Direct Access
News
![The Harris Museum Art Gallery Exterior, a grand imposing building supported by Greek style pillars from the front. Street lamps illuminate the front of the street below as the evening draws in.](https://directaccessgp.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/AdobeStock_272024511-scaled.jpeg)
‘Harris Your Place’ : Direct Access interviewed for access consultancy work at the Harris Museum
Direct Access founder Steven Mifsud MBE was interviewed for the Harris Museum’s ‘Harris Your Place’ profile series, highlighting key people in the site’s ongoing refurbishment. An ambitious undertaking, it is set to be the first blended museum, art gallery, and library in the UK. Conducting the interview with Steven is
Read More...![A detached, red-bricked, two-story house on a river edge in Canterbury on a bright, sunny day. The building has a beautiful garden with white flowers in front of it, across the river bank the same white flowers can be found along with purple and orange flowers. On the river, a man rows a couple on a boat across the gentle water.](https://directaccessgp.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/AdobeStock_518767458-1200x480.jpeg)
Direct Access bringing access and inclusion to Canterbury
Canterbury County Council (CCC) have commissioned Direct Access for their Levelling Up Project, the scope of which has seen the firm deliver accessibility audits for many of Canterbury’s heritage places, gardens, trails, streetscapes, car parks, and cycling routes. The project, which has seen Direct Access deliver accessibility audits to public
Read More...![A dark blue graphic which reads "July Disability Pride Month" in white text. The rainbow of colours representing pride cover the edges of the graphic. Several small circles surrounding the text are also coloured a combination of red, orange, green, and blue.](https://directaccessgp.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/AdobeStock_861245080-1200x480.jpeg)
Embracing disabled identity: Direct Access and Disability Pride Month
Disability Pride Month is an annual awareness day celebrated every July, championing the creativity, resilience, and achievements of disabled people. The origins of Disability Pride as a celebration go as far back as the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act back in 1990, which the date traditionally commemorates. However,
Read More...![Steven Mifsud holding his MBE medal on the grounds of Windsor Castle on an overcast morning.](https://directaccessgp.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/1645565612593-1.jpg)
Steven Mifsud interviewed for the 20th anniversary of Direct Access
Celebrating 20 years as Director of Direct Access, Marketing Executive and Accessible Media Consultant Michael Miller interviewed our Group CEO Steven Mifsud MBE about the company’s history which now spans a generation, and what the future holds for the award-winning accessibility consultancy. Hi Steven! Firstly, congratulations on Direct Access finally
Read More...![A close-up photograph of a white laminated sign hung up by string on a fence in what we would assume to be a high street. In bold, black, capitalised letters, the sign has text which reads “polling station”, with a small piece of paper sellotaped underneath it reading “disabled access”, also in bold, black, capitalised letters.](https://directaccessgp.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/shutterstock_1075980773-1200x480.jpg)
The visually impaired right (and fight) to vote independently
With the arrival of the UK General Election today, citizens nationwide are flocking to their local polling stations to exercise their rights as British citizens. However, not everyone is being granted the opportunity – with many disabled people across the Four Nations still unable to visit their local polling station
Read More...![A lanyard with images of sunflowers printed on it, symbolic of people with invisible or hidden disabilities on a laminate wooden table next to a Direct Access branded mug.](https://directaccessgp.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-01-133450-1200x480.png)
Direct Access celebrates 20 years providing world-renowned accessibility services
This summer, Direct Access is delighted to be celebrating twenty years of providing world-renowned accessibility services across the globe, from Nantwich, to Florida, to Riyadh. Reflecting on the past and looking brightly forward to the future of Direct Access’, Steven said “As we mark the commencement of our 20th year
Read More...![An image of showing the exterior of a large, modern red-bricked building, the Swan Theatre, on a sunny day. The building hosts the Royal Shakespeare Company. In the foreground of the image, geese can be seen paddling on the River in front of the building.](https://directaccessgp.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shutterstock_1079252090-1200x480.jpg)
How to make your theatre inclusive and disability-friendly
