The latest section of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) comes into force
in October 2004. The new regulations are mandatory for service providers. Any information signs and sign systems that disregard the needs
of the partially sighted will be deemed discriminatory. These brief notes will
hopefully enable sign buyers to comply with the Act, make their signs more
readable for everyone and in many cases cheaper too.
The theme of the new Act is very much about noticeability and
comfortable readability by partially sighted people, but by everyone else as
well. Readability comes before image. The following principles should be taken on board by anyone specifying a
sign or sign system:
 | Keep signage around a building consistent (Positions,
colours, fonts , layout) |
| Keep signs at eye height as far as practicable (centre
line 1550 mm from the floor) |
| Signs should be in a lit area and not obstructed |
| Information should be in sentence case (Capital letters
only for the beginning of sentences etc.) |
| Information should be conveyed in an easily read letter
style |
| Signs should contrast. Lettering from substrate, and
substrate from the wall / surrounds. |
