Can the People Exposed to Your Work Actually See It?

New York, New York, June 7, 2006 - Do you have difficulty reading menus in dark restaurants? Do you wish your arm was a few feet longer when you try to read a medicine bottle? Have you ever had a hard time reading the words printed over a photograph? For many people over 40 and the 16.5 million Americans with low vision, these are common occurrences.

To help make words, images and spaces more accessible for the hard of seeing,™ National Association for Visually Handicapped (NAVH) is releasing “Keep in Sight” Guidelines for Visual Accessibility. The “Keep in Sight” campaign is an effort to alert the creative community to the difficulties their work often presents to the growing number of people with low vision.

“Age is a key factor affecting sight, and as the aging population grows, so does the problem,” says Dr. Lorraine Marchi, Founder and CEO of NAVH. “Reading ability often begins to decline after age 40 and some 129 million Americans are now 40 years old or more. Many are active and affluent people worth reaching, yet many have trouble reading ads, menus, computer screens, editorial material, museum signs, labels, instructions and programs. The theater world has recognized the needs of a large number of its attendees and provided free high tech hearing-enhancement devices. The visual arts world needs to do something similar to reach this large population.”

The legibility guidelines were compiled by Dr. Marchi, an expert in large print type, along with advice from distinguished advertising, art and architectural specialists. They suggest ways to make printed matter, signs, packaging, Web sites and public spaces more accessible to those whose vision is limited by age or ailment. The “Keep In Sight” advisory panel includes Lorraine H. Marchi, L.H.D., Founder/CEO, National Association for Visually Handicapped; Julian Koenig, Founding Partner, Papert, Koenig, Lois, Inc.; James Stewart Polshek, FAIA, Designer, Clinton Presidential Center and Rose Center for Earth and Space, Partner, Polshek Partnership Architects LLP; and John P. Schmelzer, President, Graphic Artists Guild.

“Keep In Sight's” key tips: use high contrast, short lines and large print. Use bold, non-italic type. Avoid printing type over photos and artwork.

The full guidelines, listed below, are being circulated by NAVH, a 52-year-old voluntary health organization that is the only nonprofit working exclusively with people who are hard of seeing.™ Dr. Marchi founded the organization over 52 years ago to work with low vision people and their caregivers. One of her four children was born with low vision, inspiring her to perfect large print type. The large print standards she perfected are used by most commercial publishers of large print.

“I hope that with all the other factors creative people must take into account, they will also bear in mind the guidelines to keep their work in sight. The simple changes in design needed to capture the attention of those with low vision will also capture the attention of everyone else as well.” she said.

About NAVH

NAVH is the only national voluntary nonprofit health organization solely devoted to the hard of seeing™ worldwide. Our mission is to ensure that impaired vision does not reduce quality of life. For over 52 years, we have encouraged and trained low vision people to use their remaining vision to its fullest potential. We are completely dependent on individuals, foundations and corporations for support. For more information on NAVH and how to support our services, visit navh.org or call 1-888-205-5951.


For more information, contact:

Janet Handy
Development Director, NAVH
22 West 21st Street
New York, New York 10010
212-889-3141
www.navh.org


KEEP IN SIGHT
Guidelines for Visual Accessibility

For Print

Typography
1. Larger type is better. For most people, 16 and 18 point are ideal.
2. Shorter lines are better.
3. The greater the contrast, the better. One of the following methods should be used—black on a white or yellow background, or white or yellow on a black or dark blue background.
4. Type printed over a photograph or artwork is harder to read than type over a plain background.
5. Italicized text is harder to read than non-italicized. Use underlining in place of italics.
6. Sans serif or modified serif in either medium or bold typefaces is easiest for most people to read.
7. Leading helps; 2 points between lines is ideal.
8. Low vision people can guess at word meanings, but numbers are more difficult.
9. Stay away from red whenever possible. Many low vision people "lose" red.
10. Columns should be divided by a vertical line.

Paper
1. The less glare, the better. The higher the gloss, the harder it is to read.
2. White or dull coat paper is ideal.

For Computer Screens
1. As in print, larger type is easier to read.
2. The simpler the layout, the better.
3. The shorter the line, the better.
4. The higher the contrast, the better.
5. Empty space helps—particularly between lines of type.
6. Graphics and photographs are easier to grasp if they are not printed over.

For Rooms, Galleries and Public Spaces
1. Provide as much light as is consistent with conservation and comfort, without producing glare.
2. Put important things near sources of good light.
3. Put seating and work spaces close to good light sources.
4. Gooseneck lamps can put the light directly on reading material and minimize glare.
5. Signs and information panels should be legible and placed at the eye level of people of average height (older people tend to be less tall than younger people). Use non-glare backgrounds and large, bold, sans serif type.
6. Light staircases well. Put contrasting color markers at the edge of steps (yellow is recommended).
7. Use elevator indicator button markers in white on black background (or the greatest color contrast possible). Lighting in elevators should be bright, without glare.
8. Alert people to the presence of glass doors by marking them with large visual indicators.

Important note: These guidelines will not meet everyone’s needs. However, more than 52 years of experience has shown NAVH that they will meet the needs of most hard of seeing™ people, and they will make your work more noticeable to people with “normal” sight as well.