Does Your Digital Signage Meet Accessibility Standards?

Everywhere you look, digital signage is promoting products, announcing events and directing visitors. Whether you use this type of signage for outdoor displays, wayfinding or kiosks, you must know how to meet accessibility standards for your content, visual elements and physical design. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has a chapter dedicated to signs, and the regulations continue to change.

What is ADA Compliance?

The ADA is designed to prevent discrimination against people with disabilities by ensuring equal access to space and information. That includes physical design elements like entrances, elevators, parking spaces and tactile signage.

Digital content also falls under the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which require content to be:

Perceivable: Presented in ways that any user can understand
Operable: Adequate interface components for varying mobility and dexterity
Understandable: Clear and predictable navigation
Robust: Content can be interpreted by assistive technology

Non-compliance can expose your business to legal liability. It can also alienate the customers you’re trying to reach.

Why ADA Compliance Matters for Digital Signage

One in four American adults has a disability. Chances are, many of them are already your customers. That’s why it’s important to prioritize accessibility so everyone can engage with your brand on equally. Ensuring your visitors understand product and service information also helps build trust. That can mean the difference between a one-time visitor and a lifetime customer.

ADA Requirements for Digital Signage

Permanent vs. Temporary Signage

The regulations vary depending on the type of signage you use in and around your building. Permanent signage is used for room identification, restrooms, egress and wayfinding. Temporary signage covers changing information, like promotions, current events and schedules. Permanent signs carry stricter requirements because people depend on them to navigate their environment.

Visual Accessibility Requirements

Traditional signage measures character height in inches, but digital content uses pixels. So, what appears readable on a smaller screen may not translate to a large display.

The following visual standards apply:

Sans-serif font
A minimum character height of 5/8-inch (60 pixels)
At least 3/8-inch (36 pixels) margins
Medium to bold font weight
Consistent stroke width
A 4.5:1 contrast ratio between the text and background
Light fonts on dark backgrounds and vice versa
No strobing, flashing or flickering content
Text labels for pictograms and icons
Accompanying tactile character and Grade 2 Braille signage

Audio Accessibility

Digital signage must serve people with vision and hearing disabilities equally, particularly in public places like government buildings, retail stores and healthcare facilities.

ADA guidelines mandate:

Closed captioning for videos, prerecorded audio and synchronized media
Appropriately sized caption font and contrast
Screen readers and audio descriptions for informational, wayfinding and instructional content
Sufficient audio output to surpass ambient noise
Accessible volume controls
Hearing loop systems for compatible personal devices

Physical and Mounting Requirements

Well-designed content won’t serve your visitors if the displays aren’t mounted at the correct height or protrude too far from the wall. Incorrect mounting can make interactive kiosks and terminals inaccessible to wheelchair users.

Digital displays should follow these permanent signage mounting guidelines:

Tactile signs must be 48 to 60 inches above the floor.
If your sign is near a door, it must be installed on the latch side.
There must be 18 x 18 inches of floor space in front of a mounted sign for wheelchair access.
The bottom of an overhead display should not exceed 80 inches from the floor.
Signage that’s mounted between 27 and 80 inches off the floor shouldn’t extend more than four inches from the wall.

Interactive and Touchscreen Standards

If your signage has interactive controls, they must be reachable from a seated position. A touchscreen and its input fields, buttons and navigation controls should be within 15 to 48 inches above ground. You’ll also need 30 x 48 inches of clear floor space in front of the display. WCAG standards require touch targets to be 44 by 44 pixels and spaced appropriately to avoid accidental activation.

How to Audit Your Digital Signage

Determine whether your signs are permanent or temporary.
Measure the mounting height at both the bottom edge and centerline of each display.
Check pedestal bases to confirm they extend low enough to be detectable by a cane.
Compare all visual content against accessibility requirements, including font and color contrast.
Ensure video content has captions.
Test interactive displays from standing and seated positions.
Connect headphones or earpieces to test audio output and screen reader functionality.
Document the results of your assessment to track compliance.
Develop a plan and timeline to address issues and improvements.

Digital Signage Design from SensoryMax

Digital signage is a powerful tool for shaping how customers experienc your brand. SensoryMax offers creative video and signage solutions that engage, entertain and educate. Reach out to learn more and schedule a consultation.

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