If information about an environment is provided and organised in a clear and logical manner, it will help everyone that uses that environment to find their way around independently. Listed below are some of the tools that are used to aid wayfinding.

Signage

Information is often conveyed via signage, perhaps to help people find their way to a destination, or sometimes to provide a warning. At the same time, signs may also help to portray an identity. Making a sign clear and easy to interpret for a visually impaired person will make the sign clear and easy to interpret for everyone.

The design of signs should follow the 'clear print guidelines' set out in the previous section. For example:

• sign content should be simple, short and easily understood
• text and lettering should be in a clear, uncomplicated font
• wording and use of pictograms should be consistent

For further information on accessible signage, refer to:

• the Sign Design Guide, published by JMU Access Partnership and the Sign Design Society
• Good Signs – Improving Signs for People with a Learning Disability (opens Word document), published by the former Disability Rights Commission

Audible signs

Electronic orientation systems aim to give users audible information that they can follow so that they are able to find their destination, while following a safe and sensible route. They can also be used to give users information about items of street furniture, such as a tactile map or a bench, or other features that users might wish to use (or avoid).

These signs can also be used by people who are not blind or partially sighted, but find it easier to use audible signs than visual ones. This may include people with learning disabilities, or those whose first language is not English. Remotely triggered audible signs can even be set up to relay information in a number of different languages.

A number of different transmission methods can be used to produce electronic orientation or beacon systems. The systems use radio frequency or infrared as the method of transmission between the beacon and the user. The method of communication chosen will affect both the cost and weight of the different parts of the system.

For further information on audible signage, visit the Royal National Institute for Blind People’s (RNIB) website.

Tactile maps

Tactile maps – also known as raised or embossed maps – present a simple version of a visual image. They are increasingly being used in public areas, such as museums and art galleries, to help visually impaired people build up a mental image of an area. This enables them to navigate around unfamiliar environments much more easily.