[nfbmi-talk] accessable signs and wayfinding

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Accessible Signs and Wayfinding

With an introduction and glossary for people who are blind or visually impaired



By Sharon Toji, Access Communications



Introduction

Signs play an important part in the accessibility of public places for people with disabilities. The term “ADA signs” is often interpreted to mean only those signs with raised characters and Braille. However, the ADAAG, or ADA Accessibility Guidelines, give us guidelines for just about every kind of sign. In individual states, signs must also follow the rules of state building codes –– which is the only code that building officials must enforce -- and some of those rules are actually more strict than the federal laws, and may result in more readable tactile signs.



Accessible signage not only enables people with functional blindness to make increased independent use of a facility; it also aids people in wheelchairs or with mobility impairments to locate accessible features, people with hearing impairments to locate auxiliary aids and people with low vision to make increased use of signs. Easy-to-read wayfinding signs are essential for people who are deaf or cannot speak clearly or understand others, or who have certain cognitive disabilities. And, as an additional benefit, just as ramps help people with luggage carts and strollers, signage which is based on accessibility regulations tends to become more helpful to the general public. Universal design requires intelligent, well-designed wayfinding and signage systems.



Why learn sign rules? When you are in charge of securing a meeting place for your group, you can make good use of this knowledge. When you insist on meeting spaces with at least minimum accessibility for all groups of people with disabilities, you are giving the managers of those facilities a true market-based reason to comply with federal and state laws. You are sending an important message to all prospective participants that they are welcome at your function. And by including signage in your accessibility requirements, you show that your message of inclusion is a truly public one.



Learning to survey public buildings will give you the opportunity not only to choose where you will do business, but will give the needed impetus to building owners to begin to bring their buildings into compliance. Signs are usually replaced fairly often in buildings and in the course of time, many signs are changed. It is not a great hardship to ask that all signs which are replaced, changed or added conform to the law.



You don’t need elaborate equipment to make a sign survey. It is helpful to have a team which consists of a visual reader and a tactile character and Braille reader. A tape measure, a template for character proportions and Braille spacing, and some contrast samples will get the job done. Remember, though, that guidelines are by no means perfect. They are a compromise. So, signs might conform to guidelines, be of high quality and still not be accessible to everyone. Although we have included a section on "Best Practices," which we hope you will use to persuade building owners to provide high quality tactile signs as well as minimally compliant ones, the fact is that the ADA Accessibility Guideslines (ADAAG) are fairly minimal. You will have a hard time forcing building owners to go beyond these minimal standards unless they are convinced it will benefit them. 



Many people do not understand that signs are individual units, and that when they are replaced, or new signs are added, they must comply with the most recent standards. In California, the most recent state building code spells out this requirement in explicit language. Individuals working for the Department of Justice have agreed, in conversations with us, with that interpretation.



Required Signs and Sign Requirements –– The Difference

Very few signs are actually required by the federal ADA guidelines or by state building or fire codes. For instance, there is no requirement that rooms and spaces in buildings be identified at all, with the exception of exits, stairwells, elevator hoistways and panels, and restrooms. Some fire departments also want mechanical and electrical rooms identified. If a building owner wishes people to wander about opening doors to peer in and inquire what service is provided in that room, that is OK, no matter how inconvenient it may be for everyone! It is only when signs are provided to identify the rooms that the codes kick in. If the signs are provided, then they must comply with the code. The same thing holds for most directional and informational signs. In many states there are some required regulatory signs, such as evacuation plans and “No Smoking” signs. These signs must follow the rules. Signs identifying and directing to accessible entrances and other features are also required by law. But ordinary directional signs pointing to certain destinations are optional. They don’t need to be provided at all, but if they are provided, they must comply with the code.



Glossary  

Here are some definitions and explanations of graphics and signage terminology which may help you. They are not in alphabetical order, but are grouped together by topic.



Universal design:  Universal design is design of facilities, architectural elements, products, equipment, programs and activities, publications, web sites and packaging based on the idea that these things should be usable by as broad a segment of the population as possible, including people of different ages, sizes, and abilities. A walkway leading to a building entrance that is gently sloped, for instance, rather than one with steps, is an example of universal design. 



Wayfinding, wayfinding design:  Wayfinding deals with all the elements in public places which help people find their way around. It includes not just signs, but architectural features, colors, textures and sounds. For instance, we should be able determine which is the main public entrance of a building because it looks different from other doorways. It might have a canopy, for instance, or be larger.  



Accessible signs:  These are signs which are required to comply with the standards. However, as noted above, the signs themselves may not be required! If they are there, however, they must meet the standards.



Identification signs:  These signs label permanent rooms and spaces on sites and in buildings. Usually, they follow some sort of logical plan, such as an alphabetical or numerical sequence. Named rooms which have no number also require these signs. ADAAG requires that they be placed adjacent to the doors they identify. Restrooms and exits must also be labeled with signs, as well as floor levels for elevators and stairwells. Since they are located at specific and predictable spots, they are required to be tactile.



