Improving Access for Everybody. Direct Access has steadily become a global force in the accessibility and inclusion field since its inception in 2004.
Established in 2004, Direct Access is a DOBE (team of disabled people) operating out of the United Kingdom, U.S., and Middle East providing design consultancy, access audits, accessible products, and inclusive media. A DOBE® certified Disability Owned and Operated Business Enterprise, we provide accessibility consultancy based on our team's real lived experience of disability. Delivering architectural projects in the UK, United States, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Oman, Ireland, France, and Switzerland, we deliver reliable and informed consultancy based on the common practices and philosophies of our host nation - dedicating ourselves to our clients on all levels from strategy, benchmarking, guidance writing, access appraising architectural designs as well as accessibility audits for already established sites. https://directaccessgp.com/uk/
09/10/2025
Last night, our very own Josh and Callie (looking dapper) attended the grand re-opening of The Harris Museum!
It has been a great pleasure working with their team for the past few years on their incredible Restoration 'Harris Your Place' project, which has included various structural repairs, many new accessibility improvements, and the addition of new galleries and learning spaces.
Here are some snaps of the night, including our Direct Access Accessible Media team's brilliant wayfinding maps and evacuation chairs in situ! 🙌
07/10/2025
Our very own special Keir! Learn more about her in this post. 💚
🌟 Meet the Founders: Keir Welch🌟
Hi, I’m Keir, 32 and proud to have called Nantwich home all my life. I’m mum to Lukas (12) and Eviee (7), who are my absolute world and the reason behind everything I do.
I was born visually impaired due to significant nystagmus, and I’ve always believed that disability should never be a barrier to opportunity. After spending 12 years working in healthcare, a real sliding doors moment led me to meet Steven Mifsud MBE. He encouraged me (more than once!) to join Direct Access Group and after a few polite refusals I finally did. It turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. I now work in senior management and genuinely love what I do. Every day brings new challenges and the chance to make a difference through accessibility and inclusion.
Nine years ago I met my partner Craig, and together we founded Nantwich Town Disability Football after realising how few opportunities there were locally for disabled people to take part in sport. What started as a simple idea has grown into something truly special: a supportive, inclusive community built on teamwork, friendship, and belonging.
My passion for inclusive sport doesn’t stop there. I’m also Vice Chairperson of the Cheshire FA Ability Counts League, where I continue to champion equal access and visibility for all players across the region.
Away from work and football I love reading, spending time with family and friends, and caring for my ever-growing collection of rare houseplants. I’m currently working towards my IAAP CPACC certification to further my knowledge in accessibility, and I’ll admit I probably drink far too much coffee while doing it! At home I share life with two mischievous cats, Wilfred and Wilbur, who never fail to make me smile.
✨ “Inclusion isn’t just about opening the door. It’s about making sure everyone feels they belong once they’re inside.”
30/09/2025
We couldn’t be prouder of our director, Jude Mifsud, who stepped onto the catwalk at the Cheshire Roses fundraising fashion show this past weekend! 🌹✨
A huge thank you to Salon Vie and every single person who poured their time, energy, and heart into making this day so special by attending or donating. It was nothing short of inspiring.
For those who couldn’t attend, Jude has set up a JustGiving page to keep the support going.
If you’d like to join us in championing this important cause, you can donate through the link below. Every contribution, no matter the size, will make a meaningful difference in the lives of so many women.
Inclusion isn’t an expense, it’s the smartest investment a leader can make.
✅ It fuels innovation
✅ Strengthens teams
✅ Unlocks new markets
✅ Drives long-term growth
Overall, it is understood that the disability community commands a disposable income of over $8 trillion, making it a market larger than that of China and equivalent to the combined economies of the United States, Brazil, Pakistan, and Indonesia. This figure might sound like a generous assumption, but the reality is that this number is going to naturally increase the longer people live and will subsequently develop disabilities.
By preparing for the inevitable now, business owners can get ahead of their competitors and accelerate the rate of inclusive facilities in society. Investing now will result in substantial rewards in the long term, both from a financial perspective and in terms of sustainability as Governments continue to publish new standards outlining mandatory accessibility policy. If people’s needs evolve, so should the systems designed to support them.
25/09/2025
As alluded to in one of our previous posts, we firmly believe that A.I. is eroding careers in art, creativity & accessible work for disabled people.
The evidence is clear as day in William Coppock's research paper, which is still available to read here: https://zenodo.org/records/17045598
William's petition, aiming to make A.I. vendors and policymakers accountable to protect accessible employment & human creativity, is now live and available to sign.
If you have any skepticism about artificial intelligence and automation, please sign and share. The A.I. revolution affects all of us, but most demonstrably poses a threat to the livelihood of disabled people and the next generation of workers (that is, if we don't use our voice to speak up about it now):
‘It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Joe Prochilo, who sadly left this world last weekend on September 20th.
Joe was not only a great friend of ours, but a dedicated advocate, educator, and tireless champion for accessibility and inclusion. In a word, he was remarkable.
As a Senior Accessibility Consultant with all of us at Direct Access, he worked across Massachusetts, Philadelphia, and beyond to identify and eliminate barriers that prevent people with disabilities from fully participating in society. He moved communities beyond mere compliance with the ADA, helping them embrace true inclusion and equity.
From a young age, he dedicated his voice and energy to disability rights. Long before the Americans with Disabilities Act was even passed, he made multiple trips to Washington, D.C., meeting with members of Congress to advocate for accessibility and equal opportunity at both federal and state levels.
