The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted by Congress in 1990 and signed into law by George Bush later the same year. In addition to prohibiting discrimination based on disability, the law also provides “standards” for accessibility in areas like public accommodations and facilities through the Americans With Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG).

What do they mean by “public accommodations” and “facilities”? Generally speaking, these are places operated by private entities whose operations affect commerce and whose services fall within at least one of twelve categories. Categories include things like auditoriums, restaurants and museums.

In short, the ADA and ADAAG together, require by law, that public areas remain accessible (and safe!) to all.

Outlined in the ADAAG are “rules” concerning (among other things) protruding objects, parking, curb ramps and signage.

Wait! Did someone say, “signage”? That’s right, the ADAAG provides specific information on required ADA signs, placement and appearance. A common example is the bathroom sign. You might not think about it when you see it, but did you know that that sign has to be hung at a certain height? Did you know the colors must be contrasting or that the font has limitations? The size of the letters and their spacing, the distance of the braille from the edge of the sign, even the overall size of the sign itself…is specified in the ADAAG “rules”.

But how is anyone supposed to keep track of all this? That’s where we come in! ADA certification. Certification guarantees that the sign is designed and manufactured by knowledgeable and qualified people who are both aware of the government guidelines and capable of producing the finished product. In addition to providing answers to all of your ADAAG questions and manufacture of your ADA signage, Photoworks Creative Group houses a design team who work beyond the limitations that the ADAAG imposes in order to produce not just a sign that meets government regulations, but a sign that is attractive and customized for branding your business.

We employ a 5′ X 10′ CNC router and a Vision 12″ X 24″ router to get the job done. Have a custom shape? No problem! Choose from a arsenal of materials in varying thickness, type and color. Add tactile (3 dimensional) lettering, pictograms and braille. We also make use of our 5’ x 10’ Flatbed UV Printer to custom print the ADA signage backgrounds. This enables us to support your brand or corporate standards, while producing signage that is both attractive and ADA compliant. Don’t worry, we’ll walk you through the process and alert you to the ADAAG guidelines along the way!

Though ADA signage is required by law it doesn’t have to be complicated or lack creativity! Let Photoworks Creative Group be your source for answers to Federal guidelines and manufacturer of ADA signage that make people notice your bathroom signs for more than just direction!