Direct Access Group

29/01/2026

The recent BBC News article about Abdul Eneser, a blind student who fell onto the tracks at Manchester Piccadilly station after no Passenger Assist staff were there to meet him, is deeply troubling but crucially was avoidable.

Abdul had pre-booked assistance. Yet after midnight, with no staff present and no tactile paving to warn of the platform edge, he was left to navigate an unreadable environment alone and just barely avoiding a passing freight train.

When accessibility features like tactile paving are missing or poorly maintained, environments become unreadable, increasing risk, disruption, liability, and loss of public trust.

Organisations that embed accessibility into ongoing management and maintenance don’t just protect people, they

• reduce safety incidents and legal exposure
• improve customer confidence and loyalty
• protect brand reputation
• create environments that work better for everyone

Check out Roger's thoughts on the BBC article and the incident.

28/01/2026

BRAILLE LITERACY MONTH

True accessibility is both a social responsibility and a strategic investment. Providing braille and other accessible formats such as large print and Easy Read is not simply about compliance, it is about enabling independence, strengthening engagement, and creating environments where people can participate with confidence and dignity.

Organisations that embed accessible communication benefit from broader reach, improved customer and staff experience, reduced risk, and stronger brand trust. From education and transport to heritage, hospitality, and the workplace, accessible materials support informed decision-making, increase inclusion, and demonstrate that accessibility has been considered properly from the outset.

In our latest blog, we challenge outdated assumptions about braille and explore the tangible social and financial value of accessible formats. When accessibility is done well, it protects organisations, supports communities, and delivers long-term value for everyone.

https://directaccessgp.com/uk/news/why-braille-still-matters-and-why-you-cant-afford-to-ignore-it/

27/01/2026

Creating environments that are intuitive, dignified, and accessible for people living with dementia is not simply a design choice, it’s a strategic investment in the future of public spaces. At Direct Access, we work with organisations to transform buildings into places where visitors feel confident, oriented, and supported from the moment they arrive.

By embedding dementia‑friendly principles at the earliest design stages, organisations can reduce operational pressures, minimise costly retrofits, and demonstrate a genuine commitment to inclusion. Clear wayfinding, calm environments, logical layouts, and accessible signage don’t just support individuals with dementia, they enhance the experience for every visitor.

As accessibility specialists with lived experience informing our work, we help clients future‑proof their facilities and build environments where everyone belongs.

Discover how our accessibility audits can elevate your organisation’s spaces and strengthen your reputation as an inclusive, forward‑thinking provider in our new blog. 👇

https://directaccessgp.com/uk/news/why-designing-for-dementia-future-proofs-your-facility/

26/01/2026

RACE AGAINST DEMENTIA DAY

Today, we are raising awareness about the importance of creating environments that support independence, confidence, and dignity for people living with dementia.

When spaces are designed to be clear, accessible, and easy to navigate, everyone benefits, especially those facing cognitive challenges.

Direct Access provides consultancy which ensures facilities are aware of how to create a dementia-friendly environment, providing detailed guidance on accessible wayfinding and site layouts.

Let’s work together to build a world that empowers people to live independently for longer.

23/01/2026

BRAILLE LITERACY MONTH

Creating Braille and easy-read menus for TransPennine is more than a project, it’s making information accessible. And access to information is independence.

This Braille Literacy Month, Direct Access has been celebrating the power of these systems. Braille isn’t just dots on a page; it’s a gateway to choice, autonomy, and equal participation.

This is the practical work of building a more inclusive world. One menu, one journey, one piece of information at a time.

14/01/2026

For decades, mainstream toys like Barbie have reflected a narrow view of “normal” childhood experiences and archetypal roles for women, largely ignoring diversity in neurodevelopment, physical ability, and health conditions. But Mattel has diversified their brand audience through the power of inclusivity. Their latest design, the Autistic Barbie Doll, continues the trend they started with dolls like Down Syndrome Barbie and Diabetic Barbie.

The fact the design has been carefully informed by autistic people themselves gives this new doll an authenticity that mirrors our mission statement at Direct Access. We believe strongly in the idea of involving your audience in the production of a product, so reading that the Autistic Self Advocacy Network and a five-year-old autistic child (shout out to Penelope) were directly involved in the design choices is a wonderful surprise. To me, as an autistic person, it communicates: “Your needs and experiences are valid and attempting to be understood.”

That being said, I do take issue with some of the key features of this doll as an autistic individual: while it offers valuable representation that can validate children’s experiences, build self-esteem, normalise diversity, and show that inclusion can be commercially successful, the portrayals of disability are overly simplistic. Because Barbie is a cosmetic, plastic toy, it cannot fully capture the aesthetic and behavioural diversity of conditions such as autism or Down syndrome.

