The Importance and Impact of Braille Signage

Visual impairment brings countless challenges on the way, including managing routine commutes or being around public places. Sight challenged often feel inferior because of this disability as it restricts them to move around independently. However, putting up braille tactile signs can help them live a self-reliant life and navigate around the place they want to visit. Most commercial spaces and public places are now considering installing these braille and tactile signs in their premises or areas.

In this article, we will talk a bit more about braille signs in Australia, their types, and their impact on commercial and public places. But first, let’s talk a bit more about braille signs.

Braille signs are a series of raised dots that represent a message for visually impaired individuals that help them understand the meaning of the text by simply touching the dots. Such visually impaired signage was first invented in 1821 by a Frenchman named Louis Braille after losing his eyesight at the age of 3 due to an accident at his father’s workshop. The raised dots in braille signs represent different letters, alphabets, numbers, words, and symbols, which allow visually impaired individuals to understand the meaning and purpose of the message. Universal braille signs have allowed individuals with visual impairment to live an independent and self-reliant life.

Braille signs are found everywhere in public places and commercial buildings. One of the most common braille signs used by commercial premises and public spaces is toilet braille signs. Other than accessible toilet signage, public places and commercial buildings also consider directional signs with arrows, braille room number signs, push and pull door signs, building sections, braille exit signs, etc.

1. Most commercial spaces are adapting to simple yet effective braille signs. The buttons in an office building’s elevator have a braille system. Braille signage for the buttons has allowed the visually disabled ones to operate the elevator independently – without assistance – and thus live an easier life.
2. The coffee shops inside the commercial premises are also adapting to this change. The pull and push instructions on the door are also represented by raised dots to allow individuals with visual impairment to independently open or close the door.
3. One of the most common places you will notice a braille system in commercial premises are restrooms. With braille signs, people with eyesight issues can locate toilets and understand which restroom is gender-specific.
4. Braille office signs also include direction signs with a braille system, allowing those with visual impairment to move around the premises without facing any difficulty.
5. Most commercial building premises also consider placing necessary braille signs across the building to support people with eyesight issues and show them care.

• Braille signs can be found in public places like ATMs, public phone boxes, pedestrian shopping areas and crossings, and more. ATMs have a keypad that represents numbers with braille.

• Most public spaces with land-line telephones also have these raised dost on the keypads.

• Braille signs act as a warning sign with critical information. For instance, subway stops usually have general signs with raised dots that indicate the proper way of riding the subway.

• Most public bathrooms have Braille underneath the WC (toilet) signs that indicate whether it’s a men’s bathroom or a women’s bathroom.

• Most public places have installed custom braille signs to help visually challenged individuals direct and navigate around the area independently.

At Braille Option, we design and fabricate premium quality braille signs for individuals and commercial businesses. We store an extensive range of braille signage – from accessible signs, ambulant toilet signs, male signs, female signs, unisex signs, miscellaneous signs, and exit signs. Call us today on (07) 4157 7107 to speak with one of our signage specialists and discuss your requirements.