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.
Peer to peer learning via one-hour virtual sessions will take place weekly. Discussions will be facilitated by an RHFAC Professional Instructor and sessions will be recorded.
RHFAC Professional Training learners 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 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 Should Take this Training?
- Built environment professionals and students including architects, civil engineers, and building and interior designers.
- Facility and property managers looking to improve building accessibility.
- Accessibility consultants and anyone involved in managing public and private spaces.
Who Should Take this Training?
- 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.
Upcoming Course:
One-hour weekly sessions run once per week, typically on Tuesdays from 2:00 – 3:00 PM (Eastern Time Zone). There are four (4) virtual sessions in total.
Winter: 19 January 2026 - 13 February 2026
20 January, 2026
27 January, 2026
03 February, 2026
10 February, 2026
Instructor: Pat Short
See more dates on the RAIC website.
RHFAC Fundamentals Training Course Prerequisites: No prerequisites required.
Certification: Upon successful completion, you will automatically receive a certificate.
Cost and Registration: Regular price: $1,500 + Applicable Taxes.
RAIC Member price: $1,350 + Applicable Taxes.