Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification Training

Important Information:

• Method of Delivery: Hybrid
• Approximate number of hours required: 20 hours
• Course Fees: $950.00 plus applicable taxes.

Description:

This four-week, online, self-paced course will provide you with the foundational knowledge to understand the needs of people with disabilities and how our physical spaces can be made more accessible. Enhance your knowledge and application of Universal Design and meaningful accessibility through video interviews of people with lived experience, leading subject matter experts, and case studies. This course will take approximately 20 hours to complete.

Who Is Eligible For This Training?

No prerequisites required

Learning Objectives

• Understand the scope and prevalence of disability in the community.
  Describe how people with disabilities experience the social and physical environment.
  Demonstrate confidence in communicating and interacting with people with disabilities.
  Learn about Universal Design and meaningful accessibility for people with disabilities, and how to apply them in the built environment.
  Gain knowledge of fundamental legal framework affecting people with disabilities.
  Learn about the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC) program, its benefits and methodology.
  Apply an Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) lens to projects/operations.
  Build a community by engaging and sharing with your peers.

Course Overview

• Fully online, self-paced course
• Participants will have 4 weeks to complete the course.
• This course includes weekly virtual sessions and online discussions facilitated by a coach. 

Important Information:

• Method of Delivery: Hybrid - Online and Zoom
• Approximate number of hours required: 60-hour course over 8 weeks
• Course Fees: $2,500 (excluding HST)

Note: The RHFAC Professional Training course provides training on the RHFAC rating and certification process to become designated RHFAC Professionals.

During this course, learners will be required to:

• Review and analyze detailed documents and construction drawings.
• Conduct site visits and collect data using equipment and tools such as measuring tape, slope reader, light meter, etc.
• Capture site features of the site using photography or other digital equipment.    

 Learners registering for the RHFAC Professional Training course should best determine how they would complete these tasks.

Description:

This course trains built environment professionals to understand the needs of people with disabilities and rate spaces with a meaningful accessibility and human-centered perspective. Through the application of the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ (RHFAC) methodology, you will learn practical skills needed to measure the accessibility of existing sites and incorporate a Universal Design lens to your new construction or renovation projects. Enhance your skills and demonstrate your commitment to access and inclusion by taking this 8-week course.

You must complete and successfully pass this course as one of the requirements to qualify for your RHFAC Professional designation. Prerequisites apply.  

Who Is Eligible For This Training?

Built environment professionals and students who design, operate and maintain spaces:

• Architects
• Civil engineers
• Building and interior designer
• Property managers
• Facility managers
• Accessibility consultants

Learning Objectives

• Understand the scope and prevalence of disability.
• Describe how people with varying types of disabilities experience the social and physical environment.
• Learn to apply Universal Design principles and a meaningful access lens to existing sites and pre-construction projects.
• Discuss the legal landscape and frameworks affecting people with disabilities.
• Learn about the RHFAC program, its benefits, methodology and the rating and certification process.
• Rate existing sites and pre-construction projects for meaningful access using the RHFAC Rating Survey.
• Communicate areas of success and improvements for an RHFAC rating.
• Understand construction projects and how RHFAC Professionals can be involved.

Course Overview

• This is a fully online, paced course.
• This course is 8 weeks in length, requiring a commitment of approximately 60 hours or 7 to 8 hours per week. Time varies depending on learners.  
• The RHFAC Professional Training consists of 6 modules on core competencies and 12 mini-modules focused on applying the RHFAC rating system.
• This course includes weekly two-hour live virtual sessions and online discussions facilitated by an RHFAC instructor.  Learners are required to attend the live sessions and must inform their instructor if they cannot attend. Sessions will be recorded but attendance of live sessions is required.
• The course will be graded based on quizzes, required course learning activities, and final course assignment submission.
• Learners will be issued a certificate and a badge upon successful completion of the course, which qualifies them to write the RHFAC Professional exam. Learners have 6 months from receiving their certificate to complete the RHFAC Professional exam.

Note: The RHFAC Professional exam must be booked separately by learners. 
Learners will receive a complimentary membership to the Accessibility Professional Network (APN) upon enrolment to download training materials, for a limited time

Course materials will be available for view-only access 6 months after the end of the 8-week course.