My full thoughts:
https://directaccessgp.com/uk/news/a-doll-that-reflects-real-life-analysing-the-autistic-barbie/

Image Description: A young caucasian girl, Penelope, wearing a bright green knitted sweater, seated indoors against a light pink wall. To the right side of the image, there is a new Barbie doll standing upright. The doll is dressed in a short-sleeved, blue-and-white striped dress with a ruffled hem. It has long dark hair and is accessorized with pink headphones. The doll is holding a small pink object in one hand and a rectangular card or booklet with colorful markings in the other. In the background, there is a pink piece of furniture, possibly a table or cabinet, partially visible on the left side.

05/01/2026

It's now 2026, and digital entertainment is more popular than ever, with 3 billion gamers worldwide and millions streaming content daily. Yet accessibility in digital spaces is still treated as an afterthought.

From auto-generated subtitles that miss key audio cues, to blockbuster games like Elden Ring and Baldur’s Gate 3 that remain inaccessible to visually impaired players, disabled audiences are too often left behind.

Discover why accessibility is often treated as optional and what needs to change in our first blog of the new year. 👇

https://directaccessgp.com/uk/news/still-not-playing-fair-accessibility-gaps-in-gaming-and-digital-entertainment/



Image Description:

The image shows a man seated in a wheelchair, holding a video game controller with both hands. The individual is wearing a light-colored polo shirt and dark shorts. A cable from the controller is visible, extending downward. The setting is a cozy indoor room with warm lighting. In the background, there is a wooden desk with various items on it, including a lamp, and shelves with personal belongings. A bed with a red patterned cover is partially visible on the left side. On the right side, there is a guitar leaning against a piece of furniture, and a sliding door or cabinet with a reflective surface. The overall environment suggests a personal living space or bedroom.

24/12/2025

The Leopard in Nantwich now boasts Direct Access' Accessible menus in a Large Print and Easy Read format!

Go treat yourself to their amazing food over the Christmas break! ✨



Image Description: The photo shows the interior of a cozy pub with warm wooden decor, dim lighting, and vintage style signage on the walls. In the foreground, a hand is holding two menus side by side. Both menus have a beige background with illustrations of a pie and a jug, along with the text:

“Joule’s” (logo at the top right)
“THE LEOPARD MENU” in bold letters
One menu has a green label reading “Large Print”
The other menu has a green label reading “Grade 1 Braille”

The menus are spiral-bound and designed for accessibility. Behind the menus, there are cushioned seating areas, wooden tables, and a basket on the floor, contributing to a traditional pub atmosphere.

Braille and Large Print Menus are now available at The Leopard 🤝

Huge thanks to Direct Access Group for sorting 📖

16/12/2025

For the 1.3 billion people worldwide with disabilities, equitable access to information is essential. How media is presented shapes public attitudes, drives policy, and builds trust.

Our latest blog dives into the power of accessible media and shows how our team is innovating to help businesses reach more audiences and make a bigger impact.

Read "Reach More Audiences, Build More Trust: The Power of Accessible Media" here 👇https://directaccessgp.com/uk/news/reach-more-audiences-build-more-trust-the-power-of-accessible-media/



Image Description: A tactile and visual map of Birmingham International Station mounted on a dark blue mobile stand with wheels. The map features a raised layout of the station with labeled areas and a tactile key. The key includes both printed text and Braille, identifying features such as platforms, ticket booths, toilets, lifts, escalators, staircases, food and drink, baby change, changing places, car park, taxi rank, bus stop, assistance points, and information desks. Symbols indicate payment options and cash machines. QR codes for audio and sign language assistance are positioned near the key, enhancing accessibility for visually and hearing-impaired users.

05/12/2025

Big birthday love to our newest CEO, Jude Mifsud! 🎉

Jude has been with us for an incredibly long time, and recently stepped into a key role left by Steven. Since taking it on, she has brought vision, passion, and purpose to everything we do. Her commitment to accessibility, inclusion, and meaningful change continues to inspire our team.

Here’s to another great year of making the world a better and more inclusive place for everyone!

05/12/2025

Direct Access were proud to deliver a bespoke dyslexia-friendly menu for GOAT Nantwich! ⚽️

Their new menus feature increased font sizes, colour contrast, simplification of information, and improved formatting.

Great food, great sport, now even more accessible for everyone.

Nantwich GOATNantwich HospitalityDesign DirectAccessMenu

Image Description: The image shows a close-up view of a spiral-bound menu page. The page is light green in color, and the spiral binding is black. The text on the page is printed in black and appears to be rotated sideways in the photo. Visible text includes:

The word “Wings” in bold. Below it, the phrase “Crispy chicken wings and tossed in your choice” (partially visible).
At the top left, partially visible text reads “Classic Buffalo” and “BBQ”.

05/12/2025

Proof that miracles do happen: our main office has its first Christmas tree in years!

Turns out, we didn’t forget how to decorate.