Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ Fundamentals Training
Intended for anyone interested in creating inclusive spaces, this 4‑week course provides learners with 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 case studies. Learners will also be introduced to Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ (RHFAC), a rating and recognition program that measures the meaningful accessibility of a site. There are no prerequisites to take this course. Join us on the journey towards an accessible world for people of all ages and abilities.
Note: This course does not qualify learners to obtain their RHFAC Professional designation; anyone looking to do so must complete RHFAC Professional Training.
1 Course | 4 Weeks | Approx. 20 Hours | Fully Online | Co-branded Certificate and Badge
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
You will:
- 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 frameworks affecting people with disabilities.
- Learn about the 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
- This course may be right for you if you are a professional who influences the meaningful access of people with disabilities in spaces. This includes
- Contractors and builders
- Human resources and office managers
- Urban planners
- Disability experts and advocate
- Event and venue managers
- Anyone involved in the management and operation of the spaces
WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY
"Very informative course that goes beyond the general public's understanding of both disabilities and accessibility. I think it should become standard for all managers and supervisors to take the Fundamentals course to improve their basic knowledge of disabilities and accessibilities." —Sara Cummings, MBA, PMP
"The RHFAC Fundamentals Training equipped me with a robust foundation in accessibility standards, assessment methodologies, and practical strategies for improving accessibility. I feel much more confident in my ability to advocate for and implement accessibility best practices moving forward." — RHFAC Fundamentals Student, 2024
- This is a fully online, self-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.
Winter Virtual Sessions
One-hour weekly sessions will run on Mondays from 12 PM in the Mountain Time Zone. There are four (4) virtual sessions in total. Below are the session dates and times in various time zones.
| Date | Pacific Time (PT) | Mountain Time (MT) | Eastern Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 January, 2025 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | 12:00 - 1:00 PM | 2:00-3:00 PM |
| 27 January, 2025 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | 12:00 - 1:00 PM | 2:00-3:00 PM |
| 03 February, 2025 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | 12:00 - 1:00 PM | 2:00-3:00 PM |
| 10 February, 2025 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | 12:00 - 1:00 PM | 2:00-3:00 PM |
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.
Gail Martiri
Gail has 20+ years of experience in universal design, government relations, product regulation, and strategic consulting. Since 2018, Gail has been a Certified Aging in Place Professional and in 2019 completed the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification Program (RHFAC). Gail has wide experience in accessibility consulting and has completed RHF accessibility assessments for both new construction projects and existing built facilities.
Her projects include ratings in a wide range of sectors from government and private sector office buildings, to education institutions, recreational overnight camps for children, and cultural organizations. Past clients include Carleton University, Tafelmusik, Emmanuel United Church, the Canadian Mental Health Association, and Camp Fire Circle. In addition, Gail leads a design team dedicated to upgrading homes and businesses to be both beautiful and accessible for all.
There are no prerequisites or previous experience required.
No formal admissions requirements. Enroll directly to start making spaces more accessible.
- Automatically receive your certification and badge upon completing the modules and quiz through the Brightspace system. You will receive a co-branded Certificate and Digital Badge for RHFAC Fundamentals from the Rick Hansen Foundation and the University of Alberta. This credential showcases your commitment to fostering accessibility and inclusion.
- 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.
- This course is not a prerequisite to take the RHFAC Professional Training and does not qualify learners to obtain their RHFAC Professional designation.
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.
Privacy
Protection of Privacy - Personal information provided is collected in accordance with Section 33(c) of the Alberta Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (the FOIP Act) and will be protected under Part 2 of that Act. Your personal information such as your name, contact information, and completion will be shared with the Rick Hansen Foundation. Should you require further information about the collection, use and disclosure of personal information, please contact Manager, Online Education at online@ualberta.ca, Online Learning and Continuing Education, Enterprise Square, 10230 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, AB Canada T5J 4P6, 780 492 3830.If you have any questions, email us at cpe@ualberta.ca.
Please make sure to read our Terms and Conditions.
This course is offered in collaboration with the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility CertificationTM Program.
Available sessions:
| Date | Facilitateur | Méthode de livraison | Sièges restants | Prix | |
| 20 January - 16 February, 2025 | Gail Martiri | Online - Coached | 22 | $1,500.00 CAD |