Directional signs:  These are placed at decision points throughout sites or buildings to point to destinations or certain groups of numbered rooms. They could be high on walls, hanging from ceilings, or projected along a 

 corridor. Since the location differs from building to building and floor to floor, there is no point in making them tactile. (Audible signs seem to hold out the most promise, but are not yet required by law.)



Informational signs:  These signs might list rules about the use of a site or facility, such as a park, recreation or laundry room, or announce that no smoking is allowed. They might give hours of operation or important safety information. They are located wherever they are needed, so no rules govern location and they are not required to be tactile. (As with directional signs, the future of accessibility lies with audible signs.)



Accessibility signs:  These signs include one of the four international symbols of accessibility, such as the wheelchair or the three symbols for equipment for the deaf or hard of hearing. They may include text or directional arrows. Since location is unpredictable, they are not required to be tactile.

  

Temporary signs:  These signs, along with advertising signs of all kinds, do not need to comply with rules. Names of companies or individuals, menus and price signs are all considered temporary. Room functions may be temporary, and may be included on changeable inserts along with permanent room numbers. (Understandably, many functionally blind people need and want this information, and audible signs appear to be the favorite solution, as with informational and directional sign. However, they are not yet part of the formal legal requirements.)



Characters:  This term refers to letters, numbers, punctuation marks and typographic symbols such as dollar signs.



Symbols:  Symbols are, in a graphic sense, abstract forms, marks or simplified pictures which stand for concepts, actions, people or things. The only regulated symbols are the four symbols of accessibility.



ISA:  This is the International Symbol of Accessibility, a pictorial representation of a wheelchair or a person in a wheelchair.



Pictograms:  Pictorial symbols (simplified pictures) are often called pictograms. For instance, an arrow pointing left stands for the concept “go to the left.” A side view of a large wheel, with a circle on top representing a head and extensions which could be either a person’s arm and leg or a wheelchair arm and footrest, might stand for the concept “people in wheelchairs can get through this door.” A circle with a diagonal slash through it stands for the concept “not allowed.” A stick figure with projections for arms and legs, a circle above for a head and a triangular shape for a skirt stands for “women” or “girls” and is commonly used for restrooms and locker rooms to be used by females only.



Gender pictograms:  These are fairly standard figures of a female figure and a male figure used to identify restrooms. When both are used on the same sign, it usually means that the restroom is for one user at a time, of either sex.



Logos:  Another commonly used symbol is a logo, which represents a particular company or group. A logo might be pictorial, such as the shape of a seashell which represents Shell Oil Company, or it might be abstract like the colored circles which represent the Olympics. Logos are not regulated, because they are a matter of free speech.



Decorative elements:  These are parts of signs which don’t interfere with the important message of the sign. They may be frames, strips at the tops or bottoms of the signs (called headers and footers), sometimes with a 

company logo or a decoration of some kind, or just a line, border or other graphic which doesn’t intrude into the area of the text and its background.



Temporary information, Room Function:  This information may change, even though the room number stays the same. For instance, Dr. Jones Dental Office may be in 105 right now, but he might move, and Steve Jones CPA may move in. Room 210 may function as the personnel office now, but that office might move, and the building management might occupy that office. The changeable information does not have to be provided in raised characters and Braille. Only the number itself is considered the room identification.  



Tactile signs:  These are the signs the codes require to identify permanent rooms and spaces. They include raised characters for non-Braille readers to read by touch and Grade 2 Braille.



Grade 2 Braille: For those not familiar with Braille, Grade 2 Braille is a form of Braille shorthand. One cell of six dot spaces may stand for a two letter combination such as “st” or “en” or even for an entire word. Two cells might stand for three or more letters. Grade 2 Braille speeds up Braille reading and writing, and is considered to be an important key in Braille literacy, so is required by the ADA.

Typestyles, typefaces, fonts:  These all refer, in one way or another, to the distinctive design of alphabet, punctuation and number sets. They are designed by artists called “typographers” and given names by these artists such as “Helvetica” and “Optima.” They are classified further by such designations as “serif,” “sans serif” and “script.” People who are not familiar with the art of typography might think characters from one style can be interchanged with those from another. However, each character in a particular style is carefully designed to harmonize visually with the other characters. A custom easy-to-read by touch typestyle could be specially designed. In the UK, a special typestyle has been designed to use for visual signs and large print, as well as other uses, but the typographers have not designed a version for tactile readers. Studies have shown that the most readable tactile typestyles are sans serif, with classic rounded forms that are different from each other. For instance, the “R” does not feel like “A.” When letters have interior spaces, such as “O” or “P,” they are large enough to feel. Strokes are fairly thin, not extremely bold. 

   

Stroke:  Each major part of a character is a stroke. For instance, an uppercase “T” has one vertical stroke with one horizontal stroke across the top. An uppercase “A” has two opposing diagonal strokes which meet at the top and a short horizontal stroke about midpoint joining the two.  



Character width:  Some typestyles are designed with characters that are deliberately stretched out, and the width of some characters in the style are wider than they are high. These are called “Extended” typestyles. Other typestyles have characters that are squeezed together, so that the negative or interior spaces within the characters such as “O” are much smaller or narrower than usual. These are usually called “Condensed” or “Narrow” typestyles. Either of these extremes is difficult to read, especially by touch. Title 24 does not allow such typestyles for either tactile or visual signs that are required to be accessible.



