Ireland: +353 (0)15079081
Award-winning Universal Design and Accessibility experts. Led by disabled people.
Direct Access is a leading accessibility and inclusion consultancy, proudly Disability Owned and Operated (DOBE™ certified) since 2004. Founded and run by people with lived experience of disability, we specialise in accessibility consultancy, accessible media, and inclusive products.
With a team of consultants across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, we help organisations across the UK and mainland Europe create environments that not only meet but exceed accessibility standards and building regulations.
Our work spans a wide range of projects—from small community venues to UNESCO World Heritage Sites and world-renowned museums—collaborating closely with clients, architects, and design teams to deliver truly inclusive spaces.
Our mission is a simple but important one: to help organisations move beyond exclusive design practices and foster environments where people with disabilities can participate fully and equally. We believe true accessibility isn’t a one-time fix—it’s a mindset, a culture, and a commitment that must grow and adapt with our society and the technologies that shape it.
Learn more about the talented individuals that have helped Direct Access to grow into an award-winning talent in the field of accessibility here.
Direct Access are the Accessibility Consultants for the Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery, helping Cumbria become a thriving place for everyone through the development and implementation of an accessibility Read More
Direct Access were the accessibility consultants for the 5 C’s Project in Belfast, providing a review of 5 proposed street refurbishments for The Department for Communities (DfC) Belfast Regeneration Directorate. Read More
Direct Access provided accessibility audits to the East Riding Museums Group to ensure that its sites are fully accessible and inclusive to disabled visitors and staff. The initial site audits Read More
Image © O’Donnell + Tuomey / Ninety90, 2018. The Victoria and Albert Museum, more commonly known as the V&A is the world’s largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts and Read More
Direct Access has provided Universal Design and accessibility consultancy services for the new International Organization for Migration Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Working with the Architectural and design teams at each Read More
The Ellison Institute is an interdisciplinary, patient-centered research center that provides cutting-edge cancer care and wellness services, undertaking research initiatives that span the scientific spectrum to change how cancer and Read More
Everyone should have the opportunity to experience the outdoors. Feeling the warmth of the sun, listening to the crash of ocean waves, or walking beneath a sea of trees are some of life’s simplest and most meaningful pleasures. For millions of people who live with mobility challenges, however, these experiences
In the UK, roughly 1.5 million people are estimated to have a learning disability, including about 1.3 million in England alone, with around 2.16% of adults and 2.5% of children being affected. For many of these individuals—especially those with severe learning difficulties or multiple neurodiverse impairments—the supports we assume are
Air travel is more than a way to get from point A to point B—it’s a gateway to opportunity, freedom, and connection. For millions of travelers with disabilities, however, airports and airlines can still pose significant barriers. From inaccessible boarding processes to limited facilities, the experience often falls short of
By definition, artists are creative people. Whether the trade is graphic design, filmmaking, or architecture, the role of the artist throughout history has been to find ways to innovate, reinvent, and inspire as a result of their unique passions, talent and ingenuity. Often, the most impactful art comes from a
The University of Brighton has awarded an Honorary Doctor of Arts to Steven Mifsud MBE in recognition of his exceptional contributions to accessibility and inclusive design through his leadership of Direct Access, the award-winning consultancy he founded in 2004. He was formerly a student at the University thirty prior, where
Once again, it saddens us to report that disabled people are being treated as expendable. The UK government’s latest cost-cutting crusade has taken aim at Access to Work—a scheme that, for decades, has quietly but powerfully levelled the playing field for disabled people in employment. And now? It’s under threat.
(Or How Forced RTO Policies Are Rolling Back Disability Rights—And What Companies Must Do Instead) The Broken Promise of Workplace Inclusion Remote work wasn’t a gift of the pandemic—it was a long-overdue breakthrough for inclusion. For millions of disabled, neurodivergent, and caregiving employees, it wasn’t about comfort. It was about
The fitness industry measures everything—from average rep speed to protein shake sales. Yet most clubs fail to track their most revealing metric: the invisible exodus of members who leave not because of price or programming, but because basic design makes their workouts harder than they need to be. Consider this:
As the UK rail industry charts a course toward modernisation, one critical factor remains insufficiently addressed: true accessibility and inclusion for disabled passengers. For Direct Access, we believe this is not only a question of compliance or public image— but a strategic opportunity to lead the way in delivering a
A member of our award-winning accessibility team will be in contact. If you would like to communicate in a specific way, please let us know.
United Kingdom
Pepper House,
Market Street,
Nantwich,
Cheshire,
CW5 5DQ.
Ireland
77 Camden Street Lower,
Dublin,
D02 XE80.
info@directaccess.group
Phone
United Kingdom: +44 1270 626222
Ireland: +353 (0)15079081
