info@directaccess.group

E-Mail

UK: +44 1270 626222

Ireland: +353 (0)15079081

Access

for Everybody

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

Direct Access Group is an award-winning, full-service accessibility consultancy specialising in access audits, regulatory compliance, and inclusive design strategy across built and digital environments.

We support organisations to meet statutory requirements and WCAG standards through expert consultancy. Our experience spans complex private and public-sector environments across retail, finance, hospitality, education, healthcare, and culture, operating within diverse regulatory and operational frameworks at local, national, and continental scales.

Our majority-disabled consultants combine technical and lived expertise on every project. We also design bespoke tactile maps and produce accessible formats including Braille, Easy Read, and Large Print.

The 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.

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.

Two men (Steven Mifsud and Steve Dering) look at blueprint on a building site in the desert at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Consultancy

Following best practice and meeting your obligations under the Equality Act.

A wide shot photograph of the new Birmingham International tactile braille map board shot using deep focus. The face of the map board provides a colourful rendition of Coventry Station's layout using a raised braille key and symbols against a white background. In the bottom left corner QR codes are available for audio described and sign language elements.

Media

Our recording studios and tactile production facilities produce a wide variety of accessible information – empowering people.

A photograph of the Direct Access Evacuation Chair.

Products

Key accessible products that make a real and substantial difference to the lives of people with disabilities

A Selection of

Our Work

Latest

Insights

A modern information desk sits in the foreground, designed with clean white surfaces and smooth edges. Attached to the front of the desk is a blue accessibility sign featuring an ear symbol and the letter T, indicating the presence of a hearing loop system. Behind the desk are two simple black chairs; one has a small gooseneck microphone positioned in front of it, suggesting this is a staffed reception point.
News

Why Inaccessibility Is Costing You Deaf Customers

Most businesses don’t lose Deaf and hard-of-hearing customers in a single, visible moment. They lose them quietly, at various junctions of the visitor journey. Whether it’s inaccessible marketing, broken checkout flows, or ineffective customer support, the outcome is the same: frustration. And that frustration shows up in the metrics businesses already track. Lower conversions. Weaker sales

Read More »
Eight micro interiors that make the most of their small space
News

How Accessibility Prevents Micro-Apartments From Shrinking Further

Micro-apartments have a floor they cannot go below, and that floor is set by accessibility standards. This is not a constraint to resist. It is the reason housing remains habitable for the population that actually exists. Micro-apartments are like the fast food of the housing market. In certain situations they can be convenient, sometimes necessary,

Read More »
Holiday,Home,With,Disabled,Access
News

How UK Holiday Parks Can Close the Commercial Gap They’ve Been Sitting On

Introduction Disabled travellers are the most under-served audience in UK tourism, despite being one of its most commercially valuable.  Nowhere is that truer than in the UK holiday park and caravan sector.  For decades, disability charities, community groups and family networks have been block-booking UK holiday parks. Not because operators marketed to them.

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A classroom setting with several young children seated around a rectangular table. An adult is seated with the children at the table. The adult is holding a tablet device and is pointing toward the screen of another tablet placed on the table in front of one of the children. The children are each holding or using tablet devices. The child at the center of the image is looking down toward the tablet on the table. Another child seated to the right is looking toward the adult who is gesturing. Additional children are partially visible around the edges of the table. The table is light-colored, and the chairs surrounding it are blue. Behind the group, there is a whiteboard and various classroom materials, including shelves, posters, and a storage pocket organizer hanging on the wall. The environment appears well-lit, and the focus is on the interaction around the table and the use of digital devices.
News

Why Accessibility Is an Operational Advantage for Schools

Many schools are currently paying the price for poor design. Bottlenecked corridors, wayfinding changes every September, amplified noise in classrooms, non-compliant restrooms, and poor furniture choices each result in friction for school managers. It shows up as: Lost teaching time during lesson changeovers Staff pulled away from teaching to manage

Read More »
Happy,Caucasian,Schoolgirl,In,Wheelchair,With,Her,Friend,Using,Tablet
News

The BBC Got It Wrong: How Schools Can Support Every ASN Student

Recently, the BBC published an alarming article that identified a growing gap between the support required for ASN pupils and what schools are currently able to deliver due to limited support staff, resources, and limited guidance. The article also points out that almost 300,000 Scottish school pupils (about 43% overall) are categorised as ASN, with the

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The image shows a smiling caucasian man sitting in a wheelchair in a bright, modern office environment. He appears relaxed and confident, holding a tablet in his hands. He’s wearing a light blue button-up shirt over a gray T-shirt, and a smartwatch on his wrist. In the background, there are a few coworkers engaged in their own tasks—one person sitting at a desk using a computer, and another standing and interacting nearby. The space is well-lit with natural sunlight streaming in, giving the office a warm and collaborative atmosphere. Overall, the scene conveys a professional, inclusive workplace with a positive and productive vibe.
News

Rethinking Disability: Why We Advocate Socially but Experience Medically

Anyone who knows anything about Direct Access likely understands that as a consultancy founded by people with disabilities, we take an empathetic, person-focused approach to accessibility and inclusive design.  Of course, as a business, we also try to highlight how providing disability access provides social and financial value to our clients, but

Read More »
The image shows a man working at a desk in a dimly lit room, likely during the evening or night. He is seated in an office chair, wearing headphones, and appears focused as he looks at two computer monitors in front of him. His hand is resting near his mouth in a thoughtful pose. The screens display lines of code, suggesting he is programming or working on software development. The workspace includes a laptop placed in front of the monitors, a keyboard, a mouse, and a desk lamp casting warm light onto the desk. There are also small decorative items, such as a potted plant and stationery holders. The overall atmosphere is calm and concentrated, with cool blue ambient lighting contrasting against the warm glow of the desk lamp, creating a modern and slightly moody work environment.
News

The Competitive Advantage of ADHD-Friendly Workplaces

Globally, ADHD is estimated to affect around 5–7% of children and approximately 2–5% of adults, although many studies suggest that the condition is frequently underdiagnosed, meaning the true prevalence may be even higher. Given the significant proportion of people living with disabilities more broadly, it is essential that organisations ensure

Read More »

Get In Touch

How can we help you today?

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.

Address

United Kingdom

Pepper House,
Market Street,
Nantwich,
Cheshire,
CW5 5DQ.

Ireland

77 Camden Street Lower,
Dublin,
D02 XE80.

Phone & Email

Email

Phone

United Kingdom: +44 1270 626222
Ireland: +353 (0)15079081

Direct Access
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