Accessibility

Why do reception desks need induction loops? According to BS8300 – A hearing enhancement system, using induction loop, infrared or radio transmission, should be installed in rooms and spaces used for meetings, lectures, classes, performances, spectator sports or films, and at service or reception counters where the background noise level

The value of hiring disabled employees The zeitgeist of our post-pandemic existence is in many ways complex and has yet to truly be determined. The value of hiring disabled employees is one of the few changes in the past few years that has been an unambiguously positive result of an

How can we make evacuation more accessible? Upon receiving Royal Assent on 29th April 2021, the Fire Safety Act 2021, and Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 officially came into law last week on 16th May 2022 for England and Wales. Amending the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, this new

Creating Accessible Golf Courses As recreational accessibility tends to be one of the most ignored aspects in our society, with the pandemic exacerbating the issue further, sporting organisations must acknowledge that creating an enjoyable experience for disabled people, is equal in importance to that of meeting build standards set out

New Accessibility Guide Published for Mass Transit The Government has revealed a new accessibility guide laying out ways to combat environmental and infrastructure-related barriers for disabled people who use rail. The outline of the guide “Inclusive Mobility; A Guide to Best Practice on Access to Pedestrian and Transport Infrastructure” states,

The Direct Access guide to adaptive game controllers This week, Direct Access handed in our accessibility audit of the National Video Game Museum in Sheffield. Although we are extremely passionate when any organisation expresses the desire to become accessible, our audit at NVM felt special, because beyond educating people about

How can we make hospitals more accessible? For many of us, visiting hospitals can be a nerve-wracking experience even on the best of occasions. Although we tend to try and avoid hospital visits generally, there remains a considerable chance that most people will need to visit a hospital at least

Most British websites fail to meet best practice standards of accessibility The UK Government recently published a report detailing the findings of a study that explored website accessibility standards on several UK sites managed mostly by large public sector organisations in the health and public service sector as well as

Christmas gifts for people with sensory disabilities Deciding on a gift to get your loved ones, friends, and colleagues at Christmas can be a difficult and strenuous task. For many, gift-giving is an annual minefield where we worry ourselves about everything from settling on a socially acceptable price, whether a

Disability Inclusion Strategies for the workplace Many employers want to establish diverse workforces that include people with disabilities, but don’t know how to do so. As an organisation that has a team consisting of 86% disabled people, Direct Access believes that exemplary practices in disability employment can offer many benefits.

Preparing Fire Evacuation Plans & Procedures Setting up evacuation plans and incorporating the right strategies to suit your building premises is vital to preparing for a fire emergency. Picture yourself at a conference, team meeting, or exhibition. There are specific reasons attention is directed beforehand to the fire exits, which

Historically speaking, the needs of people on the autistic spectrum in social and occupational contexts have been prone to misunderstanding and often, disregard. Since society at large is still catching up to recognising how common this hidden disability is, while also trying to navigate the endless changes and new terms

Organising accessible weddings Organising an accessible wedding Organising a wedding that considers the potential accessibility needs of one’s guests could easily be dismissed as additional stress to a day that in the planning stages, will no doubt have many. However, creating an accessible environment for your guests while considering their

The Importance of Inclusive Design We hear, see, and read the word ‘inclusive’ a lot these days and we must admit that we are also guilty of overusing the term. The term portrays an image of being open and accepting for everyone, what could possibly be wrong with that? Nothing

Easy ways to make accessible and inclusive environments At Direct Access, we are often asked for easy ways to make environments accessible for disabled people. Are there any shortcuts? How can I be more accessible? The truth is that there are no absolute shortcuts but there are many simple adjustments

How to go beyond Box-ticking The ever-present box-ticking exercises are administrative tasks that we all must do as part of our daily lives at work and at home. These exercises are inevitable and are sometimes an irritating step that must be taken to achieve a higher goal. We tend to

The Importance of Induction Loop Provision During access audits, our NRAC Consultants are always recommending or inspecting induction loops. Induction loops are used to help hearing aid users effectively cut out background noise which results in better clarity of speech. One of the biggest issues hearing aid users face is

Do I need a School Audit? Do I need a School Access Audit? Schools must have a written accessibility plan. This is a statutory requirement from the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) which remains in force in Northern Ireland. In England, Scotland, and Wales the Equality Act 2010 retains the requirement.