Direct Access
News

This week, Direct Access founder and director Steven Mifsud MBE sat down with Crewe Nub News for a quick interview about our team’s passion for inclusivity.

At Direct Access, we champion how positive social experiences can have a resulting positive impact on the lives of disabled people.

For the vast majority of us, visiting hospitals can be a nerve-wracking experience even on the best of occasions. How can we make this experience accessible to all?

Sunshine Coast Council officially launched its 10+10+ Vision for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games last month.

We are overjoyed to announce that we have partnered with the City of Allen, Texas to complete the self-evaluation and ADA transition plan for the city’s parks.

Direct Access is honoured to announce that we will be working with the Royal Armouries on their sites in London, Leeds and Portsmouth to deliver independent accessibility audits and disability consultation events with museum visitors.

Our Cheshire-based disability access consultancy have made it our mission to ensure that Braille and Large Print accessible menus are available at as many pubs, cafes, and restaurants as possible within our hometown of Nantwich.

Evacuation chairs, in spite of their purpose to save lives and protect the public, are often an afterthought within built environments that require them.

Several news outlets have reported recently about the staff shortage crisis affecting schools, and by extension, the state of education for current and future generations of children across the United Kingdom. 

On today’s blog, we will be exploring the relationship between the world of work and cognitive inclusion, or more specifically cognitive exclusionism, based on the accounts of two members of our team who are neurodiverse and how they envision there to be a relationship between cognitive exclusion and the culture of workplaces.

The journey to inclusion, especially within private businesses, often begins with nurturing diversity, and the means of creating diversity can often be simple and inexpensive.

Whether for retail, bank, library, or education settings, providing suitable and compliant loop systems for public-facing sites makes the difference between a deaf and hard-of-hearing person accessing your services completely barrier-free, or becoming victims of discrimination.

The BSI has recently released PAS 1899:2022, detailing new accessibility specifications for electric car charge points, as well as the public realm surrounding said charger points, and guidance detailing online information provision for charger points.

A large-scale outdoor experience for which Direct Access managed accessibility and inclusion, Green Space Dark Skies was a program of Unboxed 2022 that allowed visitors to experience beautiful green spaces across the UK via night-time illuminations.

At Direct Access, we regularly encounter horror stories about students excluded from proper access to their education environments due to insufficiently constructed student accommodation failing to meet their needs.

We are thrilled to announce that a new service and installation engineer, Andrew Lomas, has joined Direct Access this month. This post has come as a result of increasing requests for our products, following on from the launch our latest inclusive invention; Tactile Braille Map Boards. 

The organisers of Nantwich Food Festival have confirmed that Direct Access will be attending the latest edition of the popular food festival this September.

Direct Access has had the immense privilege of contributing to the merge of two quickly synthesising worlds; technological innovation, and accessibility (which we are all about), with the launch of our new Tactile Braille Map Boards. But what is a Tactile Braille Map Board, and how do they work?

The UK is undergoing one of its most intense heatwaves ever, with temperatures surpassing 40 degrees for the very first time on record.

In our increasingly fast-paced society, quiet rooms are increasingly important as an antidote to the effects of neurological disabilities.

For an education environment not to consider the needs of their neurodiverse children, can be incredibly damaging later on in life.

In today’s blog, we will be considering the accessibility of language, and by extension, auditory accessibility, and why providing sign language content is crucial for facility owners hoping to attract both disabled and non-disabled people to their site.

Direct Access is honoured to have been the recipient of the Sustainability prize at the Expo 2020 supplier awards; an Expo-curated event that celebrates and rewards the creative minds and businesses who contributed to the 2022 edition of the international world’s fair.

People make the world go around, and the same can be said for the world of Direct Access. 

Today on the blog we explore how to organise an accessible festival.

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.

Whether you provide an induction loop at your information booth or reception desk, is a make or break situation when it comes to how your business is perceived by disabled people.

At Direct Access, we have always made it a point to prioritise hiring disabled employees. Of course, we have non-disabled employees, as we do not like to discriminate either, but we ultimately pride ourselves on offering opportunities where possible to disabled people that otherwise might not have received them.

It is not just the reception desk, bedrooms, swimming pools, restaurants, gyms, washrooms, beer gardens, smoking areas, spas and retail areas that must all meet a similar standard of inclusive access; catering not only to a guest’s physical requirements, but also their sensory and digital environment is just as vital.

Creating disability accessible golf clubs, begins first with addressing that the range of disabilities out there is very broad.

Direct Access is proud to present an interview with Sensory Access’ Dr. Daniela Ferdico and her daughter Izzi Ferdico in a podcast format!

Working with Direct Access, we will enable your organisation to take vital steps towards meeting social, economic, and environmental impact goals set out by Agenda 2030.

Direct Access is proud to announce we have renewed our commitment to sponsoring our local vision-impaired football team, Nantwich Town Wolves VIFC, for at least another two years after initially becoming sponsors back in 2019.

Direct Access is proud to announce that we have added a brand new YouTube channel to our ever-growing list of social media platforms!

