Direct Access Group

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.

04/12/2025

We hope you'll all join us in wishing our founder and former CEO Steven Mifsud MBE a big congratulations on his incredible weight loss journey. In just eight months, Steven has lost 80 pounds.

And yes, he still enjoys the occasional burger or ice cream. But these days, it’s all about balance, intention, and fueling performance, not letting old habits run the show.

While Steven’s role at Direct Access has changed significantly, if sharing this encourages even one person to take a first step toward better health, we thought it was well worth sharing!

HealthyHabits

Image Description: Side-by-side collage of Steven Mifsud, former Direct Access CEO in different settings. In the left image, he is wearing a black short-sleeved button-up shirt with sunglasses hanging from the collar, standing outdoors in front of a scenic lake and mountain view. On the right, he is dressed in a formal dark suit and white shirt, wearing a name badge that reads "STEVEN, EXHIBITOR, EXHIBIT HALL ONLY," standing indoors at a convention booth labelled "Direct Access" with a wheelchair logo and QR code in the background. He looks noticeably slimmer in the left image and larger in the right image.

04/12/2025

We hope you'll all join us in wishing our founder and former CEO Steven Mifsud MBE a big congratulations on his incredible weight loss journey. In just eight months, Steven has lost 80 pounds.

And yes, he still enjoys the occasional burger or ice cream. But these days, it’s all about balance, intention, and fueling performance, not letting old habits run the show.

While Steven’s role at Direct Access has changed significantly, if sharing this encourages even one person to take a first step toward better health, we thought it was well worth sharing!



Image Description: Side-by-side collage of Steven Mifsud, former Direct Access CEO in different settings. In the left image, he is wearing a black short-sleeved button-up shirt with sunglasses hanging from the collar, standing outdoors in front of a scenic lake and mountain view. On the right, he is dressed in a formal dark suit and white shirt, wearing a name badge that reads "STEVEN, EXHIBITOR, EXHIBIT HALL ONLY," standing indoors at a convention booth labelled "Direct Access" with a wheelchair logo and QR code in the background. He looks noticeably slimmer in the left image and larger in the right image.

24/11/2025

Big news from Direct Access! 🎉

Our founders Steven and Judith Mifsud has officially sold Direct Access Consultancy, LLC (US) to Matrix Design Group, Inc., an award-winning, employee-owned U.S. engineering and design powerhouse.

This exciting step strengthens our long-standing mission: building environments that truly work for everyone.

Dive into the full story on our blog:

🔗 https://directaccessgp.com/us/news/us-arm-of-direct-access-acquired-by-matrix-design-group-expanding-accessibility-and-inclusivity-expertise/

Image Description: The image shows two individuals (Steven Mifsud and Jude Mifsud) standing indoors in front of a glass wall with a decorative design. The glass wall features horizontal frosted stripes and a large green accessibility symbol, which resembles a stylized person in a wheelchair. Jude is wearing a bright blue long-sleeved blouse, while Steven is dressed in a white long-sleeved shirt paired with a light gray vest. There is a plant partially visible in the bottom left corner of the image. The overall setting is a modern office with a clean and organized look.

Steven and Judith Mifsud, founders and owners of Direct Access Group, have sold Direct Access Consultancy LLC to Matrix Design Group.

24/11/2025

Big news from Direct Access! 🎉

Our founders Steven and Judith Mifsud has officially sold Direct Access Consultancy, LLC (US) to an award-winning, employee-owned U.S. engineering and design powerhouse.

This exciting step strengthens our long-standing mission: building environments that truly work for everyone.

Dive into the full story on our blog:

🔗 https://directaccessgp.com/us/news/us-arm-of-direct-access-acquired-by-matrix-design-group-expanding-accessibility-and-inclusivity-expertise/

Image Description: The image shows two individuals (Steven Mifsud and Jude Mifsud) standing indoors in front of a glass wall with a decorative design. The glass wall features horizontal frosted stripes and a large green accessibility symbol, which resembles a stylized person in a wheelchair. Jude is wearing a bright blue long-sleeved blouse, while Steven is dressed in a white long-sleeved shirt paired with a light gray vest. There is a plant partially visible in the bottom left corner of the image. The overall setting is a modern office with a clean and organized look.

07/11/2025

Direct Access is proud to announce that Craig Acton, one of our dedicated team members, has been nominated for the prestigious Cheshire FA Disability Pathway Coach of the Year award. This recognition highlights Craig’s unwavering commitment to inclusive sport and his outstanding contributions to disability football in our community.

Craig will be attending the awards ceremony this evening, where his efforts and impact will be celebrated alongside other inspiring individuals who champion accessibility and inclusion in football.

This milestone also marks nearly six years to the day since Direct Access began sponsoring Nantwich Town Disability Football. Our long-standing partnership reflects our core values of empowerment, equality, and community engagement. We remain deeply committed to supporting initiatives that make sport accessible to all.

05/11/2025

In a recent interview with The Sunday Times, Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs, The Wolfman) made some well intentioned if strange comments on the rise in visibility of neurodiverse diagnosis - chocking a lot of it up to "nonsense" or "rubbish".

Michael Miller, an autistic person on the Direct Access team, weighs in with his thoughts in our new blog.

Are his comments completely inflammatory or do you believe they hold merit? Let us know your thoughts.

https://directaccessgp.com/uk/news/an-autistic-persons-response-to-anthony-hopkins-autism-and-adhd-remarks/



Image Description: Anthony Hopkins stands in front of a promotional poster for the film The Rite. He wears a gray pinstripe suit with a white dress shirt and raises both hands with open palms, smiling slightly as he poses for photographers. The poster behind him features a close-up of a face with piercing blue eyes and a shadowed cross over the forehead, evoking themes of religion and the supernatural. The setting suggests a movie premiere or press event.

30/10/2025

True inclusion starts with rethinking what access really means.

Accessibility shouldn’t stop where the pavement ends. By introducing adaptive trails and providing all-terrain mobility devices for beaches, parks, and woodland walks, we have a unique opportunity to make nature not just reachable, but inclusive.

Leaders in parks, tourism, and public spaces (many of whom Direct Access has worked closely with) have jumped at the opportunity to introduce accessibility because the results speak for themselves. Inclusive design strengthens communities, boosts local economies, and fosters empathy. It’s an investment in people, in place, and in connection.

Check out our new blog and learn how accessible design transforms the outdoors:

https://lnkd.in/ePfp2K6F



Image description: A man in a motorised wheelchair interacts with a large white dog on a waterfront at sunset. The dog stands on its hind legs with its front paws resting gently on the person's lap. The person is seated and facing the dog, creating a moment of connection and affection. Behind them, a calm body of water reflects the warm hues of the setting sun, casting a golden glow across the sky and rippling surface. The scene evokes tranquility, companionship, and inclusive outdoor enjoyment.

21/10/2025

Thank you to everyone who joined Steven and Mathieu at the City of Scottsdale - Government's Disability Accessibility Consultation yesterday! Your thoughtful feedback will directly shape Direct Access and Matrix Design Group's ongoing efforts to make the facilities, programs, and spaces within your great city more accessible and inclusive via it's ADA Transition Plan.

A special shout-out to our incredible ASL interpreters for helping make the event welcoming and accessible to all.

More Consultation events are to be announced in the following weeks and we hope to see you there! Until then, you can check out this recap video to learn what an Accessibility Consultation is all about.