Accessible and Engaging: The Future of ADA Signs

Many types of signs — such as those identifying permanent rooms or spaces, exits and entrances, elevators and restrooms — must adhere to guidelines laid out in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). There are many guidelines to consider, but it generally boils down to including tactile characters (such as Braille or raised letters), helping ensure visual characters are sufficiently easy to read (contrasting color of characters with backgrounds, non-glare finish, no italics or script), and standardizing sign height and placement for easy reading by wheelchair users, visually impaired individuals and others.

However, as anyone who’s read Shakespeare’s sonnets can attest, sometimes restrictions of form can inspire incredible creativity. Making signage for everyone doesn’t mean making signage boring: it means exploring new and innovative ways to make signage exciting.

Part of that starts with understanding the boundaries of what’s possible. For that, you should consult the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, which addressed many concerns with ADA-compliant signage while also opening up new design options that still meet audiences’ accessibility needs.