Rick Hansen Foundation

Join this virtual discussion tomorrow as Sarah McCarthy, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, Rick Hansen Foundation, joins an engaging panel discussion with a focus on removing physical barriers to access places Canadians live, work, learn and play. Full information in the below link.

We were honoured to have you join us at #APN2024 and appreciate you sharing the below image and information about the conference.

We wanted to share the below information from our friends at DAWN Canada who are actively recruiting for board members until May 19, 2024.

We are proud to partner with the VRCA - Vancouver Regional Construction Association to encourage its members to participate in RHFAC Fundamentals Training. Professionals in the construction industry are critical to ensuring the places we live, work, learn and play are more inclusive of everyone, everywhere. We're grateful to VRCA's leadership towards improved accessibility for people of all ages and abilities. For more information visit https://lnkd.in/g2ZGsySc

Next Thursday, we are honoured to have our VP of Strategic Initiatives, Sarah McCarthy, join CityTalk Live for an engaging panel discussion on “Beyond Obligation: How Can Cities Embrace Accessible Infrastructure?” The panel is described as: Canadians struggle every day to access the places where we live, work, learn and play because of physical barriers to accessibility. Almost 50% of adults have experienced a permanent or temporary physical disability or live with someone who has. Disability can affect anyone at any time regardless of their background, status, or circumstance.   Accessibility is a universal issue, and making our public spaces universally accessible unleashes our collective economic and social power. Canadians must recognize that accessibility is not just a legal obligation, but also an ethical and social responsibility.   Now more than ever, we need to incorporate tools that will encourage decision-makers to adopt an accessibility lens to all new infrastructure and continually apply innovation to enhance accessibility beyond code compliance.   Visit https://lnkd.in/gvmJSzTS for more details and to register.

As part of the National Disability Network, we are disappointed in Budget 2024’s underwhelming investment in the Canada Disability Benefit – a maximum amount of $2,400 annually, or $200 per month, or $6 per day. This investment will not achieve the Act’s goal of removing people with disabilities from poverty, and does not consider the official poverty line or the unique costs of living as a person with a disability. In addition, the eligibility criteria is extremely restrictive and will limit many with disabilities from receiving the benefit. It simply is not enough.   41% of low-income Canadians live with a disability and 16.5% of people with disabilities in Canada live in poverty. While funding the Canada Disability Benefit in Budget 2024 is an important step forward, we call on the federal government to enhance the annual and monthly amount eligible to recipients by the 2024 Fall Economic Statement. Time is of the essence to enable financial independence for the disability community.

VRCA Partners with the Rick Hansen Foundation to Strengthen Commitment to Accessibility and Inclusivity We are proud to announce a new partnership with the Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF), a renowned national charity dedicated to eliminating barriers for individuals with disabilities and advancing accessibility in our communities. “Professionals in the construction industry are critical to ensuring the places we live, work, learn and play are more inclusive of everyone, everywhere. We’re grateful to VRCA’s partnership and leadership towards improved accessibility for people of all ages and abilities,” said Rick Hansen, Founder of the Rick Hansen Foundation. VRCA members are encouraged to register for an introductory lunch and learn session on Thursday, May 9, 2024. During this session, they will learn more about the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ (RHFAC) Fundamentals Training and discover key principles of meaningful access. Register for the Introductory Webinar here: https://lnkd.in/gGRb95k2 Find the full announcement here: https://lnkd.in/g2ZGsySc

Embracing diversity means more than just acceptance—it's about actively creating an environment where every individual can excel. I’m proud that our Foundation’s workplace embraces diversity with minor yet impactful adaptations. From adjustable desks catering to various heights and needs, offering the flexibility for remote work, to automatic door openers and widened doorways, small modifications can have a big impact on fostering an environment where everyone can thrive. Accessibility isn't just a feature; it's a fundamental aspect of our culture. #InclusiveWorkspace #AccessibilityInAction

Rick Hansen Foundation is providing free educational resources for kiddos! Download lessons plans, activities, videos and e-books, that follow curricula from every Canadian province, to teach kids about inclusion and accessibility. Scotiabank #AccessiblePlay #AccessiblePlayground #Inclusion #Disability https://lnkd.in/guyR33Wt

Understanding your current level of accessibility and how to improve shouldn’t be hard. Organizations undertaking accessibility ratings will now have an easier time making informed data-based decisions from their rating results. The new online RHFAC Registry includes improved features such as an interactive rating survey; real-time scoring so organizations can collaborate with their RHFAC Professional prior to adjudication; new data exporting capabilities for in-depth analysis across multiple sites; and a promotional package to celebrate your achievement!   We’re proud to support organizations big and small on their journey towards improved accessibility. Check out the new user friendly registry at https://lnkd.in/gqPtxWtd and sign up to start your journey towards improved access today!