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Bridging the Gap for Deaf Passengers and BSL users on Railways

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.

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, TransPennine Express, among others. However, […]

The Role of Communication Support for Disabled Customers in Digital Spaces

The image shows a mixed group of people standing together in a bright indoor setting, engaged in communication using sign language. All three individuals are positioned in a small circle, facing one another with their hands raised as they form various signs. They are dressed in dark, professional clothing, and their body language suggests focused, attentive interaction. The background features light-colored walls and minimal furniture, giving the scene a calm, classroom‑ or office‑like atmosphere.

With the widespread closure of the high street and the migration of businesses, shops, and retailers more broadly to online spaces, the consequential effects of society’s ever-expanding pivot to digital commerce and the reduction of traditionally physical spaces for business have been discussed at great length on our blog, particularly as it relates to disabled […]

Still Not Playing Fair: Accessibility Gaps in Gaming and Digital Entertainment

The image shows a caucasian man sitting in a wheelchair inside a cozy, lived‑in room while holding a video game controller. The individual is wearing a light-colored polo shirt and dark shorts, focused on playing a game. Around them, the room features a desk with a lamp, shelves with various items, framed pictures on the wall, and a guitar leaning against furniture. The warm lighting and casual setup create a relaxed, homey atmosphere.

It is now 2026, and given our world’s reliance on digital platforms for everything from banking to shopping, digital entertainment is often marketed as more inclusive than ever. Watch any advertisement for a major company such as Microsoft, Google, or Apple, and you will notice a clean, inoffensive, and inclusive presentation that, at face value, […]

Reach More Audiences, Build More Trust: The Power of Accessible Media

A Direct Access tactile map board at the entrance of the Cardiff Bus Interchange.

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 on our planet, equitable access […]

U.S Arm of Direct Access acquired by Matrix Design Group, Expanding Accessibility and Inclusivity Expertise

The image shows two individuals (Steen Mifsud and Jude Mifsud) standing indoors in front of a glass wall with a decorative design. The glass wall features horizontal frosted stripes and a large green accessibility symbol, which resembles a stylized person in a wheelchair. Jude is wearing a bright blue long-sleeved blouse, while Steven is dressed in a white long-sleeved shirt paired with a light gray vest. There is a plant partially visible in the bottom left corner of the image. The overall setting appears to be a modern office or professional environment with a clean and organised look.

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 creating environments that work for […]

An Autistic Person’s Response to Anthony Hopkins’ Autism and ADHD Remarks

Anthony Hopkins stands in front of a promotional poster for the film The Rite. He wears a gray pinstripe suit with a white dress shirt and raises both hands with open palms, smiling slightly as he poses for photographers. The poster behind him features a close-up of a face with piercing blue eyes and a shadowed cross over the forehead, evoking themes of religion and the supernatural. The setting suggests a movie premiere or press event.

“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.  Coming after his wife’s suggestion […]