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Wayfinding
When people are anxious, fatigued, or have any number of cognitive limitations, including memory problems, they may have difficulty orienting themselves and navigating their way around. It can be a significant asset to a sense of confidence and control to be able to find your way to where you need to go and return. For some people, it’s critical. For others, it is a characteristic of a welcoming environment.
At all times, but especially during emergencies, people must be able to find their way to their destination with a minimum of assistance. To make it accessible, your environment should be modified according to the following principles:
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Vary materials, colors and styles, so that spaces do not all look the same. At points where a direction decision must be made, avoid similar-looking choices. Instead provide changes in lighting, color, texture, and acoustics at transition points, to differentiate direction options.
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Create landmarks if you have a large or complicated building. Being able to say "Turn right at the fish tank" or "go three doors past the water cooler" make everyone more confident.
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Do not depend excessively on signage. To the extend possible, make it clear what is going on in different areas by being able to see into them through interior windows or half-doors. If there are areas where you don’t want non-staff to go, make them less visible by blending wall and door colors.
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Where needed, appropriate and accessible signage should be provided. Graphics, especially international or other standard symbols, should be used whenever possible, and accompanied by words. Use clear, simple language or familiar graphic symbols on signs, labels, and other written communication. See Braille signage requirements and detailed signage guidelines in the Access tab.
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Providing safety to women with disabilities also includes protecting survivors in case of emergency in your program. The Board's ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG)
, which primarily cover new construction and alterations, include specifications for accessible means of egress, emergency alarms, and signage. Model building codes, life safety codes, and state access codes also address these and other elements related to emergency egress. An extensive set of references for creating accessible emergency egress is on the US Access Board’s website . It is always important to test the adequacy of your emergency preparedness with "user/experts" – go to people representative of a range of functional limitations and test your tentative solution.
