{"id":3074,"date":"2023-12-01T09:00:11","date_gmt":"2023-12-01T09:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/us\/?p=3074"},"modified":"2025-04-10T13:33:05","modified_gmt":"2025-04-10T13:33:05","slug":"direct-access-in-2023-a-year-in-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/us\/news\/direct-access-in-2023-a-year-in-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Direct Access in 2023 &#8211; A Year in Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"3074\" class=\"elementor elementor-3074\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a805080 elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"a805080\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c1cce90\" data-id=\"c1cce90\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-de838f4 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-title elementor-page-title elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"de838f4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;,&quot;_animation_delay&quot;:300}\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-title.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Direct Access in 2023 &#8211; A Year in Review<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8b3f226\" data-id=\"8b3f226\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b903139 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b903139\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-cecf536\" data-id=\"cecf536\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2201944 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"2201944\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a4dc238 elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-info\" data-id=\"a4dc238\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-info.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-inline-items elementor-icon-list-items elementor-post-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-5b4e2a4 elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"datePublished\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/us\/2023\/12\/01\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-calendar\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-date\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time>December 1, 2023<\/time>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d7cd612 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d7cd612\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0471f0b\" data-id=\"0471f0b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e75051 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5e75051\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2023-08-31-at-15.36.10-768x1024.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3075\" alt=\"A close up of a crisp white, 3D, tactile bust of a bald eagle on a black table.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2023-08-31-at-15.36.10-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2023-08-31-at-15.36.10-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2023-08-31-at-15.36.10-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2023-08-31-at-15.36.10.jpeg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3f36dac\" data-id=\"3f36dac\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-195f54f elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"195f54f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">First, the challenges.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0fb0cc5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0fb0cc5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"simplyweb-checked\"><span class=\"simplyweb-checked\" data-ogsc=\"black\">Life working at a small business always presents its challenges. In 2023, Direct Access experienced more of these challenges than we possibly have ever felt in our nineteen-year existence. Even as we anticipate celebrating twenty years of Direct Access in 2024, our well-oiled machine providing accessibility expertise &#8211;\u00a0 based on our lived experience as disabled people &#8211; saw what we could only describe as &#8216;growing pains&#8217; over these past twelve months.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"simplyweb-checked\"><span class=\"simplyweb-checked\" data-ogsc=\"black\">At Direct Access, we strive to provide only the highest quality accessibility consultancy, whether it&#8217;s site audits on a small community centre in Cumbria, to new-build consultation on some of the most ambitious construction projects ever conceived in the UAE (like the Diriyah Gate development), we only wish to offer the best service &#8211; but this year saw an enormous surge in clientele for us, much more than we would have ever anticipated. <\/span><\/p><p class=\"simplyweb-checked\"><span class=\"simplyweb-checked\" data-ogsc=\"black\">And to accommodate, we did everything in our power &#8211; including adding seven new staff members to our international arsenal.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"simplyweb-checked\"><span class=\"simplyweb-checked\" data-ogsc=\"black\">Accessibility for us is not just about helping organisations comply with the law, or even providing high-quality accommodations in built and digital environments, it is also about delivering our services and products with a swift turnaround. <\/span><\/p><p class=\"simplyweb-checked\"><span class=\"simplyweb-checked\" data-ogsc=\"black\">D<\/span><span class=\"simplyweb-checked\" data-ogsc=\"black\">elivering what we do quickly is of vital importance to us, because accessibility is about providing people with what they need when they need it, and not later.\u00a0Truly creating access for everybody.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"simplyweb-checked\"><span class=\"simplyweb-checked\" data-ogsc=\"black\">Though we have not missed any deadlines outright, the pressure of getting to that finish line has been felt by all corners of the company. In response to these pressures, we foresee not only hiring even more staff in 2024, but also providing further training to existing staff, increasing knowledge of world-leading accessibility standards, and encouraging innovation far beyond them.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"simplyweb-checked\"><span class=\"simplyweb-checked\" data-ogsc=\"black\">Additionally, Direct Access launched our Accessible Media department, a sector of the business that allows us to create accessible products for disabled people, by disabled people. This was not achieved without learning some lessons along the way. <\/span><\/p><p class=\"simplyweb-checked\"><span class=\"simplyweb-checked\" data-ogsc=\"black\">Thankfully, our staff managed to rise to the occasion, and in doing so, we have provided Braille, Large print, and sign language services to clients across the UK &#8211; with aims to take this young department even further next year.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1b44ab9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1b44ab9\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-66c770b\" data-id=\"66c770b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-88c400b elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"88c400b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a658240 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a658240\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><h2 data-elementor-setting-key=\"title\" data-pen-placeholder=\"Type Here...\" style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-primary-font-family ), Sans-serif\" class=\"simplyweb-checked\">Second, the many successes!<\/h2><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8c76ed1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8c76ed1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"simplyweb-checked\"><span class=\"simplyweb-checked\" data-ogsc=\"black\">Despite the influx of logistical issues that come naturally when a business grows, Direct Access managed to hit a milestone this year that many small businesses dream of attaining, which is that we have become a medium-sized business, with both a drive and capability to expand further in 2024.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"simplyweb-checked\"><span class=\"simplyweb-checked\" data-ogsc=\"black\">Internationally, 2023 saw Direct Access welcome a breadth of new clients in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East regions &#8211; the majority of which are new-build construction projects that under our close guidance will be ambitious and innovative in their approach to accessibility, drawing inspiration from world-leading accessibility guidance and the increasingly diverse experiences of our disabled team.