Northern Ireland’s Finance Minister Conor Murphy announced changes to the statutory guidance requirements for Changing Places toilets.

Direct Access consultants were honoured to be part of the meeting in the Department of Foreign Affairs, Dublin, on 29 March.

Direct Access has recently learned that the government repeatedly failed to seek the views of disabled people and their organisations about how residents with physical impairments could evacuate tower blocks in an emergency, six years before the Grenfell Tower disaster.

SEND is a system of support designed by the UK government to provide disabled children special education environments, equipment, programs, and healthcare suited to their specific needs, while simultaneously lessening the burden on the parents of disabled children who, without support to special education for their disabled children, would be left with a massive and unjustified financial and emotional burden.

We are currently recruiting disabled people to be involved in an accessibility evaluation for another contract covering the Medicine Gallery at the Science Museum, London.

In the aftermath of Covid-19, Direct Access has noticed an increase in our consultation frequency, audits, accessible product sales, but above all else a positive, albeit gradual, change in society’s attitude towards disability. However, there are still many areas we have extensively identified in our blog that society vitally needs to address, including public transport.

Direct Access learned a lot about the world of gaming during the National Video Game Museum audit, including the sheer variety of adaptive gaming controllers designed specifically for disabled people.

Standards for the designing of buildings and accessibility for users is expected to change in just a few months as the first-ever BSI standard providing guidance on neurodiversity and the built environment will be made official; PAS 6463 Design for the mind.

The UK Government has revealed a new accessibility guide laying out ways to combat environmental and infrastructure related barriers for disabled people who use rail.

Direct Access is delivering public realm programmes for Trafford Council, identifying ways of improving access in Altrincham, Sale, Stretford, and Urmston centres.

Join us in congratulating our founder and director Steven Mifsud who was absolutely humbled and honoured to receive his MBE this week from the Duke of Cambridge at Windsor Castle for services to International Trade.

Direct Access will shortly begin an exciting new project with the Science Museum Group. Direct Access is currently recruiting disabled people to be involved in an accessibility evaluation of the Medicine Gallery at the Science Museum London.

New research involving the charity Glasgow Disability Alliance (GDA), has found disabled people are continuing to face barriers accessing public buildings and services and are “hugely under-represented” in employment. This is in direct infringement of equality laws.

A new joint venture between a thinktank, a university, and a charity could help ensure that future public policies on assistive technology are able to transform the lives of disabled and older people.

An Access Audit (also known as a DDA audit, Disability Discrimination Act Audit or Disabled Access Audit) is an assessment of a building or facility, an environment or a service compared to best practice standards to benchmark its accessibility to disabled people.

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.

Last month, the UK Government published new Tactile Paving guidance to boost mobility independence for people with vision impairments.

This January, Direct Access secured a contract to supply accessibility consultancy to TKAT; one of the largest English Multi-Academy Trusts with 45 Primary and Secondary Academies.

Direct Access a officiellement rejoint la Chambre de commerce et d’industrie Franco-British Chamber. Créée en 1873, elle est la plus ancienne chambre de commerce internationale en Europe.

In the same way that being forced to work from home due to the worldwide crisis of COVID-19 sped up a new culture of digitising our workload, increased awareness for accessibility in society is another symptom of our post-pandemic existence.

Last year, Direct Access worked with the National Railway Museum (now called ‘Locomotion’), making a series of accessibility recommendations that are part of the established infrastructure of the site. We are thrilled to announce that these recommendations will now feed into their new building plans, whereby Locomotion will ask the public and visitors to have their say for a new £5.9 million collection building.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, recently issued Law No. 3 of 2022 on the rights of people with disabilities in the emirate of Dubai. In addition, the ruler of Dubai issued Executive Council Resolution No. 1 of 2022 pertaining to the Executive Regulation of the Law on the rights of people with disabilities in the emirate of Dubai.

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 government agencies.

Since 2019, World Braille Day has been celebrated to create awareness of the importance of Braille; an access and communication tool which has played a key role in the realization of human rights for blind and partially sighted people.

Direct Access has won two prestigious export awards for exporting British expertise in accessibility; the Franco British & Trade Investment Awards and the Insider North West International Trade Award.

Two new Access Consultants have joined the Direct Access team this month. These are both new posts following strong increases in client referrals.

After four years as the Universal Design consultants for Expo 2020 Dubai, the first Middle East World Exposition started on 1 October and will end in March 2022.

We are proud to present an accessible suggestion list for those hoping to surprise a partially sighted, hard of hearing or autistic loved one this Christmas, covering all ages – (based a tiny bit on our personal preference!).

It has been a busy year for awards with Direct Access nominated for two awards with award ceremonies due to be held next month.

It has to come to the attention of Direct Access that a judicial review case has been filed against the work and pensions Secretary Therese Coffey based on the accusation that the government treat claimants of universal credit more favourably than the millions of disabled people in the UK who claim other means-tested benefits.

It’s the start of Tolerance and Inclusivity week at Expo 2020 Dubai and the Direct Access team could not be more pleased with the efforts being made by the events key organisers to promote inclusivity and equality across the interlocking characteristics of gender, race, disability, religion and culture.

