Disabled Access Signs

Handicap Accessible Signs: Ensuring Inclusivity and Compliance

What do you know about inclusivity and public accessibility? These days, this topic is gaining great attention as it aims to make the world around better for everyone regardless of their disabilities. We firmly support this position because we believe that nobody should be deprived of the possibility to access a public space whenever necessary.

Ensuring inclusivity and accessibility in a public space is a responsible and challenging task. A lot of aspects should be considered - beginning with building interior planning and ending with the disabled access sign design.

We are experts in the latter, so let us discover why accessibility signs matter so much for accessible entrances, exits, and other sites.

What Disabled Signs Mean

Handicap accessibility signs are used to inform visitors that the space is accessible to people with physical disabilities. Before putting a wheelchair access sign on a door, one should make sure that the space is equipped with everything a wheelchair user might need, like stalls, enough space, special ramps, etc.

In a public facility, it is important to ensure accessible entrances and mark them with respective entrance signs. This is the best solution to help visitors find the location of accessible entrances and enter the facility effortlessly.

There are different types of disabled access signs that might be used on your property. With some, proper directions are identified, while prohibitory signs inform about banned actions. You can also see wheelchair restroom signs which means that the toilet is accessible to physically challenged individuals.

Why Disabled Access Signs Should be Used in Every Public Space

Handicap accessible signs manifest the accessibility of a public facility. Whether it is a governmental institution or private property, you should use these accessibility signs for two major reasons:

1. Compliance with the regulations. In many countries, the accessibility of public places is regulated with special laws. You cannot break those laws if you do not want your institution to face legal consequences.

2. Ensuring a welcoming atmosphere. Accessibility signs should not be placed at every corner of your building. In most cases, only entrance signs are required. However, if you pay attention to this detail, your building will become a comfortable and cozy place for every guest.

3. Enhancing security. Door and wall signs are the best means in order to inform your visitors how to act in your building. If you want to deliver some special safety messages about the use of elevators in your office, make sure they have characters in Braille. This way nobody will disturb the order of your building.

The Design of Wheelchair Accessible Signs

As already mentioned, disabled access signage can be identified thanks to generally recognisable markers such as a wheelchair symbol. However, in addition to this, when you choose a disabled person sign, it is also necessary to consider several other aspects:

• Visibility: Entrance signs should meet the ADA requirements which state that such items should be made in contrasting colors in order to provide people with a possibility to recognise them.

• Durability: Handicapped signage in your facility should be made of durable materials, like stainless steel, wood, or acrylic glass. You should also pay attention to the durable mount. You can rely on signs with adhesive tape or a firm screw-based mount.

• Compliance: ADA entrance signs should be readable for people with vision impairments. That is why, except for the wheelchair symbol, it is required to add some tactile text in Braille to provide complete access to the necessary information.

The Difference Between ADA and Handicap Accessible Signs

All handicap signs are ADA signs, but not all ADA signs are handicap signs. The difference is that handicap signs mark specific sites accessible for disabled individuals. You often see them with the wheelchair symbol. ADA signs, on the other hand, might be placed anywhere. What makes them ADA-compliant is that they are simply readable to people with vision impairments. This is ensured thanks to the use of international symbols, tactile characters, and Braille.