Training with Adam Thomas, Accessible Designer

Explore the CPD options, if you and your team are interested in training with Adam Thomas.

Adam Thomas seated at the large l-shaped cooking zone of his own kitchen. Adam beats eggs in a bowl. Green wall mounted wall units to centre back.

If you didn't already know, Adam has been working in kitchens since he was a trainee designer in his late teens. Following his injury he developed an interest in accessible kitchens and, after years of adapting standard furniture with his then employer Richard Smithies of Design Matters, they designed and launched Britain's first fully accessible high quality kitchen brand, Access Matters. Many years, and hundreds of wheelchair accessible kitchen designs later, Adam became a multi-award-winning designer with a global audience.

Over this time Adam developed a range of training courses for Occupational Therapists, Environmental Health Officers and Grant Officers and delivered them across England. He also began the second major campaign of this life; trying to explain the true cost of an accessible kitchen to Case Managers, Architects and Personal Injury Solicitors who were consistently undervaluing kitchens in their costs budgets. Around his design work he attended conferences to present and advocate for long-term solutions to access in the kitchen, and explain the 'why' behind his design principles. He also lectured for the inaugural Kitchen Design qualification at Buckinghamshire New University, and worked with leading designers such as Johnny Grey and Craig Mattson.

As Richard Smithies approached retirement, Adam set up his own design consultancy to promote accessible multigenerational design in the industry, and began talks with the Symphony Group Plc who had the vision and determination to pick up the baton and ask Adam whether he could make their existing kitchen ranges more accessible.

Ultimately, Symphony established the new Freedom by Symphony brand, and Adam continues to work with Symphony both as a consultant and ambassador, and supporting Symphony's designers in ongoing training. Freedom continues to grow in success and reach, providing an invaluable service to homes across the nation.

Large u-shaped wheelchair accessible kitchen in Hunter Green by Freedom by Symphony's Hudson range. Large peninsula to near left of image, tall units with integrated Neff ovens to centre, fixed height sink zone under window to centre, tall units to near right of image. Textured brass bar handles.

Against this backdrop Adam still offers training to those with an interest in access, costs, kitchen design and building regs. He can deliver a number of different CPD training courses from full day face to face training for OTs, to a lunchtime webinar for architects, case managers or personal injury solicitors. And anything in between.

Click on this link for a sample Learning Outcomes document for a full day's CPD workshop on the Principles of Accessible Kitchen Design specifically developed for Occupational Therapists.

If your team is interested in training from Adam Thomas in a specific area, or would like to discuss CPD training, speaking or guest lecturer appointment, get in touch with Adam to chat about your requirements.