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directaccess.bsky.social
Direct Access Group
@directaccess.bsky.social
20 followers 29 following 23 posts
Award-winning experts in Universal Design & Accessibility, Powered by Lived Experience.

Established in 2004, Direct Access is a DOBE (Disability Owned Business Enterprise) that operates in the UK, U.S., and the Middle East.
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directaccess.bsky.social
Have you ever visited SeaCity Museum, Tudor House & Garden, or Southampton City Art Gallery?

Take our short, anonymous survey to help improve accessibility at these venues.
📅 Survey closes: Friday 27th June 2025
🔗 Click the link (www.surveymonkey.com/r/YWM8S3H) to take part!
A flyer advertising an online accessibility survey for Southampton City Council featuring wide exterior shot images of the SeaCity Museum, Tudor House Museum, and Southampton City Art Gallery, respectively. Both feature the Direct Access and Southampton City Council logos.
May 12, 2025 at 9:56 AM
directaccess.bsky.social
🔥 New Podcast Feature! 🔥

Our founder, Steven Mifsud MBE, joins the Firewatch Fire and Safety Podcast.

🎧 Watch the clip, then catch the full conversation to see how accessibility can unlock new opportunities for your business.

YouTube: shorturl.at/NE7Kh
Spotify: shorturl.at/xjA3d
Global Accessibility Expert: Why Being Accessible is Good For Business!
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
shorturl.at
May 1, 2025 at 9:14 AM
directaccess.bsky.social
Another successful installation of our evacuation chairs and state-of-the-art hearing induction loop systems – expertly led by our Accessible Media Lead, Craig Acton, who just completed his install training! 🙌
#InclusiveDesign #Evacuation #Ampetronic #DirectAccess #Accessibility
Direct Access accessible media lead Craig Acton drilling a hook into a wall in a hallway. He is wearing a green hi-vis workers jacket, black trousers and black shoes. A close up photograph of a black Ampetronic CLD1 Compact Induction Loop Driver box installed to the underside of a table. An orange Direct Access evacuation chair being held in place on a wall in a hallway.
April 24, 2025 at 1:13 PM
directaccess.bsky.social
As the industry charts a course toward modernization, one factor remains insufficiently addressed: true accessibility and inclusion for disabled passengers. Read our blog below on steps rail operators can make to ensure inclusion which benefits all of us!🚆

directaccessgp.com/us/news/the-...
The Financial and Social Case for Accessible & Inclusive Rail Networks - Direct Access USA
As the rail industry charts a course toward modernization, one factor remains insufficiently addressed: inclusion for disabled passengers.
directaccessgp.com
April 17, 2025 at 9:15 AM
directaccess.bsky.social
We are acutely aware that accessibility consultancy is not normally a market for action figures, but you have to admit we have some pretty iconic people working for us.

Do let us know if any of you would like a toy Steven, Peter, or Craig! 😂

#AIArtwork #ActionFigure #LinkedInTrend
An ai generated imnage of a toy in a transparent plastic package, blister packaging model. The figure has a mohawk and a beard, a big smile, and is caucasian in skin tone. He is also around 30 to 35 years old. On the top of the packaging, there is a large writing: "Accessible Media Lead" in white text then below it "Binding!" in quotation marks. Dressed in a dark shirt, tracksuit bottoms, and trainers. An ai generated image of a toy in a transparent plastic package, blister packaging model. The toy is of a man who has short black hair, a big smile, and is Maltese in skin tone. He is also around 40 years old. On the top of the packaging, there is a large writing: "Access Consultant" in white text then below it "Creating accessible environments” Dressed in a suit, jacket, and smart trousers. An ai generated image of a toy displayed in a transparent plastic package, blister packaging model. The figure is of a man with short hair and ragged skin typical of older age, a big smile, and is caucasian in skin tone. He is also around 40 to 50 years old. On the top of the packaging, there is a large writing: "Managing Director" in white text then below it "Keeping costs down”. Dressed in a jumper, jacket and tight, dark trousers.
April 14, 2025 at 10:34 AM
directaccess.bsky.social
Delighted to see that Direct Access' recent thinkpiece on the importance of accessibility in the management of large stadiums and sports grounds has been featured as a spread in Football & Stadium Management magazine!

#InclusionInSports #AccessibleEvents #StamfordBridge #AccessibleMedia #Stadiums
A photo of a page spread from Football & Stadium Magazine written by Direct Access on the importance of accessibility in stadium management.
April 14, 2025 at 10:28 AM
directaccess.bsky.social
Exciting news! We are on the lookout for a talented individual to join our U.S. team as an ADA Accessibility Consultant.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please visit our website for more information and to apply.

directaccessgp.com/us/about-us/...

#Hiring #AccessConsultant
A graphic with a mixed lime green and dark blue coloring. Bold capitalized text to the right reads "Now we are hiring". Underneath, lower case text reads Access Consultant. Details of the position reads "Hours: Full Time, Salary: Dependent on experience, Location: Direct Access' Cincinnati Office.
March 28, 2025 at 4:33 PM
directaccess.bsky.social
Exciting news! We are on the lookout for a talented individual to join our U.S. team as an Admin.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please visit our website for more information and to apply.

directaccessgp.com/us/about-us/...

