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Evacuation chairs; a legal requirement for schools The Equality Act 2010 and the Regulatory Reform Order (Fire Safety) 2005 requires schools and other education establishments to have arrangements in place for their disabled students. Within the classroom setting, this is easily achieved with work being planned to suit certain needs
Steven Mifsud, 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. His voice will be utilised in the opening ceremony’s combination of imagery and audio-visuals.
Direct Access collaborates with Crossley Anderson for sustainability hub Picture a former railway dock which has been left vacant and decrepit for years. Like many buildings and facilities throughout the UK left to abandon, it is a piece of industry architecture that through lack of care has become lost to
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
Access audits to remove accessibility barriers on UK transport This month, the government announced a National Disability Strategy to build back fairer from COVID-19, which will include major access audits of all UK railway stations and new laws to boost accessibility standards on buses and taxis. As access auditors for
Evacuation Chair Range Developed by and for Disabled People 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. Established in 2004, Direct Access remains the UK’s leading accessibility consultancy
BSL Intepretation and Inclusivity At Direct Access, we are often asked about the kinds of sign language interpreters. We provide sign language interpreter services to the NHS in England, Scotland, and Wales via an NHS SBS framework contract and produce sign language videos for a variety of clients. So, what
Building Bulletin 100 Updates 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
Empowering People of Determination 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
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. Steven has led Direct Access to international export success sharing British innovation and expertise in creating accessible environments all around the world. The award recognises Steven’s
Disability and the lack of employment opportunities 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 we embrace life experience as an asset that offers insight and motivation. Throughout our careers as access consultants,
What is a Hearing Loop? 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 six of the UK population with some form of hearing loss, this
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
Direct Access launches NHS sign language interpretation service 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. We make this announcement on a very significant day for us at the company, Deaf Awareness Week. As our Founder