Serif, Sans Serif:  A serif is an extra projection on the end of a stroke. Some serifs are long and thin, while some look like rounded bumps on the stroke ends. Some, called “slab serifs” are angular and flat. Serif styles often have variations in stroke thickness as well. Sans serif typestyles have no extra projections or bumps (“sans” means “without” serifs) and the strokes are usually quite uniform in width throughout the character, although they may get slightly wider at the ends. Sans serif styles are much easier to read by touch than serif styles, particularly when serifs on two adjacent characters touch and form an enclosed space between them. If space is wide enough between letters so serifs don’t touch, the type often looks visually unattractive, so widely spaced sans serif type is actually more attractive. Currently, ADAAG allows something called a "simple serif." There is no such thing, and this has proved to be a large error which has been corrected in the new ADAAG, which has not yet become law. Designers and architects should be discouraged from specifying serif typestyles for tactile characters. California and some other states do not allow serifs for tactile sign characters but do allow them for visual characters on accessible signs, as do the federal guidelines. Visually, the serifs aid comprehension for those with normal and near normal vision since they guide the reader’s eyes from letter to letter.



Italic or oblique typestyles:  These terms are used interchangeably, but are technically different. However, they both describe characters which are slanted, usually to the right. They are more difficult to read than vertical characters both for tactile readers and readers with low vision. However, they are not explicitly forbidden in the current ADAAG, although they will be in the new ADAAG, and are in the current ANSI standards.



Contrast:  In terms of ADAAG this refers to a contrast between light and dark. The Appendix of ADAAG defines contrast as a minimum of 70 percent contrast between light and dark. Very pale green –– almost white –– will contrast better with dark green than two similar shades of different colors, such as a medium shade of red and a medium shade of green, or bright red and black, especially when the reader has impaired color vision. Almost any very dark shade sign background, such as maroon, forest green, navy, charcoal or dark brown will contrast with  off-white characters and symbols. Of course frames and other decorative parts of the sign can be any color. 

Glare:  There are scientific instruments to measure glare, but the amount of glare that the sign reader will experience will differ depending on where the sign is installed. Therefore, judging glare is quite subjective. The best course is to insist on materials with a dull or “non-reflective” finish and to stay away from metals unless they are painted with matte paint or receive a special finish (for the background and characters which have to be accessible, not for frames or other decorative parts of the sign). Even metals which are called “matte,” “brushed” or “satin” are usually too shiny. Non-glare acrylics also differ from brand to brand. Ironically, the regulation concerning glare is one of the most important, but also one of the most difficult guidelines to follow, hard to define and apply as an absolute standard.  

    

I.  Signs Covered by Accessible Codes and Guidelines:  An Overview



A.  Accessibility begins at the property line. Parking facilities.  The ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG)  begin right where streets and sidewalks enter the covered property. Accessible signs are mandated everywhere within the property line, not just inside buildings. 

  

1.  Accessible parking signs.  Each accessible parking space has a sign at its head, which includes the ISA (International Symbol of Accessibility, or wheelchair pictogram). Van accessible spaces are marked. 



2.  Accessible passenger loading zones. The current issue of ADAAG requires that these zones be identified with the ISA.



B.  Signs that direct and inform.  When facilities have signs, both exterior and interior, that direct to or give information about the facility, those signs must follow specific standards that make them more easily readable by people with vision impairments. Although most such signs are not required by law, some signs are mandated because they give directions to or information about accessible elements. 

        

1.  Exterior path of travel signs may guide wheelchair users to ramps, lifts, or accessible entrances. (These signs are required at junctions when the accessible path of travel diverges from or is not visible from the general pathway.)



  2.  Informational signs may inform visitors about rules for using the facility or tell when it opens. (Some signs, such as “No Smoking” signs may be required by law.)



  3.  Directional signs may point to restrooms, ticket offices or elevators. (Some of these signs may be required to show accessible pathways.)



4.  Signs about accessible features use special pictograms to tell disabled visitors how they can access the facility and its features. These are all required signs.



a. Accessible entrances, restrooms, other wheelchair accessible features are indicated by the ISA. (International Symbol of Accessibility, popularly known as the wheelchair symbol.)  



b. Telephones for the deaf and hard of hearing are indicated by the TTY symbol in the case of text telephones, and by the Volume Control symbol in the case of volume control telephones.



c. Assistive listening systems are indicated by the International Symbol of Hearing Loss.







C.  Elevator signs. Elevators are a vital part of accessible buildings of more than one floor. For people who are blind, the required signs on elevator door jambs (hoistways) and control panels are a vital key to finding individual destinations within multistoried buildings.



1.  Hoistway signs.  Floor levels on elevator door jambs or hoistways, provided both in raised characters and Braille, let blind people know which floor they are on.



2.  Control button labels.  The required tactile characters, symbols and Braille beside each button on the elevator control panel enable blind people to get to the correct floor and to control elevator doors or come to an emergency stop.



