ADA Signs
At Custom Signs, we offer custom and templated ADA signs to make your business welcoming and inclusive. Our signs comply with ADA standards, featuring Grade 2 braille, high-contrast colors, and a matte finish to enhance accessibility and inclusivity.
ADA Signs
ADA Signs with Braille: Official Signage Requirements
Accessibility for Everyone
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, every building that offers access to the public must have appropriate signage posted to mark specific locations, such as restrooms and exits. At CustomSigns.com, we create ADA-compliant plastic signs with braille that meet current United States regulatory standards. Utilizing our Mutoh printers, we are able to properly apply raised text and braille to all ADA signs, ensuring your signs are compliant. Shop this section for pre-designed and custom ADA restroom signs, exit signs, room name signage, and stairwell signs.
Creating an ADA-compliant building ensures all customers have a safe and pleasant experience while also protecting your business from liability. When a building is missing necessary accessibility and braille signs, there is a higher potential for fines to be levied; however, the government works with businesses to become compliant, even offering tax incentives to help meet the cost of compliance. For more information about where to hang ADA signs, we have a helpful blog that provides height requirements and which rooms these signs should be posted for.
Custom Signs ADA Signage Features:
Tactile (raised characters in San Serif)
Compliant Grade 2 (contracted) braille
All uppercase fonts that are required by law to be between 5/8” and 2” high
Appropriate pictograms that show the accessibility of their corresponding room
High-contrast color combinations with a matte finish for optimal visibility
Templated and customizable designs
Custom Braille Signs
We are committed to helping you make signs accessible to everyone, including those who are blind or visually impaired. That's why we create all of our signs in contracted (Grade 2) braille for ADA compliance. You even have the choice to design your own custom braille sign. Although our design wizard shows your custom braille in uncontracted (Grade 1) braille, your design will be produced and sent to you in standard ADA-compliant Grade 2 braille.
Grade 2 braille is the more commonly used form of braille in the United States and is the required braille grade for ADA-compliant signs. Compared to Grade 1 braille, which is a one-to-one translation of each letter or punctuation mark, Grade 2 braille includes contractions and punctuations that allow for faster reading. When creating our signs in Grade 2 braille, we follow the rules of the official braille of the U.S, UEB (Unified English Braille). This ensures that our signs are ADA-compliant, accurate, and easy to read for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Grade 1 vs Grade 2 Braille
| Grade 1 | Grade 2 | |
|---|---|---|
Appropriate for ADA signage? | — Not appropriate for ADA signage | — Appropriate for ADA signage |
How does it read? | — One-to-one translation of each word and punctuation | — Uses contractions for easier and faster reading |
Space Used | — Uses more space on a sign | — Uses less space on a sign |
Compliance Level | — Complies to the rules of UEB (Unified English Braille) | — Complies to the rules of UEB (Unified English Braille) |
DISCLAIMER:
Customers are responsible for ensuring ADA compliance for any fully customized signs ordered. If you are unsure about your design, please reference ADA Sign Requirements or contact our customer service team.
Types of ADA Signage
Creating signs with custom text, graphics, and colors
Keeping up with company or business branding
Adding unique touches to standard ADA signage
Identifying men, women, and all gender restrooms
Specifying restrooms that are wheelchair-accessible
Ensuring restrooms provide Grade 2 Braille and tactile letters
Guide visually impaired visitors safely through your building
Provide ADA-compliant signs with room names, numbers, and more
Ensure tactile lettering and Grade 2 Braille for all rooms
Provide basic entrance and exit routes for ADA standards
Label specific accessible entrances, exit routes, and fire exits
Present signage with high-contrast, tactile lettering, and Grade 2 braille
Properly identify accessible parking spots
Ensure high-visibility parking signs for all visitors
Adhere to ADA compliance and create an inclusive environment
Provide the necessary Grade 2 braille for building signage
Ensure ADA-compliant wayfinding and room signage
Label various safety and informational equipment
Custom Signs ADA Signage FAQs
ADA-compliant signs should include Grade 2 braille, tactile (raised) lettering, high color contrast, a matte sign finish, and various height and border requirements. For a more in-depth look, please read through the U.S. Access Board’s ADA sign guide.
You can type your desired text into our design wizard to have it converted to braille. Simply type your custom text and click the “Braille” button. Please note that your braille will appear in the design tool as Grade 1 braille. However, when the sign is produced, ADA-compliant Grade 2 braille will be used in order to meet ADA standards.
Grade 2 braille is the standard in the US and is required for ADA-compliant signs. Unlike Grade 1 braille's one-to-one letter translation, Grade 2 includes contractions for faster reading.
ADA signs indoors are often used for directional signs or labeling. Many businesses ensure that rooms are labeled correctly with tactile text and braille showing room numbers, restrooms, and any general wayfinding.
ADA signs serve various purposes outdoors, including designating exterior entrances and aiding in wayfinding, labeling outdoor restrooms or facilities, and providing general information at parks, campuses, or events.
With proper care, your custom ADA sign can last more than five years. In harsher weather environments or with high sun exposure, the lifespan can decrease.
To keep your ADA sign vibrant and clean, we suggest cleaning your sign with warm soapy water and a rag when you see any stains. You can also help lengthen your sign's life by placing it out of direct sunlight if possible. The less bending, the better; placing your sign on a flat surface will also help to extend its use.
ADA Sign Resources
Learn how to create the right ADA signage for your business needs with our helpful blogs that lead you through ADA guidelines and styling.
