About Us

Our Story

Founded by Richard Seidman, iAccess Consultants provides innovative design solutions to complex accessibility questions across a broad range of sectors to ensure that inclusivity for all is considered when designing built environments.

Building on the access-work component of iAccess Group, iAccess Consultants was established in 2010 to provide specialist access advice to the Health, Residential, Sporting, Educational, Commercial and office sectors.


Founder Richard Seidman

iAccess was founded by Richard Seidman following his experience with NSW Housing’s response to the 2009 Global Financial Crisis which called for the delivery of 6,500 dwellings, of which 1,500 were to be adaptable and inclusive for people of all abilities.

Seeing people with specific needs moving into their own specially designed home had a profound effect on Richard bringing a human element to his 30+ years of architectural experience.

His experience with NSW Housing, coupled with his own experience with his legally blind mother, is the driving force behind iAccess’ focus on two major stakeholders:

  1. Developers/Property Owners – to assist in achieving statutory compliance and adherence to universal design standards for people living with a disability.
  2. End-Users – acknowledging that everyone has a right to be included in a meaningful and independent manner regardless of their ability or stage in life.

What We Do

iAccess consultants provide functional, inclusive and technical advice to architects, developers, building owners and project managers to ensure that there is compliance with relevant access legislation. Our goal is to assist the project team with the delivery of their design objectives, whilst at the same time putting the needs of all end-users at the forefront.

We are about more than essential compliance, we create design solutions that deliver optimum outcomes for clients and end-users alike.

Access considerations are encompassed in the following:

Disability Discrimination Act and DDA Standards (Transport + Education + Premises).

Building Code of Australia (BCA) – National Construction Code (NCC).

Australian Standards – AS1428 / AS17356 / AS2890.6.

State Environmental Planning Policies – Seniors, Affordable Rental Housing and Flat Building Design (SEPP 65).

‘Accessible’ Housing – Livable (LHA), Adaptable (AS4299) and Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA).

Universal Design.

Consideration of human movement and functionality.

Local Council Planning Conditions and Social Housing.

At iAccess, we believe that designing for inclusivity and accessibility does not mean compromising aesthetic outcomes. With the early inclusion of iAccess’ service and expertise, the legal requirements for accessibility need not be a financial or implementation burden for the developer.


Our Standards

iAccess operates on the belief that inclusivity is at the heart of accessibility. Accordingly, our practice has been built on these key principles:

Individuality – recognition that planning the built environment must consider the abilities of everyone.

Interaction – clear communication to ensure that our clients are comfortable, aware and well supported.

Independence – a respect for individual autonomy and a desire to create spaces in the built environment which enables safe and independent access.

Integrity – a promise that all our clients and end users will be properly considered with the highest level of dignity and respect.

iAccess’ work has highlighted the many instances in our built environment where accessibility may have been considered but inclusivity has not been prioritised.

It is our primary goal to ensure that accessibility and inclusivity are terms used in tandem throughout the design process to ensure equitable use of all spaces by the whole community – no one should be excluded.



Our Vision

In recent years new laws and reforms have been enacted to better reflect the community and those who access the built environment or any building within it. Though these laws are well intentioned and have led to great strides in accessibility and community understanding, they are not sufficient to best represent both the client’s needs and the needs of the end user.

A major focus for iAccess over the next decade will be to better these laws by advocating for them to be streamlined, removing contradictions between legislation.

Our Goal

Our goal is to encourage the building industry to understand the social and economic benefits of inclusivity and accessibility rather than feeling like a ‘disability tax’ has been imposed.

At the core of iAccess’ practical focus is a unique mantra to never disrupt the design, but instead to support and enhance the design itself.

Over the last 25 years great change has been made in this sector and a more vibrant community exists because of it. Now it is our mission to ensure that significantly greater change occurs in the next 25 years, such that equitable access for all is simply a given.