#Admin #Administrator #DirectAccess #WeAreHiring
A graphic with a mixed lime green and dark blue coloring. Bold capitalized text to the right reads "Now we are hiring". Underneath, lower case text reads Company Administrator. Details of the position reads "Hours: Full Time, Salary: Dependent on experience, Location: Direct Access' Cincinnati Office.
March 26, 2025 at 11:15 AM
directaccess.bsky.social
🌟 Become an inclusive employer! 🌟

💡 Did you know? Disability Awareness Training can be funded through Ireland's Work and Access employment programme!

Ready to make a difference? Reach out:
📧 [email protected]
📞 +353 (0)15079081

#InclusionMatters #Accessibility
A Caucasian male engineer in a wheelchair wearing a yellow identification vest. The engineer is inside a large factory unit pressing buttons on a panel. Behind the panel is a blue assembly line.
March 20, 2025 at 11:02 AM
directaccess.bsky.social
Today, our Accessible Media lead Craig is at Stamford Bridge, engaging with the accessibility team at @ChelseaFC. We're delighted to be introducing them to our inclusive solutions, including our tactile maps and 3D printed models.
Let’s make sports accessible for everyone! 🌟⚽️
A wide shot photo of a conference room at Stamford Bridge. Craig Acton, a Caucasian Accessible Media consultant for Direct Access is holding a Large Print leaflet and showing it to an older Caucasian male representative of Chelsea Football Club's accessibility team. In the foreground of the photo is a black table with several of Direct Access' accessible products spread out, including a white tactile model of St. Mary's Church in Nantwich, swell paper maps, and Easy Read/Braille ringbinder.
March 18, 2025 at 1:45 PM
directaccess.bsky.social
As we consider the future of care homes, it is imperative to address the accessibility challenges faced by residents who are disabled. Check out our latest blog, we share tips for home managers to create safer, more comfortable homes for everyone 🏡💙

directaccessgp.com/uk/news/how-...
A photo of an orange Direct Access Evacuation Chair hung up on a brick wall next to a frost-coloured balcony staircase.
March 18, 2025 at 1:07 PM
directaccess.bsky.social
Since 2024, the Irish Government has been offering grants covering 80-90% of the cost for Disability Awareness and Equality Training!

For more information, email Direct Access at [email protected] or call our team in Ireland at +353 (0)15079081.

#Accessibility #Ireland
A wide shot photograph of colorful seafront buildings and old boats on the harbor of Cobh, County Cork, Ireland with a cathedral in the background.
March 12, 2025 at 10:30 AM
directaccess.bsky.social
A brilliant end to the week as our consultants Mathieu and Jennifer delivered a DAIL (Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living) seminar over in Vermont.

Direct Access is currently working on a continuing contract with the State of Vermont to audit homes for accessibility. 👊
Together, a caucasian male and female accessibility consultant (Mathieu Kolensky and Jennifer Ford) deliver an accessibility seminar to two women in a conference room. Mathieu is stood behind a podium with a laptop, with Jennifer speaking directly to the audience with a powerpoint presentation to her left. A medium shot photograph of Mathieu Kolesnky smiling at an off-screen crowd holding a white clipboard and pointing to an image of an accessible living room on a powerpoint presentation, which is being projected onto a white pull-down screen. Image description A caucasian male accessibility consultant (Mathieu Kolensky) delivers an accessibility seminar in a conference room. Mathieu is stood behind a table holding a sheet of paper addressing a mixed crowd all sat behind brown tables.
March 7, 2025 at 4:14 PM
directaccess.bsky.social
Sensory access is essential in shaping an inclusive built environment, and it is our shared responsibility to ensure that every space accommodates.

Check out our blog to understand the role sensory accessibility plays in fostering inclusive design. 🌈♿

directaccessgp.com/us/news/the-...
The Crucial Role of Sensory Accessibility in Environmental Design - Direct Access USA
Sensory access is crucial because it ensures that all individuals, regardless of their condition, can fully participate in their environment.
directaccessgp.com
March 7, 2025 at 4:07 PM
directaccess.bsky.social
New case study!

In October 2024, ZEVI Ireland conducted comprehensive user testing of EV charging stations at fifteen selected sites across the Republic of Ireland with Direct Access. Check it out here;

directaccessgp.com/uk/case-stud...
#ZEVI #Accessibility #Inclusion #EVs #ElectricVehicles
A Caucasian male access consultant, Nick Holland, wearing a hi-vis jacket and holding a tablet smiles and poses for a photograph on a sidewalk in Wexford, Ireland. He is stood next to an Electric Vehicle charging point.
March 7, 2025 at 4:04 PM
directaccess.bsky.social
The dedication of our CAD engineers in the Accessible Media department is evident in every braille bead they produce, making our Tactile Map Boards the pinnacle of inclusive wayfinding.

