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A middle aged man, Steven Mifsud, holding an iPad for a portrait photo. In the background are numerous American flags on poles waving in the breeze.
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A short guide to ADA Transition Planning

The aim of an ADA Transition Plan is to identify and implement improvements to a public-facing site and help it achieve compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility standards. While many site owners think they might comply with ADA regulations by merely providing a wheelchair-accessible ramp, the reality is

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A flyer for the New York Build Expo 2024 featuring a black and white image of a New York skyline and the event's location (Javits Center) and dates (February 13-14).
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What to expect from Direct Access founder Steven Mifsud’s talk at the New York Build EXPO

Implementing Accessible Pedestrian Facilities: At the New York BUILD Expo 2024, Steven will present a presentation titled “Accessible Design and Inclusive City Centers: Understanding the Public Right of Way rule”. This bespoke presentation was formulated in response to the news that in August 2023, the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board issued its final

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A young white man with short brown hair sits at a desk typing on his Mac computer. On his desk are numerous notepads and a cup of coffee.
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Achieving Accessible Website Compliancy

Ensuring that your website is fully accessible to disabled people is becoming an increasingly vital element in the success of any institution with a public-facing platform. Whether you are a small charity owner, servant of a local government, or CEO of a large conglomerate business, chances are you also own

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A tidy high-rise apartment living room with a green sofa, brown coffee table, small work desk near the windows and a large potted plant gently lit by the sun outside.
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How Direct Access reviews apartment buildings for accessibility​

How Direct Access reviews apartment buildings for accessibility The Americans with Disabilities Act sets out clear expectations (in addition to legal precedence) which outlines the ways in which building owners must promote the personal independence and comfort of their residents, of which many of are statistically likely to be disabled,

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Direct Access founder Steven Mifsud MBE measuring the level of a concrete pathway with a baseball field in the background.
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Direct Access to audit parks in the City of Allen, Texas

Our partnership with the City of Allen, Texas resulted in a contract to complete the self-evaluation and ADA transition plan for all of the city’s parks. Working with City of Allen’s Parks and Recreation Department (PARD), Direct Access conducted ADA field surveys of all the department’s facilities and parks. Overall,

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A young female barista in a wheelchair with brown hair holds a jug underneath a coffee machine while pressing a button with her other hand.
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How can we make coffee shops accessible?

Modern coffee shops are ground zero for low-pressure social activity for people of all ages, creeds, and backgrounds. However, as the industry dominates in cities across the world, from small independents to the likes of Starbucks, each coffee shop must individually meet the demand for accessibility requirements that their disabled

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An example of an accessible restroom featuring grab rails, sufficient space for a wheelchair user, a low wall mirror and single lever taps.
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What makes a restroom accessible?

Today on the Direct Access blog, we set out to answer the question of what exactly makes an accessible restroom space. The specific size of an accessible toilet space is something that is not outlined nor specified by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). However, there are a lot of

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A mixed group of four people smile and take a selfie together. They are Steven Mifsud, Jamie Rhys-Martin, Sophie Malton and Jude Mifsud.
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It’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month!

National Disability Employment Awareness Month is when we recognize the ingenuity, creativity, and adaptability of disabled individuals within our workplaces. However, in addition to being a celebration of the contributions disabled people make in our lives, it is also a period where discussions about the various social and economic issues

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Portrait of a young man with learning disabilities in a wheelchair in a public park smiling. Behind him is a small lake and a sea of trees.
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Direct Access at NRPA Conference

Direct Access will be at the National Recreation and Parks conference at the Phoenix Convention Center this September 20-22. The Direct Access team will be at stand 2539 demonstrating our innovative tactile maps that enable people with sensory disabilities to navigate around parks and buildings. QR codes provide audio descriptions

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Direct Access gains DOBE certification

Boston-based disability accessibility consultancy Direct Access has secured its DOBE® certification from Disability:IN. It recognizes that our management team are all people with disabilities. The Disability-Owned and Operated Business Enterprise (DOBE®) certification is granted to businesses that are at least 51 percent owned, operated, controlled, and managed by a person

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Disabled Architect
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Do I need an ADA Access Audit?

Do I need a DDA Access Audit? A facilities audit (also known as a Barrier-Free Audit, or People with Disabilities 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 people with disabilities. The key

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A close up of a wrapped up Christmas gift.
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Christmas gifts for people with sensory differences

Deciding on a gift to get your loved ones, friends, and colleagues at Christmas can be a difficult and strenuous task. For many, gift-giving is an annual minefield where we worry ourselves about everything from settling on a socially acceptable price, whether a gift is too generic and impersonal, and

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A hand holding a phone with the Uber app loaded.
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Uber Sued by U.S Justice Department for Disability Discrimination

Uber Technologies Inc has come under fire (rightly) for allegedly overcharging disabled passengers, being sued by the US Justice Department on Wednesday. The Department has also asked a federal court to order compliance with anti-discrimination law. The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court in San Francisco, targets an April

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Two male disabled co-workers; one a male wheelchair user, the other a man with down syndrome in a kitchenette. The former is using a coffee machine, the latter watching a video on a tablet.
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New Federal Guidance updates rules for Disability Employment

New federal guidance has been released which offers details on what qualifies as competitive integrated employment for people with disabilities. A frequently asked questions document by the U.S Department of Education has served as guidance for the vocational rehabilitation program, which has been updated for the first time since 2017. 

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Person in a wheelchair in a dark room.
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Accessibility is an issue even for our leaders

At Direct Access, our mission is to guide people towards creating an accessible, disability-friendly society through education and action. However, at the same time, we appreciate that creating a just and equal society for disabled people takes time, patience, and money to adapt to the challenges. Over the years, we

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