Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ Professional Training

• This intensive 8-week course includes 6 modules on core competencies and 12 mini-modules applying the RHFAC rating system.
• Designed for part-time study, the course offers flexibility to professionals juggling career and personal commitments.
• The 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.
• Learners will also require the following assessment tools:
  • Measuring device (laser or tape)
  • Camera or phone (for taking photos)
  • Digital level (downloadable apps, such as iHandy, are available)
  • Door pressure gauge (luggage scale works well)
• 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.
• Course readings and course work is estimated to take approximately 60 hours or 7 to 8 hours weekly, over 8 weeks.
• The course will be graded based on quizzes, required course learning activities, and final course assignment submission.

Winter Virtual Sessions

Two-hour weekly sessions will run once per week on Thursdays from 4:30 - 6:30 PM in the Mountain Time Zone. There are eight (8) virtual sessions in total. Below are the session dates and times in various time zones. 

Links to access the virtual sessions will be posted in the course.

Your RHFAC instructors are not just educators— they are seasoned professionals and recognized accessibility experts, bringing real-world experience that enriches the learning environment.

Patricia Short

Pat has over a decade of experience as an adult educator and 30-plus yearsof prior experience in information technology, business and engineering.

She has worked for prominent organizations, including Sierra Systems Group, Bank of Nova Scotia, BMW and Bell Canada. In 2014, Pat joined the Rick Hansen Foundation as a business systems analyst and training developer. However, she wanted to apply her professional background and skills to do something that would make a difference in the community. Accordingly, in 2016, she joined the inaugural Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification Program (RHFAC) development team as lead designer of the course curriculum. The course is now offered at multiple institutions across Canada and won a United Nations award, “Innovative Practice 2020 on Inclusive Education and ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) for Rating-Based Training of Accessibility Assessors” from the Zero Project. The Zero Project’smission is to support the implementation of the Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities of the United Nations and to work for a world without barriers: https://zeroproject.org/practice/pra201387can-factsheet/

In her role as primary instructor, Pat has taught the course at Vancouver Community College (VCC), Nova Scotia Community College and Athabasca University. In 2022, Pat also developed a BC Housing-approved online course for the SAFERhome Standards Society targets licensed builders and focuses on providing solutions based on aging in place and universal design.

One of the best ways of learning something is to teach it. And the best teachers are often those who regularly apply what they teach. Accordingly, in 2019, Pat set up a company, PeopleFirst Accessibility Solutions, to provide accessibility training and consulting services to large public and private sector organizations. Past projects include organizations such as VCC, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, and The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC).

Pat is a Registered Professional Engineer in British Columbia (EGBC) and Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ (RHFAC) Professional. Her academic qualifications include a BSc in Civil Engineering from Queen’s University, an MBA from York University, a Certificate in Computing Studies from Simon Fraser University, a Provincial Instructor Diploma (PIDP) from VCC and a Certificate in eLearning/Online Instruction from VCC.

No formal admission process is required, however, the Rick Hansen Foundation has course pre-requisites. They are: 

• a certificate or at least one year of completed post-secondary studies in architecture, building construction, civil engineering, urban planning, interior design or a related program; or
• a Journeyman Certificate of Qualification in a designated trade related to building construction; or
• an engineer (or eligible for registration as an engineer); or
• an architect (or eligible for registration as an architect); or
• an architectural or engineering technologist or technician; or
• a minimum of five years of construction experience; or
• an equivalent combination of lived experience and work experience in the built environment.

By enrolling in this course, you attest that you meet the prerequisite requirements. Refunds will not be granted to learners who have enrolled, but do not meet course prerequisites.

Important 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.

If you are unsure, contact cpe@ualberta.ca.

Enroll at your convenience to start enhancing your skills in accessible design.

• Upon successful completion, you will automatically receive a co-branded certificate and digital badge from the University of Alberta and the Rick Hansen Foundation to showcase your expertise and be eligible to take the RHFAC Professional Exam and qualify for an RHFAC Professional designation. 
• Learners have 6 months from receiving their certificate to complete the RHFAC Professional Exam. Note: The RHFAC Professional Exam must be booked separately.
• This pro­gram is non-cred­it and does not count towards a Uni­ver­si­ty of Alber­ta diplo­ma or cer­tifi­cate pro­gram. It will not impact your GPA and you will not see it on your tran­script. 

International Students are welcome to enroll with no differential fees. Ensure a stable internet connection and proficient English for full participation.

Accessibility

We strive to make our courses as accessible as possible, but if you have any concerns or questions, please contact cpe@ualberta.ca.

To learn more about accessibility, please visit Brightspace Accessibility Standards for the learning environment are available via Accessibility Standards | D2L. The course has been developed in Articulate Rise. To learn more about accessibility with this tool, please visit Rise 360 Accessibility Conformance Report, and to learn more about Keyboard Navigation, visit Rise 360: Keyboard-Accessible Navigation. We strive to make our courses as accessible as possible, but if you have any concerns or questions, please contact cpe@ualberta.ca.

System Requirements

This course is delivered on RHF Portal, which is the University of Alberta’s Partner Learning Space, Brightspace by D2L. For more information about system requirements, go to Browser Support for Brightspace to understand the system requirements for optimal performance.

This course also uses Zoom, and links to both the Accessibility Professional Network and RHF Registry.

Privacy

If you have any questions, email us at cpe@ualberta.ca.

Please make sure to read our Terms and Conditions.