Visual, multilingual communication is no longer a nice-to-have. Digital signage offers schools an essential path to ensuring every student—regardless of language or hearing ability—receives critical information when it matters most.
GUEST COLUMN | by Luke Luttrell
IVAN RYABOKON
In today’s educational landscape, ensuring genuine communication equity in K-12 schools is not just an aspiration—it is a necessity. Schools that serve students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH), English Learners (ELs), and those with visual or cognitive accessibility needs face a critical challenge: making sure that essential announcements reach every student effectively and without barriers. Relying only on auditory announcements or traditional paper notifications presents substantial risks, both for student safety and for meeting regulatory requirements.
‘…making sure that essential announcements reach every student effectively and without barriers.’
A professionally implemented digital signage solution stands as a foundational infrastructure to counter these risks. By centering visual and multilingual content delivery, a robust, school-wide digital signage system transforms communication from a fragmented, potentially exclusionary process into a standardized, accessible asset. The strategic deployment of interactive LED boards throughout school hallways ensures that vital information is accessible to every student and parent, regardless of auditory or language differences.
The Scale of the Challenge: Who Are We Missing?
The data paints a compelling picture of the communication equity gaps present in American schools:
10.3% of U.S. public-school students are English Learners. Visual, multilingual screens help schools reach these students without depending on English-only public address announcements.
22% of U.S. residents age 5 and older speak a language other than English at home. Multilingual LED messaging extends the reach to families and visitors who might otherwise miss key information.
About 15% of U.S. adults report some trouble hearing. Visual signage provides a non-audio channel for alerts, schedules, and wayfinding, ensuring that everyone is included.
‘Visual signage provides a non-audio channel for alerts, schedules, and wayfinding, ensuring that everyone is included.’
2-3 per 1,000 U.S. children are born with detectable hearing loss. Effective campus communication requires visual channels that all students can access, not just those who can hear.
These statistics underscore a pressing issue: schools that rely solely on audio-based communication methods systematically exclude vulnerable populations from receiving critical information.
How Digital Displays Provide Immediate Multilingual Safety
During emergencies, the speed and clarity of safety alerts are of utmost importance. Relying solely on auditory announcements creates a significant accessibility gap, particularly for DHH students and ELs who may not receive crucial information in time.
Digital signage addresses this challenge by delivering visual alerts that are instantly visible across all screens. Dynamic LED signs enable schools to display key operational announcements—such as safety alerts or schedule changes—in multiple languages, either on a rotating schedule or as needed. This ensures that:
DHH students receive emergency information immediately, without waiting for interpreters or written follow-up.
English Learners can access safety protocols in their home language, improving understanding and compliance.
Visual alerts serve as a redundancy layer in case audio systems fail.
Furthermore, standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) specifically require visual alarm signals, such as strobe lights flashing at 1-2 times per second. This highlights the necessity of visible notification appliances, which LED displays can supplement. These regulatory requirements make visual communication infrastructure not just beneficial, but mandatory for compliance. LED displays help schools meet these standards while reducing legal and safety liabilities.
How Digital Signage Affirms Identity and Belonging
Communication equity is not limited to safety alerts; it extends to the everyday messages that shape and reinforce school culture. By using LED signs to display welcome messages, school values, or cultural celebrations in the languages spoken by students and families, schools visually affirm the presence and importance of diverse language communities. This approach:
Signals to multilingual families that they are respected, valued members of the school community.
‘…Signals to multilingual families that they are respected, valued members of the school community.’
Strengthens the sense of belonging for English Learners navigating an environment where English is predominant.
Publicly celebrates cultural diversity, reinforcing inclusion in highly visible ways.
Creates a welcoming school climate, which research connects to improved student engagement and retention.
Supporting Diverse Learners: Visual Modalities and Accessibility
The visual nature of LED displays is especially effective for supporting learning across different modalities. Schools can use these screens to present American Sign Language (ASL) content or dual-language text for Dual Language Learners (DLLs), providing multiple pathways for information access. Research indicates that 65% of students are visual learners, meaning they retain information best when it is presented visually. For English Learners and students with auditory processing challenges, visual modalities are not just helpful—they are essential. Dynamic LED displays are inherently more inclusive than relying on text-heavy flyers or audio-only announcements.
