Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ (RHFAC) Fundamentals Training
Table of Contents
Course 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.
Program video link: https://youtu.be/e2UnVIt8mjc
Ontario residents may be eligible for a grant covering 100% of the RHFAC course fee, contingent on residency and completion of the final survey. To apply, contact accessibility.institute@carleton.ca with your full name, full mailing address, and phone number. Eligible participants will receive instructions to register at no cost.
Register Now
What You Will Learn
- 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. .
Who it’s Good For
The RHFAC Fundamentals Training is for individuals who want foundational knowledge about accessibility, specifically to understand the needs of people with disabilities and how physical spaces can be made more accessible and welcoming. It is suited to those seeking a baseline understanding of accessibility in the built environment, without requiring prior technical or professional prerequisites.
Course at a Glance
This is a fully online, paced course.
- Learners will have 4 weeks to complete the course from the course start date.
- On average, if you do all the readings and reflective work, this course will take approximately 20 hours.
- The RHFAC Fundamentals Training consists of 3 modules and contains video interviews of people with lived experience and leading subject matter experts, and case studies. They are:
- Module 1: Understanding Disability
- Module 2: Understanding our Built Environment
- Module 3: Measuring Accessibility in the Built Environment
- This course includes weekly one-hour virtual sessions and online discussions facilitated by a coach to support peer learning. Sessions will be recorded but attendance is highly recommended for peer learning.
- To successfully complete the course, learners will be required to take 3 module quizzes and earn a passing grade of 80% or higher on each.
- Learners will be issued a certificate and a badge upon successful completion of the course.
- Course materials will be available for “view-only” access 1 month after the end of the 4-week course.
- Join learners from different partner institutions in one offering.
Course Delivery
Fully online, self-paced course. Weekly one-hour virtual sessions and online discussions.
Virtual Sessions
Weekly 1-hour live session with the course instructor;
October 12 – November 6, 2026: Wednesdays 2:30 – 3:30 pm
March 22 – April 16, 2027: Thursdays 2:30 – 3:30
June 7 – July 2, 2027: Wednesdays 2:30 – 3:30
Course Instructor
Gail Martiri
How to apply and qualifications
No prerequisites required. This course does not qualify learners to obtain their RHFAC Professional designation; anyone looking to do so must successfully complete RHFAC Professional Training.
Receiving your certificate
Upon successful completion, you will receive a certificate of completion.
Cost
$950 CAD + Applicable Taxes
Accessibility and System Requirements
-
This course is delivered on the Rick Hansen Foundation Training Portal.
Supported browsers: current or previous major releases of Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari.
-
To learn more about accessibility, please visit Canvas Accessibility. We strive to make our courses as accessible as possible, but if you have any concerns or questions, please contact training@rickhasen.com
Questions: If you have any questions or would like additional information about the RHFAC Fundamentals, please email Accessibility.Institute@carleton.ca.