. Signs must be readable to the functionally blind as well as those with lesser visual impairments. Persons in wheelchairs must also be able to access the information on signage. In addition, people who are deaf, have 
difficulty speaking due to physical disease or psychiatric illness, the elderly, and those with other impairments can all benefit greatly from clear ADA compliant signage.
- Who Must Comply? Any place of public accommodation must meet the ADA Guidelines. These include but are not limited to lodging establishments such as hotels, recreation facilities, educational institutions, restaurants, retail stores, health care providers, and recreational facilities.
- What type of signs must comply? SIgns designating permanent rooms, and functional spaces must comply to all the requirements. Room signs, bathroom signs, elevators and exits all fall into this category. (Signs that provide direction or instruction have fewer restrictions and are outlined below.)
- Braille and Raised Pictorial Symbols Letters and numerals must be raised 1/32 inch and accompanied with braille. Universal symbols need to have a verbal description below them. A single sign with both braille and traditional type suffices or separate signs can be used.
- Contrast and Finish: Either a light background with dark letters or light letters against a black or dark background are required; colors are not the issue, but rather the degree of contrast. Signs must have a matte or other non-glare finish to assure readability by persons who with visual impairments.
- Characters: Room signs that identify spaces such as offices, elevators and restrooms must use a simple sans serif typeface and maintain a ratio of height to width between 3:5 to 1:1. ADA mandates that characters are a minimum of 3 inches in height or more depending on the viewing distance. Signs which give directions or information are exempt from these strict requirements.
- Location: Signs identifying permanent rooms are to be installed next to the door, on the latch side when possible. Signs are to be installed at a height of 60 inches to insure persons in wheelchairs can access the information, and they must be able to do so without being in the path of the door and without encountering any obstacles or protrusions.
Although these requirements may appear complex, and in fact they are, complying with them need not be difficult nor expensive. We can provide you with affordable options that will meet compliance while assisting all your customers to navigate through your establishment with ease and respect. Let us help you design ADA signage that will look sharp and add to the overall decor of your establishment.
We offer the complete Americans with Disabilities Act Guidelines for signage here.