Back in July, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announced the National Model Design Code, a new legislation to provide detailed guidance on the production of design codes, guides and policies to promote successful design.

In an attempt to revitalise access in community buildings for those with sensory impairments, learning disabilities, hard of hearing and mental health problems in London, City Bridge Trust has announced that grants of up to £5000 in value will be made available for application to charitable organisations in the Greater London area.

We are shocked to learn of the BBC’s report that today’s COP26 summit, a gathering of world leaders on the topic of one of society’s most pressing issues (climate change) was not accessible for minister Karine Elharrar, who is a wheelchair user.

Closed captioning is one of many necessary tools utilised by disabled people, going largely unnoticed by those without disabilities.

Setting up evacuation plans and incorporating the right strategies to suit your building premises is vital to being prepared for a fire emergency.

Historically speaking, the needs of people on the autistic spectrum in social and occupational contexts has been prone to misunderstanding and more often that not, disregard.

Direct Access has successfully won a contract with Warwickshire Wildlife Trust to improve accessibility for the 10 mile stretch of the Sherbourne River that flows through Coventry.

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.

Direct Access are excited to be involved in a major development project in Saudi Arabia that will contribute hugely to the cultural and commercial fabric of this amazing country. 

Organising a wedding which considers the potential accessibility needs of one’s guests could easily be dismissed as an 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 individual needs is simply a win win situation.

Steven Mifsud MBE, the profoundly deaf founder and director of Direct Access, will see his dulcet tones broadcast to millions as he lends his voice to the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympics, which begins today in Tokyo.

The sustainable, eco-conscious site is as of now open for business and will offer amazing riverside views, dining and other activities for the Newhaven community.

For many years, Direct Access has worked internationally to guide businesses in the tourism sector to meet their local standards of accessibility. Although we have always been and continue to be proud of our clients opting to do what is ultimately just for the millions of disabled tourists across the globe, there has never been a standardized guide for accessible tourism across the world reinforcing the moral sensibilities of Direct Access. Until now, that is.

Depuis dix-sept ans, Direct Access conseille aux organisations sur les améliorations à apporter en matière d’accès pour les personnes handicapées par le biais d’audits d’accessibilité des locaux et des services existants.

The Equality Act 2010 and the Regulatory Reform Order (Fire Safety) 2005 require schools and other education establishments to have arrangements in place for their disabled students.

Today, the government announced a National Disability Strategy to build back fairer from COVID-19, which will include a major audit of all UK railway stations and new laws to boost accessibility standards on buses and taxis.

So, what is sign language? It is a visual way of communication used by Deaf people using gestures, facial expressions, and body language to convey meaning. Sign languages are full-fledged natural languages with their own grammar and lexicon.

At Direct Access we are often asked for easy ways to make organisations accessible to disabled people. Are there any shortcuts? How can I be more accessible?

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 at all is the answer but it seems to mean very little unless it is put into some context in relation to what is offered as ‘inclusive’.

Published in 2007, Building Bulletin 100 is non-statutory guidance on fire safety for schools. The Department for Education is currently updating the guidance, particularly for special schools. It covers how a school building should be designed so that pupils and staff will have early warning if a fire breaks out and can evacuate the premises quickly and safely.

Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Exposition in the Middle East and Africa region this October. It will see the transformation of a 4.38km² site on the border of the Emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi to become the largest ever event staged in the Middle East.

The ever-present box ticking exercises are administrative tasks that we all have to 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 lose sight of the thinking behind these tasks and why it is important that these box ticking steps are taken.

Direct Access delivers sign language interpretation services through an NHS SBS framework. However, the onus is on the medical professional if they want to book an interpreter.

Direct Access has recently launched our brand new Evacuation Chair range. Developed by disabled people, it is the first time that chairs have been developed with a disabled evacuee in mind.

Imagine not being able to hear the speaker across the roar of a crowd, the bank cashier, or a bus driver over the noise of an engine. For many of the one in seven of the UK population with some form of hearing loss, this is a daily reality.

At Direct Access, we create opportunities for disabled people, and our senior directors are disabled themselves. Our Access Consultancy team are all disabled people, and at Direct Access, we embrace life experience as a valuable asset that offers insight and motivation.

Steven Mifsud, the founder of Direct Access has been appointed an MBE for services to International Trade in the Queen’s 2021 Birthday Honours list.

As access consultants at Direct Access, we often get asked this question and when we do, we tend to give a rather dry and professional answer explaining legal requirements and building regulations. Whilst it is true that these legal boxes need to be ticked it is hardly an inspirational, encouraging, or motivating answer. The answer is far more complex at both a personal and professional level from both our point of view at Direct Access and from the perspective of potential clients.

Direct Access has secured a four-year NHS Shared Business Services framework contract to supply sign language interpreters for deaf and hard-of-hearing patients.

This week Direct Access has been featured on BBC News. At a time when the COVID19 infection rate is rapidly increasing and more places face lockdown it is nice to be able to share a positive story.