‘For English Learners and students with auditory processing challenges, visual modalities are not just helpful—they are essential.’
Reducing Communication Barriers for Families
Modern LED systems can be programmed to send out routine communications—such as school closing notices—in the primary languages spoken within the community. This capability transforms how schools engage with parents and caregivers who do not speak English fluently:
– Families receive vital information without language barriers, leading to better engagement and understanding.
– Schools reduce the administrative workload associated with translating materials into multiple languages.
– Communication happens in real time, rather than through delayed printouts or follow-up translations.
– Families feel included and informed, which strengthens school-community relationships.
Strategic Placement for Maximum Accessibility Impact
For digital signage to truly advance equity goals, the location of each display is crucial. Schools should focus on:
Main entrance or lobby: Greets all visitors and families in multiple languages, signaling inclusion from the outset.
Cafeteria: A high-traffic area where diverse student groups gather regularly.
Hallways: Interactive LED boards ensure information is accessible throughout the building.
Athletic facilities: Ensures event information and schedules reach all families, regardless of language.
Administrative offices: Provides multilingual access to important information about enrollment, registration, and compliance.
Strategic placement ensures that accessible communication reaches every member of the school community, amplifying equity and inclusion.
Compliance and Regulatory Considerations
Schools serving students with disabilities are required to comply with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the ADA, which mandate equal access to information and communication. Digital signage systems that offer visual alerts, multilingual capabilities, and high-contrast displays help schools demonstrate compliance with these accessibility requirements.
When schools can document that essential safety and academic information is delivered through various modalities—visual, multilingual, and high-contrast—they strengthen their compliance efforts and minimize liability.
Implementation Best Practices
For schools considering digital signage to improve accessibility, several best practices are recommended:
Assess community linguistic needs: Identify the languages spoken by families in your district and configure displays accordingly.
Ensure high contrast and readability: Adjust display settings to prioritize visibility for students with visual processing challenges.
Include diverse users in testing: Engage DHH students, ELs, and students with visual disabilities in system testing to ensure true accessibility.
Integrate with emergency systems: Connect displays to your Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) for automated, multilingual emergency alerts.
Train staff on multilingual content: Provide training to ensure staff can update displays in multiple languages and follow accessibility best practices.
Plan for sustainability: Choose energy-efficient LED displays that require minimal maintenance, supporting long-term operational sustainability.
NOTES
- U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics: “English Language Learner (ELL) Students” https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cgf
- U.S. Census Bureau: “Language Spoken at Home” https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/LNG645222
- CDC: “Hearing Loss Data and Statistics” https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db414.htm
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD): “Quick Statistics on Hearing” https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing
- Fiveable: “4.1 Multilingual signage – Language And Popular Culture” https://fiveable.me/language-popular-culture/unit-4/multilingual-signage/study-guide/him4gzpGf4se0F6q
- Access Board: “ADA Guides – Chapter 7: Communication Elements and Features” https://www.access-board.gov/ada/guides/chapter-7-communication-elements-and-features/
- Fiveable: “4.1 Multilingual signage – Language And Popular Culture” https://fiveable.me/language-popular-culture/unit-4/multilingual-signage/study-guide/him4gzpGf4se0F6q
- ScholarWorks@GVSU: “Why Not Sign? Classrooms as Sites of d/Deaf and Multilingual Literacy Development” https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2858&context=mrj
- Wauly: “School Digital Signage Adoption Statistics”
- EmailSorters: “Education Digital Signage: Smart Display Solutions for Modern Learning” https://emailsorters.com/blog/education-digital-signage/
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Luke Luttrell is the CEO and Co-Founder of Next LED Signs, bringing two decades of experience in custom electric signs and LED project management. His career spans from overseeing one of the first digital billboard installations for Clear Channel Outdoor in 2006 to leading recent university sports venue projects. Luke has managed installation, hardware, software, and service support for hundreds of K-12 and institutional clients, with expertise in the technical, operational, and equity aspects of deploying accessible communication systems in educational environments. Connect with Luke via LinkedIn.
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