Regulations and Standards for Braille Signs in Emergencies
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is particular
about putting structures in place to make people living with disabilities very
comfortable when they go out. One of the ways that the ADA ensures this is by
placing a law that all public businesses and accommodations have ADA-compliant
signage.
There are regulations and standards as to where the ADA-compliant signage should be, including the following places:
All exits (emergency exits, staircases, and doors)
Restrooms
Elevators
Parking lots
Check-out aisles
Any informational signage like “Turn Right” or “Room 49”
Control panel signs
An ADA-compliant signage must include the following:
• The signage must contain the International Symbol of
Accessibility pictogram.
• It must have tactile characters.
• It must have visual texts meeting the specific requirements
of the ADA.
• It must contain round or domed-shaped braille dots.
• It must contain grade 2 braille.
• It must have an uppercase letter before the first word of every sentence.
Designing Effective Braille Signs for Evacuation
For braille signs to be effective, there are specific
requirements to ensure that beyond the signs being there, a person with a
disability can use them. The first step is researching and finding a competent
artisan to design the braille signs.
Braille signs must comply with ADA requirements. They need to have grade 2 or level 2 Braille to accommodate multiple characters in one sign. The raised braille characters should be 1/32 inch off the board, while the height range of the raised characters should be between 0.375 inches minimum and 2 inches maximum.
The sign board must have a matte finish, and the tactile
lettering with the braille dots must have a high contrast with the signpost
background. There are also specific fonts that you must use to comply with the
ADA. Fonts like sans-serif or serif are perfect for braille signs. The font
needs to be as simple as possible for easy reading.
In cases dealing with raised character signs, the font has
to be sans-serif and cannot be oblique, italic, or highly decorative. However,
in visual character signs, fonts can be sans-serif or serif and cannot be
oblique, highly decorative, italic, or any other unusual form.
Braille Sign Placement in Emergency Scenarios
Emergency signs are vital signs in any building, as they
tell occupants where to exit the room in emergencies. Imagine someone with an
impairment hearing a fire alarm, but not knowing where to turn or exit. The ADA
has specific instructions on how braille signs should be in emergencies.
Below are the specific requirements of the ADA for braille
sign placements in emergency scenarios.
• Braille signs should not exceed 60 inches or 48 inches lower
off the floor.
• The sign should be matte and have a high-contrast
background.
• The sign must include grade 2 braille, have tactile
lettering in all caps, and be in sans-serif fonts.
• Signs must be placed right next to doors on the latch side
rather than on the doors directly.
All ADA signs must be on exits, stairways, emergency exits,
and elevators, including all other important routes.
Incorporating Tactile Graphics for Enhanced Communication
Braille signs play a considerable role in ensuring that individuals with visual
impairment can access and find their way in public buildings. It is how they
know where the restrooms, exits, or other essential building areas are. With
braille signs in place, people with visual impairment will need little or no
assistance navigating a building system.
Movement becomes easier for them as they can tell where and
when to enter. It also makes them feel more independent instead of always
asking for help from random people. This is why the ADA has made it mandatory
for all buildings to have braille signs in essential areas.
Emergency Communication Systems for the Visually Impaired
Braille signs work well when someone can touch and feel the sign, but what happens when there is a televised or audio emergency notice? This is where other forms of communication systems come into play. However, which system is best for visually impaired people?
According to the Federal Communications Commission (enacted
through a Second Report and Order), all visually available emergency warnings
must be present orally on all devices. For televised content, as soon as an
emergency message appears, a three-beep tone notifies the visually impaired to
switch to secondary audio to hear the information.
In the case of a visually impaired person seeking aid, there
are smartphones designed to help. One of them is the Smartvision 3 smartphone.
This is a device that has been approved by Google and has a tactile keypad for
the visually impaired. You can also call or send texts by using Google
Assistant.
Advancements in Braille Technology and Materials
In recent years, there have been remarkable advancements in
braille technology, improving accessibility for the visually impaired
community. One notable advancement is the invention of Braille Notes Touch, a
mobile device by Georgia Tech that operates a complete braille keyboard. It has
access to Dropbox, Google Docs, and KeyMail, and is designed to help visually
impaired students take notes and do research.
Another innovative advancement in braille technology is the
haptic chair that can interpret another person’s emotion to a visually impaired
person with braille taps on their back. There is also a navigation app called
Blind Apps, which provides information about where they are located using a
braille-like interface.
Other advancements include custom braille materials. This is
now possible because of improvements in 3D printing, which can meet a variety
of educational purposes by enabling the visually impaired to interact more
easily with the fast-changing digital world.
The Importance of Braille Signage in Emergency Situations
A crucial element in establishing inclusive and accessible
environments is using braille signage for emergency planning and evacuation
plans. Including braille in emergency signage improves the safety and
well-being of visually impaired people during crises.
These tactile signs give necessary information about
evacuation routes and emergency procedures and provide people with visual
impairments the liberty and confidence to act independently during
life-or-death circumstances.
Braille integration also promotes inclusivity and equality,
guaranteeing that everyone is safe in difficult situations. The widespread use
of braille signage is still essential to building a more resilient and
accepting community for people of all abilities as we prioritize inclusion in
emergency preparedness.
