A Guide for Advocates and Citizens Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired

More Than a Legal Checkbox

Imagine arriving at your city’s municipal building to pay a utility bill, apply for a permit, or attend City Council meetings and having no way to know which door leads where. No readable signs. No way to distinguish the Tax Assessor’s office from the City Clerk’s office from a utility closet.

For the more than 7.6 million Americans living with visual disabilities, this is not a hypothetical scenario. It is every day.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) established federal standards for accessible signage in public buildings, standards that many municipalities still fail to meet. This post breaks down exactly what the law requires, why it matters, and why raised lettering and Braille at every office door isn’t just a legal obligation, it is a basic act of respect and dignity.

What the ADA Says About Signage

The ADA Standards for Accessible Design, specifically Section 703, establishes requirements for signs in public facilities. These requirements apply directly to city and county municipal buildings, including courthouses, city halls, permit offices, public health departments, libraries, and more.

Signs That Must Have Raised Characters and Braille

Under ADA standards, any sign that identifies a permanent room or space must include:

• Raised (tactile) characters — letters and numbers that project at least 1/32 inch from the sign’s surface
• Grade 2 Braille — the contracted form of Braille used by most Braille readers
• Both uppercase and lowercase letters — raised characters must use uppercase letters only, but visual characters on the same sign may use mixed case

This requirement applies to every permanent room in a municipal building, including:

• Individual office doors (City Clerk, Tax Assessor, Building Permits, etc.)
• Conference rooms
• Restrooms
• Stairwells and exit doors
• Storage and utility rooms accessible to the public
• Elevator lobbies and floors

Placement Requirements

The ADA is specific about where tactile signs must be mounted:

• On the wall on the latch side of the door — the side where the door handle is located
• Centerline between 48 and 60 inches from the finished floor, placing the Braille and raised characters within reach of most adults and wheelchair users.
• At least 18 inches from the nearest corner, ensuring a person can approach without bumping into the door as it swings open

This placement is not arbitrary. It allows a blind or visually impaired person to locate the sign predictably, approach safely, and read it with their fingertips without guessing where to reach.

Character and Braille Specifications

• Raised characters must be between 5/8 inch and 2 inches in height
• Characters must have a sans-serif font (no decorative serifs that complicate tactile reading)
• There must be a non-glare finish on the sign surface
• Characters must contrast visually with the sign background (for those with low vision)
• Braille dots must follow specific dome height and spacing requirements per ANSI/ICC A117.1 standards

Why Municipal Buildings Must Do Better: 10 Reasons Braille and Raised Lettering Matter

1. Independence Is a Civil Right

The ADA was signed into law in 1990 with a foundational principle: people with disabilities have the right to participate fully in civic life. A blind resident cannot independently navigate a city building without tactile signage. Dependence on sighted assistance for something as basic as finding an office strips away autonomy that every citizen deserves.

2. Municipal Buildings Serve Everyone, Including Blind Taxpayers

City halls, county courthouses, and public service offices exist to serve all residents. Blind and visually impaired citizens pay the same taxes, hold the same rights, and require the same services as sighted residents. Accessible signage is not a special accommodation, it is equal service.

3. Visual Impairment Is More Common Than Most Realize

According to the CDC, approximately 1 in 28 Americans over age 40 has some form of visual impairment. Age-related vision loss, macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy — means that the population of people who benefit from tactile signage grows every year. Seniors accessing Medicare offices, veteran services, or property tax assistance are disproportionately affected.

4. Low Vision ≠ No Vision: High-Contrast Signage Helps Too

Not everyone who benefits from accessible signage is completely blind. People with low vision, those who cannot read standard print even with glasses benefit enormously from high-contrast visual signs combined with tactile elements. The ADA’s signage standards address both populations simultaneously.

5. Braille Literacy Is a Lifeline, Not a Relic

Some assume that audio technology has replaced Braille. It has not. Studies consistently show that Braille readers have significantly higher employment rates and literacy levels than blind individuals who do not read Braille. Providing Braille signage validates and supports Braille literacy and acknowledges that technology (phones, screen readers) should supplement, not replace, physical accessibility.

6. Tactile Signs Enable Quiet, Private Navigation

Relying on a phone’s GPS or asking a stranger for help every time you approach a door is not a dignified or feasible. Tactile signage allows a blind person to navigate confidently and quietly  without announcing their destination to everyone nearby, which matters especially in sensitive settings like public health offices, legal aid, or social services.

7. Consistent Signage Reduces Anxiety and Increases Confidence

For individuals navigating a new or unfamiliar building, predictability is everything. When tactile signs are consistently placed on the latch side of every door at the same height, a blind person can build a mental map of the space efficiently. Inconsistent or missing signage creates frustration, confusion, and safety risks.

8. It Protects the Municipality from Legal Liability

Municipalities that fail to meet ADA signage standards are subject to:

• Complaints to the U.S. Department of Justice
• Civil lawsuits under Title II of the ADA, which applies directly to state and local government entities
• Loss of federal funding, cities receiving federal grants must comply with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which has parallel accessibility requirements

Proactive compliance is far less costly than litigation, settlements, or federal audits.

9. It Sets a Standard for the Entire Community

When a city hall models full ADA compliance, it sends a message to local businesses, schools, and organizations. Municipal buildings are civic anchors, what they do (or fail to do) shapes community norms around accessibility. Leading by example has a ripple effect throughout the entire community.

10. People Are Waiting

Every day that a municipal building operates without compliant tactile signage is another day that a blind resident cannot find the Building Permits office independently or attend those City Council meetings.  Another day someone must ask for help to find a restroom. Another day a veteran cannot locate the VA liaison’s door without assistance. The harm is not theoretical, it is ongoing reality.

Common Violations to Watch For in Municipal Buildings

If you are an accessibility advocate, a blind resident, or a city official conducting an audit, here are the most frequent ADA signage violations found in municipal buildings:

• Signs mounted on the door itself rather than the adjacent wall
• Signs placed too high or too low — outside the 48–60 inch centerline range
• Pictogram-only signs without accompanying raised text and Braille
• Braille that is incorrect or outdated — some older signs use Grade 1 Braille, which does not meet current standards
• Glare-producing sign finishes that reduce legibility for low-vision users
• Insufficient contrast between characters and sign background
• Temporary or paper signs substituting for permanent tactile signs
• Missing signs on rooms that have been repurposed without updating signage

What Advocates and Residents Can Do

File a Complaint

Anyone can file an ADA Title II complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division at www.ada.gov or call 1-800-514-0301 (Voice) / 1-800-514-0383 (TTY).

Request a Self-Evaluation

Under ADA Title II, local governments are required to conduct a self-evaluation of their programs and facilities. Residents can formally request that a city conduct or update its self-evaluation and transition plan.

Connect With Your State’s Protection & Advocacy Organization

Every state has a federally funded Protection & Advocacy (P&A) organization that provides free legal assistance to people with disabilities. They can help you navigate complaints or advocate for systemic change.

Attend City Council Meetings

Accessibility issues in public buildings are legitimate policy concerns. Showing up to public comment periods and city council meetings puts pressure on elected officials to allocate budget for ADA compliance upgrades.

Conclusion: Braille on Every Door Is Not Too Much to Ask

A small tactile sign, a few raised letters, a line of Braille dots,  costs very little. What it provides is immeasurable: the ability to move through a public building independently, privately, and with confidence.

Municipal buildings belong to everyone. The blind resident who needs to renew a license, attend a hearing, or access public records deserves the same frictionless experience as any sighted visitor. Raised lettering and Braille signage at every office door is not a luxury upgrade. It is not only the Law but also the right thing to do.