Access Design

We collaborate with architects, designers, and project managers to create user-centred spaces that prioritise accessibility and inclusion. Our services include reviewing architectural schematics and existing sites, consulting with users to understand their needs, identifying barriers, and providing tailored recommendations to ensure compliance while fostering functional, welcoming environments.

We draw on a range of guidelines and standards to inform our practice, including:

• CSA/ASC B651, Accessible Design for the Built Environment

• CSAZ8000:24, Canadian Health Care Facilities

• CSA/ASC B652, Accessible Dwellings

• CAN/ASC-2.8, Accessible-Ready Housing

• CSA/ASC B651.2, Accessible Design for Self-Service Interactive Devices, Including Automated Banking Machines

• Provincial legislation, including the AODA IASR O. Reg. 191/11, Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (S.O. 2005, c.11)

• Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Universal Design Guide

• Gallaudet University DeafSpace Design Principles

• CNIB Clearing Our Path Design Guidelines

• CMHC Affordable Housing Fund Accessibility Criteria

• Trauma-Informed Design Elements

Fees

Rates vary according to the size and complexity of your site.

We offer professional attestation services to confirm project compliance with applicable accessibility standards and funders' accessibility criteria. Each attestation is grounded in a thorough and detailed accessibility analysis.

Our attestations provide assurance to funders and stakeholders, supporting accountability, reducing risks, and enabling informed decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.

Obtain a detailed rating from a Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ Program Designated RHFAC Professional. An RHFAC Rating provides a snapshot of the overall level of meaningful access of an existing site.

About RHFAC Rating

Ratings are risk-free. Only sites that reach a certain certification level are eligible to be certified and be publicly listed.

The RHFAC Rating differs from our accessibility review services in that:

With an RHFAC rating, you have the potential to certify your site for accessibility and showcase it with a logo provided directly by the Rick Hansen Foundation.

RHFAC complements existing building codes by using a universal rating scale that assesses levels of meaningful access nationally.

The rating report provides an assessment but doesn’t include specific recommendations or action prioritization. For further support, we offer additional services to help guide your next steps in making improvements.

About RHFAC Certification

RHFAC offers two levels of certification: RHF Accessibility Certified Gold and RHF Accessibility Certified. The certification level for a Site is determined by: 

• Achieving the minimum rating score; and;

• Meeting the mandatory certification requirements (Note: Additional mandatory certification requirements apply in order to become Accessibility Certified Gold). 

• Sites that have achieved RHF Accessibility Certification can celebrate their commitment to accessibility by posting your label publicly on the RHFAC Registry.

• Pre-construction certification only applies to design plans. After your site is built, you can choose to get the completed building RHFAC rated to maintain your certification.

• A site is considered certified when it has been adjudicated and approved by an Adjudicator, and the site has received an official Letter of Certification issued by the RHFAC program on the RHFAC Registry.

Fees

Your RHFAC Professional Rating Fee will vary according to the size and complexity of your site. It will include the on-site visit as well as the submission of the rating to the RHFAC Registry for adjudication. The RHFAC Professional Fee is payable directly to AccessAdvance Consulting Inc.

Please contact us for rates and an estimate of the number of hours required to rate your Site. 

Adjudication through the RHFAC Registry for certification is payable directly to the Rick Hansen Foundation. See the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ (RHFAC) Pricing Overview for more information.

AccessAdvance Consulting provides comprehensive reviews and practical recommendations across a range of built environments. Our experience includes pre construction architectural drawing reviews, existing site accessibility audits, and system level evaluations. Our project experience spans the following areas:

• Ablution Stations

• Art Galleries

• Assembly Areas and Lecture Theatres

• Change Rooms

• Emergency Systems

• Exhibit Spaces

• Exterior and Interior Path of Travel

• Family and Nursing Rooms

• Fitness and Sports Facilities, including pools

• Food Services including dining halls and retail food outlets

• Garbage Rooms

• Garden beds

• Healthcare spaces (clinics and hospitals)

• Interior design consultations - optimizing furniture layouts, furnishings, and material selection to enhance accessibility

• Kiosks

• Laboratories

• Landscaping

• Libraries

• Mail Areas

• Offices, Workspaces, and Meeting Areas

• Parking and Transportation

• Playgrounds

• Recreational Trails and Pathways

• Residential Units, single homes and multi-residential dwellings including non-profit housing co-operatives and student residences

• Respite and Sensory Rooms

• Shared Laundry Rooms

• Storage Facilities and Lockers

• Teaching Spaces

• Theatres - Live Performance Venues

• Wayfinding and Signage