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
As societies become increasingly digital and interconnected, the presentation and delivery of media plays an ever more crucial role in shaping public understanding of accessibility; because how disability is catered for and portrayed through media directly influences public attitudes, policy debates, and societal norms. For the 1.3 billion people with disabilities
Steven and Judith Mifsud, founders and owners of Direct Access Group—the leading global accessibility consulting firm based in Nantwich, UK—have sold the company’s U.S. operations to Matrix Design Group, a U.S.-based, nationally recognised, employee-owned interdisciplinary engineering, design, and consultancy firm. This acquisition will strengthen Direct Access’s vision and commitment to
“A Critique of Anthony Hopkins’ Remarks on Autism and ADHD” by Michael Miller. In a recent interview with The Sunday Times, one of my favourite actors; Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs, The Wolfman) made some strange, if well intentioned comments on the rise in visibility of neurodiverse diagnosis.
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.
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
