ADA Statement
SignsSanDiego strives to provide the most up to date and compliant ADA Braille signs available. We use only the finest materials and processes to build a long lasting and durable sign that meets or exceeds current and future ADA regulations. All our Braille is dome topped, translated and spaced to provide the vision impaired person with as little inconvenience as possible. To that end, we never; supply "Flat Topped" Braille, capitalize Braille, include extraneous information in the translations, neglect proper spacing and we never use Grade 1 Braille.
Americans With Disabilities ACT
A4.30.1 General. In building complexes
where finding locations independently on a routine basis may be a
necessity (for example, college campuses), tactile maps or
prerecorded instructions can be very helpful to visually impaired
people. Several maps and auditory instructions have been developed
and tested for specific applications. The type of map or
instructions used must be based on the information to be
communicated, which depends highly on the type of buildings or
users.
Landmarks that can easily be distinguished by visually impaired
individuals are useful as orientation cues. Such cues include
changes in illumination level, bright colors, unique patterns, wall
murals, location of special equipment or other architectural
features.
Many people with disabilities have limitations in movement of
their heads and reduced peripheral vision. Thus, signage positioned
perpendicular to the path of travel is easiest for them to notice.
People can generally distinguish signage within an angle of 30
degrees to either side of the centerlines of their faces without
moving their heads.
A4.30.2 Character Proportion. The
legibility of printed characters is a function of the viewing
distance, character height, the ratio of the stroke width to the
height of the character, the contrast of color between character and
background, and print font. The size of characters must be based
upon the intended viewing distance. A severely nearsighted person
may have to be much closer to recognize a character of a given size
than a person with normal visual acuity.
A4.30.4 Raised and Brailled Characters and
Pictorial Symbol Signs (Pictograms). The standard dimensions for
literary Braille are as follows:
Dot diameter: .059 in.
Inter-dot spacing: .090 in.
Horizontal separation between cells: .241 in.
Vertical separation between cells: .395 in.
Raised borders around signs containing raised characters may make
them confusing to read unless the border is set far away from the
characters. Accessible signage with descriptive materials about
public buildings, monuments, and objects of cultural interest may
not provide sufficiently detailed and meaningful information.
Interpretive guides, audio tape devices, or other methods may be
more effective in presenting such information.
A4.30.5 Finish and Contrast. An eggshell
finish (11 to 19 degree gloss on 60 degree glossimeter) is
recommended. Research indicates that signs are more legible for
persons with low vision when characters contrast with their
background by at least 70 percent. Contrast in percent shall be
determined by:
Contrast = [(B1
- B2)/B1] x 100
where B1 = light reflectance value (LRV) of the
lighter area and B2 = light reflectance value (LRV) of
the darker area.
Note that in any application both white and black are never
absolute; thus, B1 never equals 100 and B2 is
always greater than 0.
The greatest readability is usually achieved through the use of
light-colored characters or symbols on a dark background.