New Types of Braille Laws and Regulations

Braille is one of the most important innovations in the handicapped community. As a means of communication, it's also vitally important for compliant ADA restroom signs, industrial signs, and any type of public space sign. It's a means of communication that allows handicapped users to better navigate their surroundings by utilizing a familiar and standard language. All that means is that it's excellent customer care and service, not to mention necessary protection and branding for your company, school or workplace; if your braille signs aren't ADA compliant, you could be opening yourself up to charges of bad customer care, complaints that you have outdated materials, and even costly lawsuits and punitive legal penalties. Don't get caught not knowing what standard your ADA sign (or signs) must meet; rely on Sign Mojo to craft precise, attractive, and compliant ADA signs for your business or place of work. We keep up with all the new legislation regarding ADA restroom signs, ADA industrial signs, and ADA braille signs. We also constantly update our procedures, machines, processes and staff to make sure we make the best and most consistently compliant signs in the industry. The following article will describe in detail the different types of braille that are available for use, as well as the updated regulations related to braille ADA signage compliance.

Part of the recent overhaul of ADA restroom signs concerns updating the braille signs utilized in public spaces. Changes in the field of braille and changes in the law have made it necessary for many businesses, schools, hotels and interior spaces to either replace or change their former braille signs, and for new operations, make sure that the ADA signage they order is in full compliance with the new laws and procedures.

And there are several new procedures and guidelines to follow.

The first, and probably the most important, is that now the ADA requires the use of Grade 2 braille.

Grade 2 Braille

Grade 2 braille is an advanced form of braille that incorporates contractions. Not contractions in the standard written English sense (can't, won't, etc.) but contractions as a kind of shorthand for readers. Basic braille, Grade 1 braille, is a simple character be character translation from the written language. The letter M is represented by a certain braille character, as in N and O and P and so one. The problem is that braille requires a lot of space, unlike written English. So a braille sign that translates character by character would not only be tough to read, and take a long time, it would take up a lot of space. This is where Grade 2 braille comes in. By using a series of contracted meanings and grammatical alterations, Grade 2 dramatically shortens the traditional braille word, sentence, or phrase, and makes it easier to read. Grade 2 braille works by creating whole words in a single cell, or even replacing the vowels of a typical word and spelling it out only in consonants. There are myriad other variations and contractions available to the writer and reader of Grade 2 braille, and it's a very complex system of language - it combines written language, mathematics, sensory sensitivity, and real cognitive work. Translating to Grade 2 braille is a real and very valuable skill.

When it comes to ADA restroom signs or and type of ADA sign, using Grade 2 braille signs is particularly important. It won't frustrate your handicapped visitor, nor will it take up undue space on your braille sign. ADA signage requires the use of Grade 2 braille for it's richness, popularity, and efficacy, and there's every reason to upgrade your existing industrial signs to reflect that (including legal reasons).

At Sign Mojo, we have the laser-precision machines and the institutional knowledge to create all types of ADA signage in perfect Grade 2 braille compositions. Our craftsman and our technology work together to turn out beautiful ADA signs every day, in full compliance with existing Grade 2 braille specifications.

Braille Height, Depth, and Spacing

There are several regulations that deal with the specific shape requirements for braille signage. They deal with height, depth, spacing, contrast, and even recommend alternate options when braille may not be sufficient. The ADA laws state that braille must be:

"Letters and numerals shall be raised 1/32 in (0.8 mm) minimum, upper case, sans serif or simple serif type and shall be accompanied with Grade 2 Braille. Raised characters shall be at least 5/8 in (16 mm) high, but no higher than 2 in (50 mm). Pictograms shall be accompanied by the equivalent verbal description placed directly below the pictogram. The border dimension of the pictogram shall be 6 in (152 mm) minimum in height."

Sign Mojo is well-equipped to handle all these regulations with laser-guided precision (literally). Our experienced staff and high-tech processes have made ADA signs and braille signs a specialty of ours, and a point of pride.