Americans with disabilities act (aDA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the most comprehensive piece of legislation ever passed that supported people with disabilities. Through the years, the legislatures have continued to make amendments to the ADA and clarify what is expected of businesses. While this is a well-meaning law, it often leaves business owners confused about what needs to be done in order to stay ADA compliant.
The good news is, you can create an accessible business without sacrificing your brand vision or turning your signage projects into a massive undertaking. Learn how our team at SignSource can help you stay ADA compliant.
THE IMPORTANCE OF ADA SIGNAGE
The ADA covers multiple types of disability. It includes people who are blind or vision-impaired, deaf or hard of hearing, people who use assistance tools like wheelchairs and walkers, and people with invisible disabilities. Just because someone doesn’t have a hearing aid or a cane doesn’t mean they don’t have a disability and don’t use assistance tools to navigate the world.
When your business is built with accessibility in mind, you create a welcoming environment for everyone who walks through your doors. Customers who use wheelchairs don’t feel like they need your help to get around and customers who are deaf can still find where they need to go.
ADA signage accommodates all disabilities and the resources that people use to help with them. People with disabilities use a variety of tools to better navigate the world. For example, only 10 percent of Americans who are blind know Braille. While adding Braille text to your signage is invaluable for the people who use it, it isn’t the main source of wayfinding for many people who are blind.
Additionally, ADA signage can help people without disabilities as well. It’s easy to get lost or overwhelmed in a new place, which means your signage can make people more comfortable. Whether you are operating a high-end resort or rebranding your corporate office, you can improve your compliance by focusing on ADA needs.