Direct Access Group

05/06/2026

Someone, please confiscate our 'post' button before this becomes our entire personality. Thank you to Football and Stadium Management for giving us another excuse to show off our work!

https://fsm-online.co.uk/chelsea-installs-inclusive-tactile-information-boards-at-stamford-bridge/

Chelsea FC’s Stamford Bridge has become the first football stadium to implement a new means of independent accessible wayfinding, available to anyone visiting the site. The innovative tactile information boards are positioned at Stamford Gate and Britannia Gate, before the security bag‑check are...

01/06/2026

Most accessibility policies look impressive on paper. The problem? Many organisations never actually implement them.

Our latest insight piece explores the growing gap between saying your business is inclusive and building systems that genuinely support disabled customers and employees, and why that gap is becoming a serious reputational, commercial, and legal risk.

We talk about;

Why so many accessibility policies often fail in practice
How “tick-box inclusion” damages trust when reality doesn’t match the messaging
The reputational lessons businesses can learn from the 2026 BAFTAs controversy
Why accessibility is increasingly tied to procurement, ESG investment, and funding opportunities
The commercial power of inclusive brands, including why customers are willing to switch (and pay more) for them

Accessibility isn’t about compliance theatre. It’s about trust, customer experience, competitive advantage, and whether organisations are prepared for the scrutiny that comes when inclusion is only performative.

Read more: https://directaccessgp.com/uk/news/the-hidden-value-of-accessibility-policy-that-businesses-ignore/

30/05/2026

A Premier League first. Chelsea Football Club is the first club in the league to install a tactile wayfinding map, and they're leading the way on what real accessibility looks like.

Designed and delivered by Direct Access, now in place at Stamford Bridge. First look here, full film coming soon.

27/05/2026

Most websites are quietly losing customers, but most businesses don’t even realise it.

Our latest piece dives into the hidden cost of inaccessible web design, revealing how UK businesses lose an estimated £17.1 billion every year because disabled users simply leave sites that don’t work for them.

We go into depth on:

The uncomfortable truth about agencies relying on cheap web builds and accessibility overlays
How poor UX impacts trust, SEO, sales, and repeat business
Why brands that build inclusive experiences are winning customer loyalty (and revenue)
What a proper accessibility audit actually uncovers, beyond generic automated checklists
How 86% of disabled users said they’d pay more on an accessible website rather than buy cheaper elsewhere.

Accessibility isn’t just ethics or compliance. It’s usability, visibility, customer retention, and growth all rolled into one.

Getting that wrong can lead to real commercial consequences.

Read more; https://directaccessgp.com/uk/news/the-17-billion-opportunity-hidden-in-website-accessibility/

A website was once seen as a supporting asset, but today, it's the first and most influential expression of your brand in the digital world.

21/05/2026

Happy Global Accessibility Awareness Day to all the companies who installed one ramp in 2007 and said “job done, lads” 🫡



Image Description: A meme using a still from the 2002 Spider-Man film shows actor Willem Dafoe outdoors in a park-like area, smiling confidently with buildings and parked cars behind him. At the top of the image, bold text reads: “Huge Corporates when an Awareness Day hits.” At the bottom, overlaid on the scene, the caption says: “You know, I'm something of a Disabled Person myself.” The meme humorously critiques how large companies often try to align themselves with disability awareness days in a performative or opportunistic way.

20/05/2026

We're hiring!

Direct Access is looking for a motivated Junior CAD Engineer to join our growing Products Division to help design and manufacture inclusive products, including Tactile Map Boards.

We’re looking for someone with a passion for design, problem-solving, and inclusive thinking, who’s eager to develop their CAD skills within a collaborative and supportive environment.

As part of the role, you’ll work closely with our Accessible Media team, a group that combines professional expertise with lived experience to deliver thoughtful, user-centred products that have a real impact. From concept development through to production, you’ll play a hands-on role in creating innovative solutions that support accessibility and inclusion.

To learn more about the role, view the full job description, and apply, visit our website.

https://directaccessgp.com/uk/about-us/careers/

19/05/2026

The best products don’t just work for some people, they end up working better for almost everyone.

That’s the thing about accessible design: when something is easier, safer, and more intuitive to use, we tend to keep it around indefinitely.

Accessibility doesn’t make products “special.”
It makes them better.

Image descriptions:

A modern room with a city skyline visible through large windows. On a table are colourful bendable straws in a glass, two small glowing touch lamps, and a pair of grey hearing aids. The scene introduces the context of the following graphics; everyday items that originated from accessibility design.

A hand reaches toward a small cylindrical touch lamp on a dark wooden surface. The lamp glows softly from the top, showing how it can be switched on with a simple tap.

A container filled with brightly coloured plastic drinking straws in shades of yellow, pink, orange, green, blue, and purple. The close-up emphasises their simple, convenient design.

A close-up of a silver lever-style door handle on a wooden door. The shot highlights how the handle can be pushed down easily without needing a tight grip or twisting motion.

13/05/2026

Most businesses don't lose Deaf customers in a single moment.

They lose them quietly. At the phone-only verification. The uncaptioned video. The chatbot that can't escalate. The service counter without a working hearing loop. Each one looks small in isolation. Together they show up as lower conversions, weaker sales, and higher churn.

The brands getting it right have already done the maths. Tesco, NatWest, Barclays, and most tellingly Amazon France, which launched live sign language customer support in late 2025. When a company that famously protects every penny of spend decides accessibility pays for itself, the commercial case is settled.

New piece on where UK businesses are losing Deaf customers, and what to do about it.

https://directaccessgp.com/uk/news/why-inaccessibility-is-costing-you-deaf-customers/

11/05/2026

How I sleep knowing my buildings designs pass the ultimate vibe check.

Fully compliant, fully unbothered: smooth access routes (no obstacle courses here), step-free entrances with proper widths, doors you can actually get through, a downstairs WC that everyone can use, and stairs that don’t feel like a workout challenge.

Because good design isn’t just about looking nice, it’s about making homes work for real people.

Part M = peace of mind 😌

Image Description: A small dog lies comfortably on a neatly made bed, tucked under a soft pink blanket with only its head visible. Its head rests on a blue pillow, giving the impression that it is peacefully asleep. The bedroom around it is warm and lived‑in, with a bedside table holding various personal items and framed pictures hanging on the wall. Overlaid text at the top reads: “How I sleep at night” and the text at the bottom continues: “knowing my building complies with Part M of the Building Regulations 2010."

09/05/2026

Imagine paying to get customers through the door, then blocking every aisle.

That's what most retail websites do to disabled customers. Buttons that don't work. Captions they can’t read. Images they can’t see. Information they can’t get to.

UK businesses lose an estimated £17.1 billion every year through inaccessible websites and digital services.

Accessibility is not a "nice to have". It is sales, conversion, retention, and customer experience.