In the next 20 years, the number of Canadians with disabilities is expected to reach 9 million. The RHFAC Program works to help improve accessibility of the built environment in Canada, the places where we live, work, learn and play.

One in seven Canadian adults currently lives with a mobility, vision, or hearing disability. These Canadians struggle every day to grab coffee with a friend or interview for a job because of physical barriers to accessibility. Within the next 20 years, the number of Canadians with disabilities is expected to grow to more than 9 million - or one in five of us.

When the Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) came to Onlea with the goal of putting their flagship course online for the first time they were concerned with making it as engaging and effective as their in person course.

And yes, it had to meet their extremely high standards for accessibility. We embarked on a journey with the RHF team, working with subject matter experts at the foundation, as well as their Vice President: Access and Inclusion, Brad McCannell to review, retool and bring to life their existing material.

The resulting course includes, video work, case studies, interactive learning and even a virtual reality site inspection tool that will allow learners from anywhere in the world to do an assessment of a public building as though they were walking through it themselves. The course is available today via PowerED at Athabasca University. We’re very proud to have contributed to this important course that will change the country we live in for the better.

To learn more, visit PowerED™ at Athabasca University.