The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) has unveiled five prototype coastal information signs in Hermanus, Western Cape, designed to make environmental information more accessible for people with disabilities.
The Living Coast initiative builds on WESSA’s first Braille coastal signage launched at Blaauwberg Nature Reserve in February 2026. The new prototypes combine Braille, audio, large format text and digital information to provide alternative ways for visitors to learn about South Africa’s coastal environment.
The initiative is a partnership between WESSA, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Blind SA, CapeNature, Overstrand Municipality, UNICEF and the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities.
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Director of Coastal Development and Coordination Ryan Peter said: “A sign, we decided, should not only be seen but it should also be heard, it should be felt and it should be understood in your own senses and in your own words.”