The live event market is currently booming, making a huge resurgence within the wider entertainment industry. With the pandemic becoming something of a distant memory, the general public is becoming much more comfortable in crowded spaces again, with live performances and concerts generating billions of pounds a year. The joy of
Read More...![An image of a black tote bag on a table with the English Heritage logo on it. Surrounding the tote bag are various items relating to accessibility, including ear defenders, bean bags and squeezable rings.](https://directaccessgp.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04a9a47e-67a0-4a8b-b2bd-7d7f4c570414-1200x480.jpeg)
How providing tote bags with small objects can increase accessibility on your premises
Adopted widely from education and play settings to workspaces, sensory bags are an inclusive, inexpensive method of signifying to visitors that your premises actively consider accessibility and comfort. The tools and resources available within the bag can ease or lessen situations of sensory overload, as well as aid in the
Read More...![A middle aged Maltese man in a pink polo shirt and light-blue checkered suit jacket standing behind a Tactile Map Board on a sunny day. His hands are placed either side of the board, which is grey and has a white miniature model of a building on it.](https://directaccessgp.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Steven-1200x480.png)
Expo City Dubai install first ever Direct Access Tactile Map at the Museum of Expo 2020
Expo City Dubai, a long-time client of Direct Access, has installed the first tactile map on its site at the Museum for Expo 2020. The Tactile Map Board is one of Direct Access’ signature products, representing an innovative, multi-lateral approach to inclusion that utilises accessible digital media elements to deliver
Read More...![A middle aged Maltese man in a pink polo shirt and light-blue checkered suit jacket sits on a sofa in an auditorium. He is holding a microphone and holding his hand out as he says something to an off-screen interviewer.](https://directaccessgp.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DSC_0512-1200x480.jpg)
Steven Mifsud MBE interviewed at MENA Construction Summit
Answering questions on-stage, Steven spoke at the MENA Construction Summit this week on multiple topics effecting the future of the construction industry, ranging from Saudisation, to diversifying the workforce, to improving the local school curriculum. Accessibility and inclusion play key roles in how attraction providers can contribute to the sustainable
Read More...![An image of the interior of an office building corridor at Bromley Town Hall. Through an open doorway is an office space containing a large black desk and several office chairs.](https://directaccessgp.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Bromley_gallery2-1200x480.jpg)
Direct Access to open new London office to accommodate expanding clientele
Direct Access’ UK and Europe division will be opening a new office in Bromley Old Town Hall, a Grade II listed building in the heart of London that formed a key filming location for Netflix’s The Crown. Members of the team will be relocating to the local area as we
Read More...![Two female children smile as a rollercoaster sends them flying down the track. One of them is posing for the camera holding her hands up high.](https://directaccessgp.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/shutterstock_1487350391-1200x480.jpg)
Developing Accessible and Inclusive Theme Parks
From improving the emotional well-being of disabled people to generating more wholly positive perceptions of accessibility in the public consciousness, creating accessible and sustainable leisure facilities not only creates positive social awareness of disability issues (particularly among non-disabled children) but also allows disabled people from all walks of life the
Read More...![A side by side image of two exhibits at the Energy Revolution Gallery at the Science Museum representing renewable energy projects on Orkney and tidal turbine blades.](https://directaccessgp.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Renewable-energy-projects-on-Orkney-and-tidal-turbine-blade-Energy-Revolution-C-Science-Museum-Group1.png)
DA client the Science Museum Group opens new Energy Revolution Gallery
Direct Access clients the Science Museum Group have unveiled a major new (and free) gallery; Energy Revolution: The Adani Green Energy Gallery. It will explore how the world can generate and use energy more sustainably to urgently reduce carbon dioxide emissions from global energy systems and limit the impact of
Read More...![A photograph of Cheshire Oaks retail outlet on a sunny afternoon. A few cloud dot the otherwise blue sky as shoppers walk along the promenade. To the right of the image are Dune and Clogau stores.](https://directaccessgp.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/McArthur-Glen-1-scaled.jpg)
Designing inclusive retail and shopping spaces for accessibility
