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Disability Inclusion Strategies for the workplace 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.
Preparing Fire Evacuation Plans & Procedures Setting up evacuation plans and incorporating the right strategies to suit your building premises is vital to preparing for a fire emergency. Picture yourself at a conference, team meeting, or exhibition. There are specific reasons attention is directed beforehand to the fire exits, which
Closed Captioning is important and Channel 4 should know better Closed captioning is one of many necessary tools utilised by disabled people, going largely unnoticed by those without disabilities. Although in many ways closed captioning is becoming increasingly visible in the mainstream thanks to the popularity of social media platforms
Historically speaking, the needs of people on the autistic spectrum in social and occupational contexts have been prone to misunderstanding and often, disregard. Since society at large is still catching up to recognising how common this hidden disability is, while also trying to navigate the endless changes and new terms
Organising accessible weddings Organising an accessible wedding Organising a wedding that considers the potential accessibility needs of one’s guests could easily be dismissed as 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
Notre approche d’audits d’accessibilité 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. Des évaluations d’accessibilité sont également réalisées sur les plans architecturaux avant et pendant les phases
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