The Inclusive Design Standards equip designers, builders, and developers with guidelines and frameworks for disability-forward housing creation. It highlights cross-disability accessibility and design decisions that are anchored in inclusion. Each month we feature one of our partners and the Element they’re most excited about.
Jason Nery | Senior Manager, Resident Services | The Kelsey
It’s fitting that Jason Nery chose Wayfinding as his Element of the Month. His role as Senior Manager, Resident Services, often has him helping people find their way around. For residents and their guests, a welcoming sense of belonging comes with the ability to navigate in The Kelsey’s communities. The element of Wayfinding is critical to guiding people where they need to go with clarity and ease. Wayfinding signs tell people what areas are, as with signs on restroom or apartment doors, or what routes are accessible. Incorporating Wayfinding into residential communities can be helpful by making getting around easier for all residents, both with and without disabilities.
Name of Element: Wayfinding Signage (1.4)
Description:
All accessibility signage is to use the Active ISA. Includes but is not limited to the following:
- Parking signs (post/wall mounted and painted on spaces)
- Directional signs indicating accessible routes
- Signs denoting accessible entries
- Signs on restroom doors and stall doors
- Signs elsewhere in the building, including the project’s promotional materials such as brochures, websites, or similar
- Coordinate early with the local jurisdiction to confirm acceptance – may only be accepted in non-code-required location
Design Category: Design Process
Impact Area(s): Mobility and Height, Hearing and Acoustics, Vision, Health and Wellness, Cognitive Access, Support Needs
Why is this element important to you, personally or for the project?
Have you ever been in a parking lot and forgotten where you parked? This question of “where am I? Where am I going?” can be particularly challenging for those with memory/cognitive issues, seniors and people with disabilities, in general.
With wayfinding signage / color schemes at The Kelsey, we can remind residents that their apartment is on the 2nd floor, yellow color, fox, for example, as when they come off the elevator or stairwell, there is consistent unique signage, colors and a symbol not only in stairwell/elevator lobbies, but also on each unit number throughout the floor to help remind residents where to go to.
How would you explain this element to a 2nd grader?
When there are unique symbols, colors and numbering of each floor, it makes it easier for people to find their way around the building.
What recommendations would you make to someone designing a disability-forward housing project (related to the design standards)?
Standard in most larger parking structures/lots, it would be helpful to include unique wayfinding with distinctive numbers, colors and symbols to help residents better find their way. Another approach I’ve used in my work in Supportive Housing, particularly those with memory/cognitive issues, seniors or people with disabilities is to put a unique sticker on their door / unit number to more easily identify their actual unit.