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"simplyweb-checked\"><span class=\"simplyweb-checked\" data-ogsc=\"black\">So, what were these important projects?<\/span><\/p><p class=\"simplyweb-checked\"><span class=\"simplyweb-checked\" data-ogsc=\"black\">In Europe, Direct Access signed a deal with the United Nations to provide universal design and accessibility consultancy services for the new International Organization for Migration Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"simplyweb-checked\"><span class=\"simplyweb-checked\" data-ogsc=\"black\">In the UK, Direct Access worked with the Royal Armouries Group of Museums. A commission that saw us deliver comprehensive accessibility consultations of the White Tower in London, Fort Nelson near Portsmouth, and the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, to increase museum access for people with different types of disabilities. We also worked with several UK public authorities to bring public facilities and buildings up to a world-class standard in Cumbria, Monmouthshire, the Isle of Man, and many more.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fcd9662\" data-id=\"fcd9662\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a619c4a elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"a619c4a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c47ab04 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c47ab04\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"612\" src=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/926041b7-4748-482b-8229-f30249dfc292.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3053\" alt=\"A photograph of a middle aged man wearing a white polo shirt and a hidden disability sunflower lanyard smiles and poses for a picture. His arm is resting on a large structure which reads #COP28UAE\" srcset=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/926041b7-4748-482b-8229-f30249dfc292.jpg 1023w, https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/926041b7-4748-482b-8229-f30249dfc292-300x229.jpg 300w, https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/926041b7-4748-482b-8229-f30249dfc292-768x587.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2acf6c6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2acf6c6\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fff79d0\" data-id=\"fff79d0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cfce243 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cfce243\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"simplyweb-checked\"><span class=\"simplyweb-checked\" data-ogsc=\"black\">In the Middle East,\u00a0we were the accessibility consultants for Expo City in Dubai assisting them with the hosting of COP-28, undertaking international accessibility standard benchmarking for best-in-class accessibility and providing a point of call for all accessibility queries from all departments. Aside from this, we have signed contracts in the region for projects that we are not yet allowed to speak publicly about.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"simplyweb-checked\"><span class=\"simplyweb-checked\" data-ogsc=\"black\">In the United States, following on from our work for the City of Allen in Texas and Bethel in Vermont, we signed further contracts in McKinney Texas and the entire State of Vermont to ensure the accessibility of public parks, and sports centres, and deliver ADA-compliant accessible housing programmes respectively.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"simplyweb-checked\"><span class=\"simplyweb-checked\" data-ogsc=\"black\">Our list of clients aside, what I as a Director have taken away from 2023 most, however, is the resilience and capability of my team &#8211; which at any given time now spans three different continents. It&#8217;s a far stretch from our beginnings, where the company employed just two people. To me, it is a testament to our staff&#8217;s belief in the core mission of Direct Access, the importance that accessibility and inclusion represent in our world going forward, and their passion for what they do that we have made it this far.\u00a0I couldn\u2019t be more proud of them.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"simplyweb-checked\"><span class=\"simplyweb-checked\" data-ogsc=\"black\">Of course, none of it would be possible without our clients, whom I would now like to personally thank for believing in us and what we do. I truly hope that anyone who entrusted our team with the responsibility of helping them accommodate people&#8217;s differences had a wholly positive experience with us. You were a vital part of our journey in 2023, and a vital stepping stone for what we hope to achieve in 2024 &#8211; for ourselves, and people with disabilities all over the world.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"simplyweb-checked\"><span class=\"simplyweb-checked\">We wish all our team members, clients and friends a very happy holiday period.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-cc2d576 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"cc2d576\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5c0a6d2\" data-id=\"5c0a6d2\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3a39cf1 elementor-post-navigation-borders-yes elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-navigation\" data-id=\"3a39cf1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-navigation.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation\" role=\"navigation\" aria-label=\"Post Navigation\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation__prev elementor-post-navigation__link\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/us\/news\/free-webinar-creating-inclusive-spaces-and-about-the-ada-aba-accessibility-guidelines-for-the-public-right-of-way\/\" rel=\"prev\"><span class=\"post-navigation__arrow-wrapper post-navigation__arrow-prev\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-angle-left\"><\/i><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Prev<\/span><\/span><span class=\"elementor-post-navigation__link__prev\"><span class=\"post-navigation__prev--label\">Previous<\/span><span class=\"post-navigation__prev--title\">Free Webinar: Creating Inclusive Spaces and About the ADA\/ABA Accessibility Guidelines for the Public Right-of-Way<\/span><\/span><\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation__separator-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation__separator\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation__next elementor-post-navigation__link\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/us\/news\/why-the-models-of-disability-matter-when-creating-inclusive-environments\/\" rel=\"next\"><span class=\"elementor-post-navigation__link__next\"><span class=\"post-navigation__next--label\">Next<\/span><span class=\"post-navigation__next--title\">Why the Models of Disability matter when creating inclusive environments<\/span><\/span><span class=\"post-navigation__arrow-wrapper post-navigation__arrow-next\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-angle-right\"><\/i><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Next<\/span><\/span><\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<div data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4fdf52f e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"4fdf52f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>First, the challenges. Life working at a small business always presents its challenges. In 2023, Direct Access experienced more of these challenges than we possibly have ever felt in our nineteen-year existence. Even as we anticipate celebrating twenty years of Direct Access in 2024, our well-oiled machine providing accessibility expertise &#8211;\u00a0 based on our lived [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":2834,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3074","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Direct Access in 2023 - A Year in Review - Direct Access USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Life working at a small business always presents its challenges. 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