It is no secret that the rise of E-commerce, quickly accelerated by changes in people’s spending habits and the realities of our world economy, has resulted in physical retail spaces suffering losses in both consumer and business interest. However, while shopping for our favourite brands has never been easier for
Read More...![A banner with text reading "Accessible Interpretation of Wildlife" alongside two photographs. One shows a bald eagle stood on a wooden pole, the other a duplicate of the eagle as a tactile, white statue.](https://directaccessgp.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/WhatsApp-Image-2023-09-14-at-08.35.36-1200x480.jpeg)
Tactile Objects and Models are the Future of Accessibility
Most disabled people from lived experience understand what segregation and exclusion feels like. But ask the average disabled person what accessibility means to them, you are pretty much guaranteed to get a different answer every time. To a wheelchair user, it might mean facilities offering automatic doors, wheelchair ramps, and
Read More...![A young Caucasian man who is a wheelchair user eats on the terrace of a restaurant with a Caucasian male friend. The friend assists by cutting his food up with a knife and fork.](https://directaccessgp.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/AdobeStock_561471138-1200x480.jpeg)
How cafés, pubs and restaurants can better serve disabled patrons
One of our team’s favourite subjects for blogs, (like this one), is using our combined knowledge of accessibility to make recommendations to business owners about how they can become more inclusive to current and (potentially future) disabled customers. Whether that’s by speaking about issues we regularly identify when we do
Read More...![A photograph of two young male and caucasian teenage wheelchair users in dark blue and white sportswear sit on the corner of an indoor basketball court. A bench with a team captain/coach, a middle aged woman, is sat at a table behind them observing the match.](https://directaccessgp.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG-20240301-WA0004-1200x480.jpg)
Direct Access’ Nathan Leese interviewed on International Wheelchair Day
International Wheelchair Day, observed annually on March 1st, is a global celebration of the profound impact wheelchairs have on the lives of millions around the world. To celebrate the occasion, we sat down to interview team member Nathan Leese about the positive impact his wheelchair has made in his life and
Read More...![An accessible parking bay with the international symbol of access (person in a wheelchair) painted on the tarmac in yellow.](https://directaccessgp.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/pexels-jakub-pabis-11074302-1200x480.jpg)
Why the parking area is the first indicator of your sites’ accessibility
As the point of entry for the majority of public facilities, the accessibility of a site’s parking area has the capacity to shape the perception of an entire facility in the eyes of disabled visitors. In this blog, we will explain some of the ways you can make your car
Read More...![A photograph of the front cover of the Access Guide which Direct Access produced for Cannock Chase. The cover has a dark green colour scheme with a mixture of yellow and white text. It reads "Cannock Chase access guide. Welcome to the Access Guide for Cannock Chase". Underneath this text is the Cannock Chase logo. A photograph on the cover shows a young white woman with downs syndrome riding a bike with stabilisers joyfully. Next to her getting in close for a photo is a white male companion who is off his bike and holding it with one hand. He is also smiling happily. Behind them is a bike trail through some woods.](https://directaccessgp.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Access-Guide-Cover-1200x480.jpg)
The benefit to providing accessibility and sensory guides for site visitors
Whether you are a site owner providing an attraction to the public or are the custodian of a heritage site/museum, Accessibility and Sensory Guides are fast-becoming a standard of the overall visitor experience in public recreation, entertainment, and educational settings. Working very much in the same way as a traditional
Read More...![A close up on a white computer keyboard with one green keypad showing the international symbol of access (a symbol of a wheelchair).](https://directaccessgp.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Website-Accessibility_Banner-scaled.jpg)
The Direct Access team weighs in on the UK Government’s new Disability Action Plan
The UK Government has recently declared plans to engage with disability-related issues and make the United Kingdom the most “accessible place in the world for disabled people to live, work, and thrive” with the announcement of their 2024 Disability Action Plan. This highly publicised document, which was published last week, details
Read More...![The Direct Access logo.](https://directaccessgp.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/White-Logo-Transparent-Background-1-1024x198.png)
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