3.  Emergency equipment.  Emergency equipment signs indicate that a telephone or other means of two- way communication is available in case of an emergency. 



D. Life Safety. In many states, a State Fire Marshal mandates the use of signs for Life Safety purposes. The information needs to be accessible for people with vision impairments.



1.  Exiting identification.  The State Fire Marshal mandates the use of overhead exit signs to identify doors which lead to exit stairwells, exit corridors, or directly to the outdoors. Therefore, these same doors need to be identified by raised character and Braille signs for people who are blind.



2.  Stairwell signs.  In High Rise Buildings, the Fire Marshal requires signs that give emergency personnel vital information about the building. Sighted people often use some information on these signs to identify the floor level. Therefore, it is necessary to also identify the level with a raised character and Braille sign for people who are blind.



a.  Code signs. In many states, highrise buildings require 12 inch square signs with information for emergency personnel. These signs are not tactile, but must comply with visual requirements for contrast and lack of glare.



b.  Tactile signs. In buildings of two or more stories, doors leading from enclosed stairwells into corridors must be identified with a raised character and Braille sign identifying the floor level.



3.  Areas for Evacuation Assistance.  When areas for evacuation assistance, sometimes known as Areas of Refuge, Areas of Rescue Assistance or Evacuation Areas, are provided in buildings, specific signs are mandated.


a. Identification signs.  The area must be identified with a sign, “Area for Evacuation Assistance,” to include the ISA. When illuminated visual “Exit” signs are required, this area must also be identified with an illuminated sign. The area must also be identified with a raised character and Braille sign.



b.  Communications signs. Instructions for using the required two-way communications system in the area must be provided which can be used by persons with vision impairments.



4.  Evacuation Plans. In some states the State Fire Marshal requires all two story office buildings and lodgings to have emergency evacuation plans located at stairwells, in elevator lobbies and at public entrances. Transient lodgings must have a sign in each room. In California, these signs must follow accessibility standards for informational and directional signs so they can be used by people with vision impairments. (There are some cases where the building owner can provide a brochure with evacuation information rather than signs).  

        

a. Lodging room signs. These signs show the relationship of the individual room to other rooms along the corridor, and to the exits or exit stairways. They are mounted inside the room on or near the exit door.  



b. Public area signs. These signs show a layout of the complete floor, along with exit pathways and other mandated emergency information. The plan is oriented to the viewing location. They are generally larger and contain more information than the room signs.  



E.  Restroom identification. A tactile sign is required, adjacent to the door. This sign can include a gender pictogram, with the appropriate raised text below, accompanied by Braille.  



F.  Room or suite identification signs. Although there is no legal requirement to identify individual rooms or suites in a building, if they are identified, then raised character and Braille signs are required.



1.  Numbers or letters. The preferred, and most efficient way to identify individual rooms or suites, other than restrooms, exits and stairways, is by a well thought out consecutive numbering and/or lettering system. Where numbers or letters are used, there is no requirement to include tactile room functions, particularly since room functions tend to change frequently in many facilities. Room functions, as well as the names of companies, departments or individuals occupying the rooms, can then be included on easily changeable inserts.



  2.  Room functions or formal names.  If it is impossible to number or letter rooms, or if they are always referred to solely by their functions (such as “Cafeteria,”) or by a formal name (such as the “Palm Room,”) then that function or name becomes the identification of the room, and must be provided in tactile characters accompanied by Braille.



G. ATMs. IThese machines must be made independently accessible by people with vision impairments. Although no other standards are given, many ATMs do have Braille markings, and some also have audible instructions. ANSI-1998 has more specific instructions. 



II.  Accessible Sign Standards



Sign Categories. The easiest way to think about accessible sign standards is to divide architectural and wayfinding signs into three categories. (There are also some signs that are not covered, such as tenant name directories, company name signs and occupant name signs, as well as any advertising or marketing messages.)

(We are citing ADAAG here, along with some notes on “Best Practices” that are included in other standards and codes and that will make signs more readable.)



•  Directional and Informational Signs.  These signs are visual only. Tactile information would not be useful, since there is no set place to locate the signs, so people who are blind couldn’t locate them to read them by touch. Therefore, the target users for these signs include people with severe vision impairments who do still have usable vision. 



•  Identification Signs. These signs identify specific doors or (in the case of elevators) control buttons. Since they can be installed at a definite location in relationship to the door or button they identify, blind tactile readers can find and use them. Identification signs can be numbers, letters, or words for formal room names, such as  

“Palm Room” or room functions, such as “Cafeteria.” Restrooms and exits are also identified by function or name rather than by number. 



•  Accessibility Symbol Signs. These are the signs which include the four mandated symbols of accessibility. In some cases they are used to identify an accessible element, or sometimes they direct to such an element or give information about it. The four symbols are for wheelchair accessible elements, TTY and Volume Control phones, and assistive listening systems. 



A.  Rules That Apply to All Signs. There are some standards which apply to all accessible signs, both tactile and visual. These standards have to do with contrast and glare, (and with character and stroke proportions in states which have codes based on ANSI A117.1-1998).



