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  4. Currently selected Darby Lee Young Adds to Accessibility Expertise Through RHFAC Training
Darby Lee Young who has short blonde hair cut in a bob. Darby is wearing a striped blazer, a floral shirt and shiny blue shoes. She is laughing and is using a motorized mobility device.

Darby Lee Young Adds to Accessibility Expertise Through RHFAC Training

Katie Kirker By Katie Kirker On February 27, 2023 Community Spotlight

Darby Lee Young started her accessibility consultation business in 2015. Level Playing Field works to remove barriers and create a more accessible world. As an accessibility expert with lived experience as a person with a disability, Young wanted to learn as much as she could, which included taking Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility CertificationTM (RHFAC) Training.

The RHFAC Training course teaches individuals how to use the RHFAC methodology to rate buildings on their level of meaningful access for people living with physical disabilities affecting their hearing, vision, and mobility. Upon successful completion and passing the subsequent RHFAC Professional exam, individuals will obtain their RHFAC Professional designation, qualifying them to conduct RHFAC ratings for existing buildings and pre-construction plans.

“A lot of people are interested in obtaining RHF Accessibility Certification for their projects. It brings in a lot of work to me as an individual and us at Level Playing Field,” Young said.

Notable Projects

Young has worked on a variety of projects as an RHFAC Professional including the Parkdale Community Rink: the first outdoor rink to achieve RHFAC Gold in Canada.

“We worked with LOLA Architecture in reviewing the drawings and commenting on accessibility features,” Young explained. “We did site audits to make sure it was as accessible as possible.”

The community rink opened in January 2022, and is a site where people of all ages and abilities can enjoy the space to its full potential. The rink also won the City of Calgary’s Advisory Committee on Accessibility Universal Design Award for 2022.

Another project Young is working on is conducting RHFAC ratings at all 180 buildings on the University of Manitoba campus – a combined area of over six million square feet.

“We are providing recommendations and building information so the client can determine what accessibility features work, which don’t meet the standard, and what to improve so that they can develop a prioritization strategy,” Young said.

Beginning with the request for proposal process, Young has also been involved with the aquatic center project in Yellowknife, NWT. Through a variety of site visits, she id using her RHFAC knowledge to participate on the design, construction and the public engagement process so far.

She will continue to be engaged as the project progresses in the hopes of developing an accessible aquatic center for all to enjoy.

Access for All

Darby Lee Young who has short blonde hair cut in a bob. Darby is wearing a striped blazer, a floral shirt and shiny blue shoes. She is laughing and is using a motorized mobility device.

To Young, accessibility means “there is hope for independence.”

"I’m a very independent person and I like to do things myself. When I can’t get into a space, it’s very frustrating,” Young said. “Accessibility is important for people with disabilities to get out and be involved in every aspect of society.”

Accessibility must account for so many different disabilities. Considerations are vast and must be incorporated in tandem to create a universally accessible space.

“My biggest goal is getting people to understand that there is more to accessibility than just those using a wheelchair.” Young said.

“Whether it’s in life, work, or your community. We need to see people as people rather than as their disability.”

Related articles

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Sherry Hastings is Excited to Create Accessible Buildings as an RHFAC Professional
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Michelle Mahoney Finds New Opportunities Through RHFAC Training
Building on the water lit up at night with boats in the foreground
River Rock Casino Resort Achieves RHF Accessibility Certification
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New CSA Standard for Accessible Housing

About the Author

Katie Kirker is currently working as the assistant on the marketing and communications team. She has previously worked as a journalist reporting on policy. She is excited to bring that experience to the RHF team.

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