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Braille Signage - are you DDA compliant?
Whatever your business may be, keeping up-to-date with legislation regulating accessibility for customers, clients and other interested parties to your premises is a key component to success. The single most important reason to keep yourself compliant is that without being compliant you run the risk of losing business - add to this the potential for being fined or even sued for non-compliance and it seems quite sensible to conduct a periodic review of the various things within your business that legislation, such as the DDA 1995 to 2005, can impact.
Signage and DDA Compliance
One of the leading areas that is often overlooked when checking for DDA compliance within a company is the signage. Sure, we've all read about the importance of providing ramps and widening doors for wheel chairs - but what about those with visual impairments? Including clear Braille signage around your property is a great step toward improving your DDA compliance overall, not only is it of use to people with visual impairments, but also to people who speak a variety of foreign languages and to those with learning disabilities.
However, one additional system of tactile writing survives from the mid 1800s, the Moon system. This was developed by Dr William Moon, and is based on a simplified alphabet - a total of nine characters that represent all the letters of the traditional alphabet depending on which way they're facing. Today, Moon is still used to provide an alternative to Braille for older people, younger people and others who have a less-attuned sense of touch.
When you consider your shop, office or restaurant, there are a number of places that require proper signs - navigation to different departments, toilets and exits for example. Choosing larger, clearly-defined signs for those with visual impairments will also help the majority of customers find what they're looking for - whether it's the way out in an emergency or the menswear department - which means your staff will have more time to concentrate on keeping your business running.
Common Applications for Braille Signs
The most typical places you need to have tactile signage are the places people frequent most often: exits, toilets and lifts. The second-most common places requiring Braille signs are designated emergency exits, as well as fire exits, alarms and doors requiring special treatment (do not enter, keep closed, etc.). Also popular are tactile labels for use in lifts and signs designed to direct customers, clients and staff toward various key places within your establishment - like the reception desk.
Providing clear signs with Braille embellishments shows customers as well as your workers that you operate an organised business interested in providing the best possible service to any and all who visit the premises. Signs with an appropriate level of visual contrast, large text and common icons are useful in helping those with visual limitations, learning disabilities and language barriers navigate your business successfully - encouraging them to spend more time with you and feel comfortable, and confident, in the environment you're providing.
Choosing the Right Braille Signage
When it comes to selecting signs for use on your premises, there are a number of points to consider. For the most part, the common tactile signs used should remain the same - this ensures you don't fall foul of health and safety legislation in your local area. On the other hand, you can customise a number of the common Braille signs by making the background a corporate colour or adding a clear version of your business logo. The key is to remember that Braille signage is designed to enhance accessibility.
Check out the range of Braille signage available from our online shop |