1.  Contrast. The standard for contrast of required sign text and symbols with their backgrounds is vague. It states only that signs shall have light characters and symbols on a dark background, or dark characters and symbols on a light background. The Appendix of ADAAG says that the minimum dark/light contrast should be 70 percent. Studies have indeed shown that, once contrast drops below 70 percent, visibility for people with vision impairments drops off sharply. There are tools to measure dark/light contrast exactly, but they are expensive. The safest path is to choose a background color that is as dark as possible, and a character color that is as light as possible. White on black is of course the best contrast, but dark shades of almost any color will provide good contrast with white or off-white. 



2.  Glare. The standard for glare is even more vague than that for contrast. A non-glare background surface and non-glare characters and symbols are mandated. Again, the Appendix of ADAAG is extremely specific, with a scientific formula. Reflected light from glare can flood the vision of persons with specific vision impairments, making it impossible for them to read the signs. The best advice is to stay away from natural metal surfaces or any shiny plastics or metallic finishes. It is allowable to use those finishes on frames or decorative elements that do not infringe on the area which contains the required text. The only exception is for parking signs, which are discussed below.  

   

3.  Legible Type styles. As an aid to choosing readable type styles, the ANSI standards mandate the allowable width of characters and of strokes. ANSI standards measure the width of the uppercase “O” and the width of the stroke of the uppercase “I.” These measurements are then compared to the height of the uppercase “I” to get the ratios. 



a.  Character Width. For visual characters:  Acceptable typestyles have a character width ranging from 60 percent minimum to 100 percent maximum of character height. The Uppercase "X" can be measured across the base. The ratio is from 1:1 to 3:5. (ADAAG) For tactile characters:  Acceptable typestyles have a character width not much wider than the character height (110 percent maximum) and no narrower than 55 percent of the height. In simple English, avoid typestyles that are either condensed (“squeezed together” letters, or extended “stretched out” letters, although condensed styles are more unreadable than slightly extended ones. Classic character shapes are most readable. (ANSI)



b.  Stroke Width. For visual characters:  Acceptable stroke width is from 10 percent to 20 percent of character height, a ratio of 1:10 to 1:5. (ADAAG) For tactile characters: Acceptable type styles have a stroke width from 10 percent to 15 percent of character height.  Although common wisdom would have it that bold characters are easier to read, that is certainly not the case with tactile characters, which should be as narrow as possible, at least on the top surface of the character. And even visual characters that are too bold can appear to “run together,” especially if they are condensed. (ANSI)



B.  General Rules for Non-Tactile (Visual) Signs. Besides the rules above, there are a few other rules that apply in general to visual signs that are covered by accessibility standards. 





1.  Typestyles. Visual signs have a fair amount of freedom when it comes to typestyles, as long as characters follow the proportions above. Serif styles are allowed, and upper and lowercase characters are not only allowed, but many experts say they should be used whenever possible.



2.  Character size. The only specific character size mandated is for signs mounted 80 inches or more above the floor. Those characters must have a 3 inch cap height. Otherwise, character height is to be appropriate to the viewing distance, and is left up to the individual discretion of the sign designer and the building inspector.



3.  Mounting height. The only mounting height mandated for visual signs is for signs that project into the corridor or the public way. Those signs must be mounted a minimum of 80 inches above the floor or ground. 



4.  Freestanding signs.  A new code section in California mandates that signs mounted on posts or pylons which protrude from the posts or pylons, and are less than 80 inches above the ground or floor must have rounded or eased edges, and corners with a minimum 1/8 inch radius. The state of Washington mandates that any such sign on a post or pylon which protrudes more than 4 inches must go all the way to the ground. Other states may have adopted safety rules for these signs as well.



C.  Rules That Apply to Specific Non-Tactile Sign Types. A few visual signs have additional rules, or rules that differ slightly from those above.



1.  Parking Signs. Parking signs are unique, but still should follow the general standards for high contrast, and legible type. Accessible parking space signs are oftey required to be reflective, so the surface will not always be non-glare. Each state has specific rules relating to the wording, size, color, and layout for these signs. 



b.  Accessible parking signs. These signs are to be mounted at the head of each accessible parking space. 

•  Required symbol:  ISA (wheelchair pictogram)

•  Required text: “Van Accessible” on or below sign identifying van accessible space. (This can be a separate sign mounted below the standard accessible parking sign, or can be included on the parking sign). If any other text is used, do not employ the term “handicapped.”



2.  Accessibility Symbol Signs. There are no required sizes or mounting heights or specific locations for these symbols, but common sense tells us they need to be large enough to be seen easily for directional and informational purposes. There is no requirement to used raised pictograms, nor to include raised text and Braille, since most of these signs would not be mounted where they would be located by a functionally blind individual.



a.  International Symbol of Accessibility (Wheelchair Pictogram). 

Uses

•  Along pedestrian paths at junctions to point out the direction of the accessible path of travel. 

•  At entrances that are accessible, and near inaccessible entrances to direct to accessible entrances. (Only when not all entrances are accessible, in most states.)