In his home City, Joe became an unstoppable force for accessibility in the City of Worcester, serving as President of Wheelingthrough.com and as Chairman of the Accessibility Advisory Commission, where his leadership led to several groundbreaking initiatives. He developed a first-in-the-nation access survey for mobility-impaired, Deaf, Blind, and Low-Vision populations and pioneered a Gold-Silver-Bronze recognition program for businesses excelling in accessibility. His efforts significantly increased the number of accessible housing units in Worcester, easing decades of backlog and creating lasting change for countless residents.
Joe’s legacy is not only in the policies he shaped or the programs he built, but in the countless lives he touched with his wisdom, kindness, and unwavering belief in a more accessible world. He reminded us that advocacy is more than action, it is attitude.
The Direct Access Team mourns the loss of a colleague who was also a mentor, a leader, and a friend. Joe’s work will continue to guide us as we carry forward his mission, his dream, to make an America that is truly inclusive to everyone.
Rest in power, Joe. Your voice, humour, vision, and tireless spirit will never be forgotten.
Dr Steven Mifsud MBE
CEO
Direct Access
22/09/2025
In the UK, it is estimated that 1.5 million people live with a learning disability—yet most face inadequate support, endless waiting lists, and families pushed to breaking point.
At Direct Access, we're working tirelessly to create spaces, services, and communities that truly include everyone.
From schools to community centres, we provide accessibility audits, consultancy, and disability awareness training—helping organisations go beyond physical access to truly understand and meet the needs of neurodiverse individuals.
Check out our blog to learn more on the current crisis being faced by neurodiverse individuals across the country (and how a greater emphasis on accessibility can help).
Come with Mathieu to the Abilities Expo in Scottsdale — a place packed with game-changing tech, products, and ideas that are changing the lives of disabled people everywhere.
He got to test out some seriously cool stuff — like a bed that adjusts and moves with you at the touch of a button, and a rugged rubber track wheelchair that’s built like a tank.
Abilities Expo is all about connecting, discovering, and proving that accessibility opens the door to endless possibilities - so we were proud to have Mathieu out there representing the Direct Access team.
09/09/2025
Flying is about more than just getting from place to place—it’s about freedom, new experiences, and staying connected with the people who matter. But for many travelers with disabilities, airports and airlines still come with extra hurdles. From tough boarding processes to a lack of accessible facilities, the journey isn’t always as welcoming as it should be.
Check out Direct Access' latest blog to see how making air travel more accessible benefits everyone! 👊
In Direct Access' new blog, we tackle what is possibly the most pressing and vital subject of our modern era; artificial intelligence and the ongoing erosion of artists, creatives, and disabled people's careers.
This subject is extremely close to the hearts of our team. As such, we were overjoyed to collaborate with William Coppock of Datawing on this article, who has himself published a full Research paper "AI and the Disappearance of Accessible Work" - which is linked at the end of the article, along with a petition against AI vendors who are knowingly deploying systems that disproportionately eliminate accessible employment pathways.
If you are yourself or care about anyone who has a disability, works in the creative industries, or even works a regular desk job - we encourage you to read what we have to say and join our cause.
By definition, artists are creative people. Whether the trade is graphic design, filmmaking, or architecture.
04/09/2025
We’re growing our team!
Join a disability-owned and operated business where lived experience isn’t just valued—it’s at the heart of everything we do.
We’re looking for passionate Access Consultants (U.S. applicants only) who want to make a real difference in creating spaces, products, and services that work for everyone.
Preference will be given to individuals with knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Please note that this role will require regular travel.
You’ll be working alongside a team who bring both professional expertise and first-hand insight to every project.
If you believe accessibility should never be an afterthought, we want to hear from you.
We offer roles for new positions at Direct Access regularly, as the demand for our accessibility and inclusion services has continued to increase. If you think you have what it takes to be part of the team, apply for positions listed below!
01/09/2025
The Harris Museum, Art Gallery and Library is Grade I listed and a landmark building in Preston. As part of the 'Harris Your Place' project, Direct Access have been working on the redevelopment to ensure that its new design features are accessible and inclusive to all.
As with all of our consultancy work, our approach was informed by the fact that our team consists largely of disabled people - with lived experience of the challenges faced by people like ourselves in built environments.
Already, the museum features several inclusive resources, including Large Print Guides, Hearing Loops, Virtual Tours and full-time staff members trained in level 2 British Sign Language.
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Direct Access Consultancy advises organisations on how to improve physical access for disabled people. This is achieved through Access Appraisals working with architectural and construction firms to ensure accessibility is designed into new builds at the outset. Access Audits look at established buildings and services to make recommendations on accessibility. Both services draw on local disability legislation and building codes in the country of operation.
For over fifteen years we have worked on large scale, high profile events, construction, real estate and infrastructure projects. We go beyond just quoting regulations to providing a fully integrated service that takes into account different dynamics and aspirations of projects we work with - understanding, identifying and overcoming the barriers that impede change.
Direct Access Store (www.directaccess.store)
Direct Access Store supplies and installs a range of accessibility equipment. From initially supplying evacuation chairs and hearing induction loops, the range has grown following feedback from customers.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is provided for disability charities and Personal Assistants employed directly by disabled people.
Employment and training opportunities for disabled people are provided in warehousing and distribution operations. These create opportunities for those who may not have previously had the opportunity to gain employment.
Direct Access Media and Communications (www.directaccess.media)
Direct Access Communications builds an accessible world through captions, subtitles, sign language, audio description and print enlargement services.
From initially creating Access Guides for the Hereford Museum, Direct Access Communications has grown into a leading provider of solutions for people who are deaf, blind, dyslexic, non-verbal or have other communication needs.
