Access

for Everybody

Award-winning Universal Design and Accessibility experts. Led by disabled people.

Direct Access has led the accessibility and inclusion field since our inception in 2004. We are a DOBE™ certified Disability Owned and Operated Business Enterprise providing accessibility consultancy based on our real lived experience of disability.

With consultants across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland – we enable organisations to create inclusive environments that meet and exceed accessibility standards and building regulations across the UK and mainland Europe.

We work with clients, architects and design teams working on everything from small community venues, to UNESCO heritage sites, to world famous museums.

A Selection of

Our Work

A close up photograph of an open gate leading to a walkway surrounded by a lush green garden. On the gate is a square sign displaying a white capital T, representing the Tullie Museum and Art Gallery.

Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery

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

A proof of concept photograph of the proposed new design of Chichester Street in Belfast showing a bustling street front with new modern buildings.

The 5 C’s Public Realms Project – Belfast

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

A photograph of an exterior pathway at the Sewerby Halls & Gardens on a sunny afternoon, to either side a mixture of white, pink, and purple flowers are scattered from one end to the next, with larger plans and trees further back on each side. At the furthest end of the path, there is a sheltered garden gazebo with two trees adjacent to the left and right.

East Riding Museums

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

A proof of concept photo of the V and A East museum, showing a large, baige building that looks like an upside down crown. A large V and A sits on the top. Outside crowds of people commute on the open plan path space. At the forefront, a set of stairs lead down to a nearby canal with a red, white, and blue coloured boat passing by.

V & A East

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

A render of the upcoming United Nations International Center for Migration, a building with large glass windows that is generally see-through. On the street front is a black car, a flagpole with a blue UN glad and people dressed in suits walking along the pavement.

United Nations International Organization for Migration (Geneva)

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

Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine

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

More Case Studies

Latest

News

Shot of a mixed group of businesspeople sat on different rows of seats attending a class. Some are watching an out of shot person attentively, while others are writing information on their notebooks, laptops, and tablets.

News

How your organisation could benefit from training staff in disability awareness

Providing disability awareness training for staff is as vital to any successful public-facing business as its management or marketing teams, yet for some reason, whether from ignorance or laziness, very few organisations will put in the required effort to reap the rewards that come from training staff in how to

August 22, 2024

A young caucasian boy (around 6 or 7) on a plastic motorbike smiles and looks into the distance, presumably at a parent, in a children's playground. Behind him are slides, tube slides and other interactive playground features.

News

The right to play: creating accessible playgrounds for all children

When we consider the thought of what accessibility in the built environment looks like, it would be fair to say that inclusive children’s play areas do not normally come to mind first. Typically, accessibility in the mind of the average person is thought about in contexts of more menial and

August 19, 2024

Group of people on benches eating food and socialising at Nantwich Food Festival.

News

Direct Access providing Calm Corner at Nantwich Food Festival 2024

Direct Access providing Calm Corner at Nantwich Food Festival 2024 The organisers of Nantwich Food Festival have confirmed that Direct Access will be attending the latest edition of the popular food festival this August and September. Our consultancy is proud to be providing a quiet space, which we have dubbed

August 14, 2024

A little boy with down syndrome wearing glasses focuses intently on a mobile phone, scrolling on the screen.

News

How to create accessible and inclusive social media content

On a global scale, social media is the dominant means of communication. Practically everyone everywhere makes use of it, whether to keep up with friends and family, entertain ourselves, read news articles/opinion pieces, or even find jobs. For disabled people (particularly those who face challenges navigating the physical world), social media

August 2, 2024

An inspector holding a pen and clipboard writes down something while an inspector holding an electronic tablet from behind observes. Both are stood by a windowsill from within a building.

News

Why architects need accessibility consultants for New Build design projects

It is generally understood that there are five different phases for New Build construction projects. Across these five stages, accessibility consultants play a key role in the delivery of at least three of them to ensure that site owners and architects (the Project Management Team) are meeting their legal obligations

July 29, 2024

The Harris Museum Art Gallery Exterior, a grand imposing building supported by Greek style pillars from the front. Street lamps illuminate the front of the street below as the evening draws in.

News

‘Harris Your Place’ : Direct Access interviewed for access consultancy work at the Harris Museum

Direct Access founder Steven Mifsud MBE was interviewed for the Harris Museum’s ‘Harris Your Place’ profile series, highlighting key people in the site’s ongoing refurbishment. An ambitious undertaking, it is set to be the first blended museum, art gallery, and library in the UK. Conducting the interview with Steven is

July 23, 2024

A detached, red-bricked, two-story house on a river edge in Canterbury on a bright, sunny day. The building has a beautiful garden with white flowers in front of it, across the river bank the same white flowers can be found along with purple and orange flowers. On the river, a man rows a couple on a boat across the gentle water.

News

Direct Access bringing access and inclusion to Canterbury

Canterbury County Council (CCC) have commissioned Direct Access for their Levelling Up Project, the scope of which has seen the firm deliver accessibility audits for many of Canterbury’s heritage places, gardens, trails, streetscapes, car parks, and cycling routes. The project, which has seen Direct Access deliver accessibility audits to public

July 16, 2024

A dark blue graphic which reads "July Disability Pride Month" in white text. The rainbow of colours representing pride cover the edges of the graphic. Several small circles surrounding the text are also coloured a combination of red, orange, green, and blue.

News

Embracing disabled identity: Direct Access and Disability Pride Month

Disability Pride Month is an annual awareness day celebrated every July, championing the creativity, resilience, and achievements of disabled people. The origins of Disability Pride as a celebration go as far back as the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act back in 1990, which the date traditionally commemorates. However,

July 8, 2024

Steven Mifsud holding his MBE medal on the grounds of Windsor Castle on an overcast morning.

News

Steven Mifsud interviewed for the 20th anniversary of Direct Access

Celebrating 20 years as Director of Direct Access, Marketing Executive and Accessible Media Consultant Michael Miller interviewed our Group CEO Steven Mifsud MBE about the company’s history which now spans a generation, and what the future holds for the award-winning accessibility consultancy. Hi Steven! Firstly, congratulations on Direct Access finally

July 5, 2024

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