If you're upgrading the signage in your office, then you may need extra help to get the right braille information on your new signs. You know what you need in basic terms, but you aren't an expert.
Rather than go for a general sign supplier, you've drawn up a list of companies that can create custom signs that incorporate necessary directions for people who are visually-impaired. Before you choose the company you'll use, it's a good idea to ask the following questions:
Do They Understand Current Standards and Codes?
If your building needs to be accessible, then your braille tactile signs have to meet certain standards. It's important that the sign company you use understands these rules and helps you meet them.
This isn't just a question of getting the right information on a sign in a readable braille format. The company should also be able to tell you about any positioning requirements a sign might have.
For example, braille signs should sit within certain height ranges. Some tactile signs need to be placed on a certain side of a door.
Additionally, the braille lettering on each sign must conform with specific design specifications. Braille lettering usually needs to be rounded and laid out in a particular format. An experienced signage company should know all of this information so you can feel confident that your signs will be compliant.
How Robust Is the Braille?
You don't have to just focus on getting your braille lettering, numbers and symbols right -- you also need to ensure that the braille on your signs stays readable and intact.
While you may not have many people coming into your building who use these signs, the braille on them can wear down or break off if they are used regularly. Additionally, some vandals find it amusing to pick tactile lettering off signs.
Ask your sign companies which materials and methods they recommend for tactile signs. You should look for robust solutions where the braille keeps its rounded shape and stays in place.
You should also ask what the company can do if part of the braille were to get damaged, say if a letter falls off a sign. Ideally, you want a solution that gives you a repair option over a new replacement.
Once you have the answers to these questions, you should find it easier to decide where to order your custom braille sign supplies. If you have other questions, talk to the companies on your shortlist that make braille tactile signs.