ADA signage is an essential part of making businesses appealing and accessible for all customers.
Every business wants to be welcoming for its patrons, and that means your facility must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This federal law was created to ensure that individuals with disabilities are able to enjoy everyday activities like dining at a restaurant, shopping, or accessing buildings to receive medical treatment, for example. ADA-compliant business signs are part of this legal requirement, as well. Do you know what your responsibilities are regarding accessibility signage?
Adler Display is here to answer your questions and help you create safe, attractive, and inclusive commercial environments. Please read on for five important things to know about the ADA signage requirements for your place of business.
1. They serve some important purposes.
According to chapter §216 of the ADA Standards, compliant signs have three primary goals:
- To identify permanent interior office rooms and spaces
- To provide direction to, or information about, permanent interior building spaces
- To identify, direct to, or inform about accessible features via the International Symbol of Accessibility (ISA) and other required accessibility symbols
2. ADA-compliant signs have special features.
When customers arrive at your place of business, their experience with your company is just beginning. That means your signage has an important job to do outside and inside your facility. ADA-compliant business signs feature tactile, high-contrast letters that are easy to read. They are particularly helpful for the visually impaired, such as senior citizens and the more than 2.5 million Americans who are legally blind. Custom ADA signage is useful in guiding these populations through places of business and other unfamiliar destinations.
3. They’re a vehicle for communicating important information.
In some situations, ADA signage is meant to share essential information, such as emergency messaging or wayfinding assistance. Some examples include:
- Women, men, and gender-neutral restrooms
- Hazardous areas and emergency exits
- Directory signs in lobbies
- Name inserts in offices designated for individual employees
- Room numbers for large, complex facilities
4. ADA signs can safeguard employees, clients, and visitors.
Prominently-placed ADA signage helps ensure that employees and customers are protected while they’re in your company’s space. They can be used to notify people that safety equipment or clothing, such as hard hats, should be worn specified areas, for example. Displaying the proper ADA signage also ensures that you comply with applicable laws and regulations to protect your business from associated liabilities.
5. The options are endless.
ADA-compliant signage doesn’t have to be boring. While there are specific requirements outlined by the government, ADA signage is far from one-size-fits-all and there are virtually no limits to what can be designed. The experts at Adler Display will help you create signs that comply with ADA regulations while still maintaining consistency with your other signage systems and overall architecture. Our custom ADA-compliant business signs can reflect your style, culture, and brand while also adhering to ADA regulations.
Is it time to make your facility more welcoming and inclusive? Adler Display has more than 85 years of experience creating eye-catching ADA signs that help everyone feel valued, appreciated, and welcomed. Contact us today to get started.
About Adler Display: For over 85 years, Adler Display has been one of the best-kept secrets behind so many businesses looking their best. Designing and producing a wide variety of high-quality recognition displays, trade show displays, signage and exhibits, lobby and corporate interiors, and historical timelines, Adler’s expert team includes consultants, designers, project managers, and fabricators. Working from a 17,000-square-foot facility in Baltimore that includes a precision woodworking shop, Adler Display handles all printing, construction, and finishing on site. Learn how to achieve your imaging goals and make your business look amazing at: www.AdlerDisplay.com.