Designing For Everyone: How RHFAC and Jensen Hughes Strengthen Project Outcomes

Across global markets, clients are increasingly expected to deliver environments that are not only safe and functional but also inclusive. Accessibility and universal design have become essential components of project quality, user experience and long‑term resilience. At Jensen Hughes, we approach projects holistically. Meaningful access starts with understanding where barriers exist. Jensen Hughes has experts on staff who use the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ (RHFAC) rating system to review accessibility and identify barriers in buildings and sites, applying universal design principles.

Elevating Project Quality with RHFAC

The RHFAC program provides a structured pathway for training professionals to assess existing and pre-construction buildings and sites for meaningful access. Through foundational coursework, advanced training and a formal exam, RHFAC Professionals bring a combination of technical knowledge and human‑centered insight to project teams.

What this brings to your projects:

• Better decision‑making early in design, reducing costly changes later
• Clear, evidence‑based recommendations that go beyond minimum code requirements
• A deeper understanding of user needs, including people with disabilities, aging adults and individuals with temporary limitations
• Environments that are easier to navigate and more welcoming for all users

RHFAC helps shift accessibility from a compliance obligation to a design asset – one that enhances safety, usability and long‑term value.

A Practical, User‑Focused Approach

We take a practical, solutions-oriented approach grounded in universal design principles. Working closely with project teams across residential, institutional, commercial, sporting, infrastructure and event-focused developments, we integrate accessibility seamlessly while maintaining architectural vision. Our methodology draws on lived experience and considers a broad spectrum of needs, addressing both visible and invisible disabilities, and accounting for diverse users including families, older adults and individuals experiencing temporary illness, injury or fatigue. This holistic perspective ensures that accessibility strategies create genuinely inclusive environments rather than simply meeting compliance requirements.

Seamless Integration with Other Disciplines

Accessibility is most effective when it is coordinated with other design considerations. We integrate accessibility consulting with building code analysis, safety by design and environmentally sustainable design. This helps clients achieve:

• Consistency across regulatory and performance requirements
• Reduced project risk through coordinated reviews
• Design outcomes that support long‑term operational resilience

Why This Matters for Clients

Globally, expectations around accessibility are rising – driven by demographic shifts, evolving regulations and a growing recognition that inclusive environments benefit everyone. Projects that prioritize accessibility and universal design tend to:

• Perform better over time
• Serve a wider range of users
• Strengthen community trust and brand reputation
• Reduce lifecycle costs associated with retrofits or user complaints

By combining the structured expertise of RHFAC Professionals with the global, multidisciplinary capabilities of Jensen Hughes, clients gain a clearer path to delivering environments that are safe, intuitive and inclusive for all.