•  At accessible restrooms, and near inaccessible restrooms to direct to accessible restrooms. (Only when not all restrooms are accessible, in most states.)

•  To direct to accessible pathways inside buildings when they diverge from the regular path of travel, horizontal or vertical, including elevators, ramps, lifts, exits and areas of evacuation. 

•  To direct to, inform about, or identify any other features of the building which are accessible to wheelchair or mobility impaired users. 



b.  International Symbol of Hearing Loss (Ear Pictogram). This pictogram (which is a profile of an ear with a bar running diagonally through it) is used to inform the public about the availability of an assistive listening system. Such systems are required in meeting rooms which have fixed seating for 50 or more. Usually the sign has the words: “Assistive Listening System Available.” There may be additional text to inform people of where they go to request the use of the system, or what kind of system is being provided. 

Uses  

•  At the ticket window in all facilities with a ticket office. (In other facilities, it is useful to have a sign in the lobby or at the entrance.)

•  Just outside or at the actual location where the system is installed.



c.  TTY Pictogram. This pictogram (which is a keyboard with a handset above it) used to be called the “TDD” symbol, but the federal government has announced that the correct terminology is “TTY.” 

Uses

•  Mounted above the TTY phone or outside the room or enclosure where a TTY phone is available. The pictogram needs to be visible even when someone else is using the phone. 

•  Mounted at phones or banks of phones to direct people to the location of the TTY phone. Again, it should be visible even when the phones are being   used and large enough to be seen at a distance. 

•  At a location such as a registration desk to inform people that a TTY phone is available, particularly a portable TTY phone. 



d.  Volume Control Phone Pictogram. This pictogram (which is a vertical side view of a handset with sound waves) is used to identify a volume control phone. Although the phone company usually includes a tiny symbol directly on the volume control, the pictogram should also be mounted above the phone or phones. 

Uses
•  Mounted above volume control phone or bank of phones with volume control. However, if all phones in a facility have volume control, this may not be necessary, or just one sign can be installed at the entrance which states that all public phones have volume control.  

 •  When all phones in the facility do not volume control, the sign is used to direct from non volume control phones to volume control phones.



4.  Evacuation Plans. Evacuation plans are required in many states for facilities with two or more floors or in high rise buildings. In lodging places, such as hotels, a plan must be located inside every guest room. Various municipalities have their own standards concerning the size of these plans, symbols, and so on. However, there are certain standards of accessibility that apply, regardless of those rules. 



a.  Size:  The size of the required text, pictograms and symbols, and exit path must be large enough to see clearly when the reader approaches the sign closely. 



b.  Colors, contrast and glare:  If colors are used, they must have a good contrast with each other, dark on light and light on dark. The sign must have a non-glare surface. 



d.  Mounting location:  Plans should be mounted so a person of short stature or in a wheelchair can read the sign. Approach to the plan should not be obstructed.



5.  Stair tread striping:  This is not a sign, but it certainly functions as a visual symbol for caution. It is helpful to older people as well as people with impaired vision. Usually, at least the top and bottom step require a stripe at or near the edge which contrasts with the stair treads.







D.  General Rules for Tactile Signs



1.  Tactile characters. In order for tactile characters to be readable, they must follow many rules, in addition to the universal rules for all accessible characters for character width and stroke width.



a.  Character style. Characters must be upper-case, and in a sans serif type style. (Again, try to avoid using the loophole of "simple serif" characters allowed by current ADAAG.)



b.  Character height and depth. Characters must be between 5/8 inch and 2 inches high, and raised a minimum of 1/32 inch from the surface of the sign. 

  

  2.  Braille. All Braille must be Grade 2 Braille. 



a.  Braille shape. Braille, by its very nature, is rounded or domed in shape, with each dot distinct from the other. Braille is not flat on top. This is not mentioned in the guidelines, but is common sense and a "Best Practice."



b.  Case. Currently, the law is silent on the use of capital letter indicators for Braille. Most Braille readers prefer that ordinary text like “men,” or “women,” not have additional cells to indicate uppercase, even though the corresponding tactile characters are uppercase for readability.



3.  Pictograms. When pictograms are used to identify rooms and spaces (such as the gender pictogram on a restroom sign), the pictogram must be in a six inch high, clear field. There must be a raised character identification, accompanied by Grade 2 Braille, under the pictogram field. There is no requirement, nor reason, to raise the pictogram itself. 



4.  Location. Tactile signs must be installed adjacent to the door they identify, preferably on the latch side. If there is no room on the latch side, they must be installed on the nearest adjacent wall. For double doors, the preferred location is on the right. 

         

a.  Distance from door. Tactile signs must be installed far enough away from the door   so that someone reading the sign from a 3 inch distance cannot be hit in the face by the door if it opens. The 1998 ANSI standards has a helpful standard which requires the sign to be centered horizontally within an 18 inch space adjacent to the door when the  door opens outward.



b.  Height. The mounting height for the sign is 60 inches on center from the floor.



