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As the UK rail industry charts a course toward modernisation, one critical factor continues to undermine performance and public trust: meaningful accessibility for disabled passengers. For Direct Access, we believe this is not only a question of compliance or public image, but a strategic opportunity to lead the way in
The Business Case for Accessibility in a Visually Diverse World As organisations operate in an increasingly digital and interconnected world, the way information is presented, navigated, and understood has become a defining factor in how brands are perceived, trusted, and chosen. Accessibility, particularly for people with visual impairments, is no
The following Open Letter was published on our social media platforms on 4th February 2026 on behalf of a sight-impaired member of the team who wishes to remain anonymous. Dear DPD Team, I am writing to share my experience as a severely sight impaired customer, in the hope that it
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,
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
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.),
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
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
The Misunderstanding of Braille’s Value When we talk to organisations about accessibility, one thing comes up again and again: braille and other accessible formats are often overlooked. We have even heard people say that braille is outdated, niche, or no longer needed because of screen readers. This is not only
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,
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
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
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
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
“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.