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 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. 

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

News

A Caucasian male child standing indoors near a large window, wearing over‑ear headphones. They are dressed in a long‑sleeved, light gray shirt and have one hand gently resting against the glass. Soft natural light comes through the window, creating a calm, reflective atmosphere. The scene suggests someone listening to music or audio while quietly looking outside.
News

The Business Case for Sensory Accessibility in built environments

In today’s fast paced, increasingly disorienting world, businesses are recognising that the social responsibility to make environments accessible is no longer viewed as a favour to disabled people or a tick box exercise to appease legal bodies, but a strategic advantage in the world of business.  The facts speak for themselves. Consider for instance,

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The image shows a person viewed from behind, gently touching the hearing aid positioned behind their ear. The individual is wearing a light-colored suit jacket and a watch with a blue band. Soft natural light is coming through the window in front of them, and the background appears to be an indoor space with large windows overlooking an urban setting. The composition highlights the hearing aid and the person’s gesture, suggesting adjustment, use, or awareness of the device.
News

Building Better Experiences Through Accessible Communication

Auditory processing impairments, including Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), affect how the brain interprets sound rather than how the ears detect it. Many individuals with these impairments have hearing that tests as “normal,” yet they encounter persistent communication challenges in everyday interactions due to a lack of accessibility measures that accommodate their needs.  For businesses, these

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The image shows an outdoor scene with two people interacting in a sunny, park‑like setting. One person is seated in a wheelchair, wearing a striped shirt and holding what appears to be a drink or bottle in one hand. Another person stands beside them, leaning slightly forward while holding the wheelchair’s handle and resting a hand supportively on the seated person’s shoulder. Warm sunlight creates a soft, glowing atmosphere, and trees and buildings are visible in the background, giving the moment a calm and supportive feel.
News

Designing Inclusive Environments for People with Cerebral Palsy

To design environments that truly include people with cerebral palsy, it is important to move away from the idea that accessibility requires analysing disability on a case-by-case, “disability by disability” basis. Genuine inclusion is not about solving isolated problems for specific groups, (whether that’s cerebral palsy, neurodivergence, visual impairments etc.),

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A caregiver in a pink medical uniform supports an older adult who is using a walking frame. They are standing together in a warmly lit living room featuring modern furniture, including a grey armchair, a wooden side table with a potted plant, and a sofa with yellow cushions. A floor lamp and a framed landscape photograph hang on the wall behind them, creating a calm and homelike environment as the caregiver assists the individual with mobility.
News

Why Designing for Dementia Future Proofs your Facility

In principle, most people agree that public spaces should be welcoming, intuitive, and accessible to all. Yet for millions of individuals, navigating everyday environments, such as hospitals, town centers, transport hubs, libraries, leisure facilities, and council buildings can be stressful at best and, in some cases, entirely unmanageable. While this

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A large collection of fashion dolls arranged closely together in multiple rows. The dolls are dressed in a variety of colorful outfits, including dresses in shades of pink, purple, blue, and red. Many have long, styled hair in different colors such as blonde, brunette, black, and red. Some dolls wear accessories like tiaras, necklaces, and veils, giving the display a vibrant, playful, and decorative appearance. The overall scene looks like a collection or display of dolls, possibly at a market, event, or toy exhibition.
News

A Doll That Reflects Real Life: Analysing the Autistic Barbie

For decades, mainstream toys like Barbie have reflected a narrow view of “normal” childhood experiences and archetypal roles for women, largely ignoring diversity in neurodevelopment, physical ability, and health conditions. So, it’s amazing to see Mattel diversify their brand audience through the power of inclusivity. Their latest, the Autistic Barbie

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The image shows Bromsgrove railway station with multiple platforms and tracks under bright, sunny weather. A modern yellow‑and‑black train is approaching the station along the center track. The platforms are marked with signs indicating platform numbers, including large overhead signs for platforms 2 and 1 in the foreground. Blue lamp posts and metal structures for overhead electric wires line the tracks. There are small sheltered waiting areas, station signage, and safety markings along the platform edges. Trees and greenery border the station, giving it a clean and open atmosphere.
News

Bridging the Gap for Deaf Passengers and BSL users on Railways

The Current Experience of Disabled People Much can and has been said about the flaws with British railways. As a team of accessibility consultants, Direct Access has tried our hardest to facilitate accessibility improvements with the many companies that have partnered with us, including Transport for Wales, Avanti West Coast,

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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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