E.  Rules for Specific Tactile Sign Types



1.  Elevator Signs and Symbols. Tactile signs for elevators are the key, for people who are blind, to finding their way in multistoried buildings.



a.  Hoistway signs. Hoistways are the “doorjambs” surrounding elevator doors. A raised identification character is to be mounted on each side, 60 inches on center above the floor. The character is to be 2 inches high, contrast with the hoistway, and be accompanied by Braille. 

       

b.  Control panel identification. Identification for each button for people who are blind should be to the left of the button. The floors should be identified by a raised 5/8 high character, which is should be white on a black background for best contrast, although that is a California requirement, and not in ADAAG. The Braille is usually located beneath the raised character. It is an unfortunate practice to put a raised border around the identification. That makes the raised character and the Braille even more difficult to read, since it squeezes all the raised elements together. Besides the floor levels, there are standard raised symbols for the emergency stop button and the door open and close button. The ANSI standards and the new ADAAG show the exact Braille text which is to be used under each raised symbol. 



2.  Exit and floor level signs. Although many people are not aware of it, the Department of Justice has been very specific about the requirement to provide tactile exiting information for people with vision impairments. They categorize exit and stair doors as permanent “spaces” and the Access Board maintains that stair levels, just as hoistways for elevators, must also be identified. 



3.  Stair level versus Fire Code signs. There has been some confusion between the code sign required for stairwells in high rise buildings, and the necessity to identify floor levels within stairwells for people with vision impairments. The code sign is required for the use of emergency personnel to orient them to their location in the building. The requirements for that sign are not inconsistent with the requirements for visual signs, and the large level number on the signs is probably useful to the general public when they are using the stairwell and want to know what floor they are on. 



The code sign is not adaptable, however, for use as a tactile or Braille sign. Therefore, in order to provide floor level information to visually impaired users of the stairwell, the door leading from the stairwell into the corridor must be identified with the floor level. This sign must follow the rules for raised character and Braille signs.



III.  Best Practices for Designers and Specifiers

No code or standard will tell us everything about how to design signs and wayfinding systems so they are both attractive and useful to people with disabilities. There are some additional guidelines which we characterize here as “Best Practices” and which should aid designers and specifiers toward that goal. Many of these best practices are are a mixture of Title 24 rules and the standards of ANSI A117.1-1998. They also come from many conversations with people who have a variety of disabilities.



A.  Restroom Signs. Being able to locate the restroom independently is surely one of the most basic wayfinding tasks in a public building. Only a child would expect to have to be “taken to the bathroom.” These suggestions may help.



1.  Terminology. Theme names and pictures for restrooms do not work very well for people with certain kinds of disabilities, particularly cognitive disabilities that range from dyslexia to complex kinds of neurological disorders. They can also be confusing to tactile readers. Therefore, at least the tactile sign adjacent to the restroom door should use a standard terminology. We recommend the following:

        

a.  Women or Girls

b.  Men or Boys

c.  Restroom

d.  Family Restroom     (This is for a unisex restroom that is meant to be used by a parent and child or a person with a disability and an attendant or family member.)



2.  Symbols and pictograms. A standard male and/or female figure should be used above the text on the tactile sign. The pictogram is very helpful to persons with cognitive disabilities. Slightly different versions of the figures are all recognizable, although we particularly like a set where the female figure has a much different shape than the male figure. Theme figures, if they are desired, should be used elsewhere, perhaps on the door or as a wall mural. 



The ISA or wheelchair pictogram can be included on the tactile sign, but should be large enough to see from a reasonable distance.



3.  Directions to accessible restrooms. ADAAG calls for directional signs to be mounted at inaccessible restrooms to direct to accessible restrooms. These signs should include the ISA or wheelchair pictogram, and should be placed at a location where they will not confuse anyone. For instance, if you place the sign on the door or right next to the tactile sign it may appear as if that is the accessible restroom. For wayfinding purposes it would be best to put these signs at the last decision point before the inaccessible restroom, so the person would not have to retrace steps. It is important to use brief and meaningful terminology. Most people do not know, for instance, where “North” is when they are in a corridor in a building.



B.  Directional and Informational Signs



1.  Messages. The average reader can only deal with about four pieces of information on one wayfinding sign. People with cognitive disabilities will have even more trouble. It is vital to keep messages clear, consistent, and brief. It is better to use commonly known terms rather than technical terms in facilities like clinics. Remember, the signs are to guide people around who are not familiar with the facility. If the visitor can’t understand the sign and has to disturb a staff member to ask, the sign is not doing its intended job. An excellent resource to learn about wayfinding principles is “Wayfinding; People, Signs and Architecture,” by Paul Arthur and Romedi Passini. The book was published by McGraw-Hill in 1994 and is available in some libraries or by inter library loan. 

           

2.  Character style. One of the most common mistakes, particularly where regulatory signs are concerned, is assuming that signs are more readable if they are in uppercase letters. As a matter of fact, there is research that indicates that even people with vision impairments can moreeasily read upper and lowercase letter messages. Accordingly, uppercase text should usually be confined to very brief messages or headlines, with the majority of the text in upper and lowercase.



