One thing all businesses must do before opening their doors is to bring their shop up to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA. Proper ADA signage is imperative for fair treatment and proper access for all consumers you will encounter during your normal business hours. ADA signage is typically described as Braille signage for the blind; however, it goes much deeper than that.

When decorating your building and bringing it up to code, it is important not to skip out on ADA compliance. The added access and information will save you questions, comments, and complaints in the future and will give your business the appearance of being friendly and all-inclusive, something all owners strive for. Many firms across the country offer ADA signage, but before you sign on the dotted line, consider the following things. 

Proper Color Scheme

There are very specific rules that govern how ADA signage must look. All architectural signs must be ADA compliant and those signs must follow a very simple color scheme. The rules governing these signs are actually simple. It is a matter of contrast. The background of the sign and the lettering must be in contrasting colors.

For instance, a black sign with white lettering is fine, as is the reverse. A light gray sign with dark gray lettering is also compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. However, a blue sign with black letters is not. The idea is that these signs must be easy to read for those with impaired vision, including the elderly and the partially blind. With the exception of traffic and parking signs, ADA signage must not be reflective or shiny.

Pay Attention To Typefaces

There are also strict rules that govern the types of typefaces used on ADA signage. The wording on the signs must use a combination of capital and lowercase letters because it is easier for the functionally blind to read. These signs must also use san serif style lettering. The lettering must also be middleweight, not too bold, nor too thin. The height of the sign also dictates the size of the lettering with higher signs needing larger letters.

Identify Your Level Of Accessibility

When you have your plan of action in place, you should advertise your business as ADA compliant. To do this, you should hang a pictogram that stands for accessibility. There are four main kinds of ADA signage that stand for accessibility, including the wheelchair for mobile impairment, the ear (assisted listening devices available), keyboard (text telephone and TTY availability), and phone (volume assisted telephones available), which are all for people with hearing loss.

No matter how you denote your compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is important for you to follow the rules. With the above rules in hand, you will be one step closer to fulfilling your civic duty to your fellow citizens.