Check out this captivating timelapse of Lee as he skilfully creates a map for @expocitydubai.bsky.social!
The video is a timelapse of the creation of Direct Access Tactile Map Boards. Descriptive text within the video: "Direct Access will place each and every braille bead on our Maps completely by hand. Our CAD engineers use a special brailling pen tool. This ensures our clients receive the highest quality map. Braille is pressed in firmly, but not too deep. This ensures the beads remain raised and fit for purpose. The result!".
March 3, 2025 at 11:17 AM
directaccess.bsky.social
Ramadan Mubarak! 🌙✨ Wishing all our friends, followers, and clients a month filled with peace, blessings, and endless opportunities for growth.

May your prayers be answered and your heart be filled with reflection, kindness, and gratitude. 🌟

#RamadanMubarak #Ramadan2025
A digital greeting card featuring the Crescent and Star symbolizing the faith of Islam and a lantern symbolizing the beginning of Ramadan. Text on the graphic, which has a light brown background reads "Ramadan Mubarak. May this holy month bring you peace, prosperity, and blessings!
February 28, 2025 at 4:31 PM
directaccess.bsky.social
We are thrilled to be providing accessibility audits for public transit provider Kitsap Transit! We love it when we get to audit more unusual places for their accessibility, and we can safely say that Jennifer has never had the pleasure of auditing a motorboat before. 🛥️
#Kitsap
A wide shot photograph of Jennifer, a caucasian woman/access consultant with long white hair wearing sunglasses on a pier on an overcast day. In the background, a large Kitsap transit ferry is parked and tied to the shore.
February 27, 2025 at 11:35 AM
directaccess.bsky.social
This week, we were delighted to have installed three bespoke Tactile Map Boards at Coventry Station and Birmingham International Station for Avanti West Coast 🚆✨

fb.watch/xIpgkw1_oz/

#Wayfinding #Birmingham #Coventry #Inclusivity #Maps #MapBoards #Braille #SignLanguage #BSL #AudioDescription
A wide shot photograph of the entrance of Coventry Train Station with an image of a white and lime green Direct Access delivery van parked out front.
February 12, 2025 at 2:11 PM
directaccess.bsky.social
Our Accessible Media team are delighted to announce that we have installed two bespoke tactile Map Boards at Coventry Station in collaboration with @avantiwestcoast.bsky.social🚆✨

You can find them at the entrance for the Old station and New station buildings.

#DirectAccess #CoventryStation
A wide shot photograph of the new Coventry Station tactile braille map board shot using deep focus. The face of the map board provides a colourful rendition of Coventry Station's layout using a raised braille key and symbols against a white background. In the bottom left corner QR codes are available for audio described and sign language elements. In the background of the image is the station entrance and exterior. A wide shot photograph of the new Coventry Station tactile braille map board shot using deep focus. The face of the map board provides a colourful rendition of Coventry Station's layout using a raised braille key and symbols against a white background. In the bottom left corner QR codes are available for audio described and sign language elements. A close up photograph of the face of the new Coventry Station tactile braille map board shot using shallow focus. The face of the map board provides a colourful rendition of Coventry Station's layout using a raised braille key and symbols against a white background. In the bottom left corner QR codes are available for audio described and sign language elements. A wide shot photograph of the new Coventry Station tactile braille map board shot using deep focus. The face of the map board provides a colourful rendition of Coventry Station's layout using a raised braille key and symbols against a white background. In the bottom left corner QR codes are available for audio described and sign language elements.
February 6, 2025 at 10:22 AM
directaccess.bsky.social
At Direct Access, we believe Education is a fundamental human right.

By auditing schools, colleges, and universities throughout the world - we hope to see high-quality education for children with disabilities everywhere.

directaccessgp.com/uk/news/back...

#InternationalDayOfEducation 📚
A photograph of Accessibility Consultation Manager, Ailsa Flett, a middle-aged caucasian woman, holding and tapping on her iPad in a school library while carrying out an audit/inspection. She is wearing a hidden disability sunflower lanyard.
January 24, 2025 at 4:03 PM
directaccess.bsky.social
We’re delighted to be featured in a new North West report on the ambitions of regional businesses over the next 12 months – commissioned by law firm Pannone Corporate.

To read the Ambition 2025 report in more detail visit: pannonecorporate.com/reports/

#Ambition2025 #NorthWestBusiness
Reports - Pannone Corporate
Pannone SME Report Ambition 2025 As part of Ambition 2025, Pannone conducted a survey of 200 North West businesses to understand the key drivers of growth. The research focused on five core areas: peo...
pannonecorporate.com
January 24, 2025 at 1:33 PM
directaccess.bsky.social
We are honored to have partnered with English Heritage in making Wroxeter a more accessible site for all visitors.

Angharad Brading, with whom we worked closely throughout the process, has written a great article about our joint efforts in the latest edition of the @museumsassociation.org Journal.
A page spread from the Museum Association's Museum Journal about the reinterpretation of the accessibility features at Wroxeter Roman City. The article mentions Direct Access' work on the reinterpretation and features an image of a man in a wheelchair at the Old Works, the oldest freestanding Roman wall in the UK reading a tactile map board.
January 7, 2025 at 10:12 AM