Although very thin stroked typefaces cannot be easily read from a distance, typefaces that are extremely bold may blur around the edges so that letters appear to run into each other. Type styles of medium weight, neither condensed nor extended, are the most appropriate. Serif faces, as long as they are not decorative, italic or oblique, can be easy to read in upper and lowercase.



3.  Pictograms.  The standards for pictograms do not offer guidance in terms of either size or location when they are used on directional and informational signs. Admittedly, pictograms can be used in so many ways that a simple standard is impossible. Used on evacuation plans or site plans which can be approached very closely, they can be tiny and still usable by people with partial vision. However, when they are used for Wayfinding, they need to be quite large to be effective. For instance, overhead signs in airports need to be read from a great distance, so three or four inch high pictograms are not appropriate.



The four symbols of accessibility are particularly important. The ISA figure should rarely ever be less than four inches high, (and even larger on an overhead sign) and when it identifies an accessible element such as an entrance, should be approximately at eye level so that a person in a wheelchair does not have to crane his or her neck up or down to see it.



The symbols used for special equipment for people who are deaf or hard of hearing need to also be large enough to be seen from a distance, and need to be mounted high enough above the equipment, in the case of phones, so that they can be seen even when others are using the phones. Too often the only volume control symbols are tiny buttons directly on the phones, and TTY symbols are often placed below the shelf where the text telephone is 



located. Directional and informational signs using the symbols are often not provided at appropriate locations, such as in lobbies or at banks of telephones which do not have accessible equipment.



D.  Tactile Identification Signs



1.  Identification systems. Coming up with a workable room identification system for the use of the building user, not just the maintenance staff, is vital for all but the very smallest facilities. The easiest way to find a room in a building is to know its number or letter, and to have rooms identified by numbers or letters which are assigned  in some kind of logical manner. If you are looking for the lunch room and find the copy room, you still do not have a clue where the lunch room is. If, however, you are looking for 315 and you find 313, you know you are on the right track. It is very difficult to convince administrators to renumber buildings, even when the old system is confusing, so starting with a well-thought-out system is vital.



One problem that tends to happen with room numbering systems is that door numbers and space numbers are assigned when blueprints are drawn up, to be used during construction, and later for the maintenance staff, and although these numbering systems may not be helpful for building users, they are retained for the sign and wayfinding system. Another problem is that, as program needs change, large rooms are divided and, since all consecutive numbers have been used, an out of order number is assigned.



Many of these problems can be avoided by devising a logical plan for public wayfinding use from the beginning. For instance, rooms opening onto corridors might be numbered, and all internal offices might have letters assigned. When large offices have two doors, assign a “silent” number to the second door which can be used later if the room is divided. In order to keep odd and even numbers on each side of a corridor in sync, skip numbers on one side with few doors so that room number 12 does end up opposite 31. This also provides extra numbers later if rooms get added.



For complicated building layouts with different sections on each floor, you might want to have alphabetical letters assigned to those sections. Or, you might want to reserve certain sets of numbers to each section. For instance, one section gets the numbers from 100 to 129. Another section gets 130-149, and so on.

Using a consecutive system for room identification means that room functions and occupants can be included on the sign in some kind of changeable format. Signs rarely need to be replaced, and directional signage can be less complicated.



2.  Message length. It is important to separate permanent room identification from what we might call “marketing” messages on signs. Long titles and credentials can be part of the changeable visual message on signs, but they can be a barrier to the tactile reader. Also, repetitive information may merely slow down tactile readers. For instance, do room number signs need to say “Room 213” or is “213” adequate? The visual reader can glance quickly past the word “room” to get to the important information, which is “213.” The tactile reader may not have that luxury. Keeping tactile messages brief and meaningful is important for access.  



  3.  Tactile quality.  Most people engaged in sign specification, design or fabrication concentrate on how signs look. There are no laws that compel them to use harmonious typefaces and colors, finish rough edges or conceal fasteners, but they do those things anyway, because they want high quality signs.



With the advent of tactile signs, and with the addition of sign users who perceive their environment through touch and hearing rather than vision, we need to add the concept of tactile quality to signs. Characters with sharp edges and Braille dots with flat tops that snag the fingers may not be currently against the law, but they mean that the sign has poor tactile quality.  

  4.  Common sense.  When people who don’t know much about the ADA, or who resent the use of business or taxpayer funds for disabled access see such things as Braille and raised letter signs directing people to their cars, or placed above doors where they can’t be touched, it fuels their prejudice against the law. Before requiring tactile information on a sign, ask “Can a blind person find this sign?” Is the message on this sign meant for persons who are blind?” (For instance, TTY phones communicate through a visual display. There is no point in identifying a visual TTY phone in tactile characters or Braille.) “Is this sign located high enough above the floor or ground (or low enough) so it can be read by touch? 

        

5.  Aesthetic quality. To many people, ADA signs have come to mean ugly signs. That is not, however, the fault of the law, but of a failure to read the standards carefully, to consult with people with disabilities about their needs, and to apply the same creative energy and concentration on quality to the design and fabrication of accessible signage systems as we have in the past to sign systems before accessibility was an issue.