RE Royalties continues its commitment to supporting important community initiatives with its recent $35,000 contribution to the Rick Hansen Foundation School Program (RHFSP).
Rooted in Rick Hansen’s belief in youth-driven change, the RHFSP provides lessons and activities for Kindergarten through to Grade 12 students focusing on disability, accessibility, and inclusion. Since 2001, RHFSP has supported educators and youth with and without disabilities across Canada, enabling them to become understanding and empathetic leaders.
RHFSP provides a valuable opportunity to learn about diversity, acceptance, and consideration of others – skills youth take with them into all aspects of their lives.
In addition to a robust online educator resource library, Difference Maker of the Year awards, and mentorship opportunities, RHFSP offerings include RHF Ambassador presentations to youth and online training for educators to equip them better to teach diversity, equity, and inclusion in their classrooms.
RE Royalties is proud to direct our corporate donation toward educator training and RHF in-person Ambassador presentations in British Columbia. Educators have expressed a need for more comprehensive training in inclusion and accessibility as it is not currently part of traditional teacher training. The Ambassador presentations are designed to open young minds and hearts to the value of human differences.
Ambassador presentations are led by a group of people with disabilities affecting their hearing, vision, and/or mobility who connect with children and youth, some of whom may not have ever knowingly interacted with somebody with a disability before.
At RE Royalties, giving back is ingrained in our culture. By actively engaging in initiatives that address societal needs, we aim to contribute to the overall well-being and resilience of the community in which we operate. This commitment extends beyond business interests; it embodies our belief in the shared responsibility of creating a more equitable and compassionate society.
Through supporting RHFSP, we reinforce our dedication to fostering positive change in our communities.
About the Rick Hansen Foundation School Program
More than 540,000 youth in Canada have one or more disabilities. This means 1 in 10 are at a higher risk of not completing high school and pursuing post-secondary education, resulting in a significant number of our population experiencing lower employment rates and poverty.
There is clear and consistent evidence that promoting inclusion in the classroom can result in substantial short-term and long-term benefits for students with and without disabilities. Several research studies indicate that implementing inclusion in the school equates to all students developing stronger skills in reading and mathematics, having a higher school attendance rate, being less likely to have behavioural problems, and being more likely to complete secondary school than those students who have been excluded, and as a result, left behind.
The wealth of free educational materials provided by RHFSP plays a pivotal role in promoting a more inclusive society, equipping educators and students with the knowledge to better understand and address the challenges faced by those with diverse abilities and backgrounds to contribute to a more accessible and inclusive Canada. It should be noted that, without RHFSP, educators are left to piece together lessons to support these essential teachings on their own. There is no program like it in this country.
True change begins with awareness, so equipping students with the knowledge and tools needed to create a more inclusive world is crucial. RHFSP materials are available through a comprehensive resource library with lessons, activities, storybooks, and videos, all designed around the principles of disability inclusion and accessibility. Everything is available at no cost in English and French with the click of a button.
About the Rick Hansen Foundation
In 1973, Rick Hansen, on his way home from a fishing trip, survived a car accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. As he learned how to navigate his community in a wheelchair, he also learned how to navigate people’s changed attitudes toward him.
In 1985, Rick set out to raise awareness about the potential of people with disabilities, completing a 26-month wheelchair marathon across 34 countries worldwide. The Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) was established in 1988 following the completion of his historic Man In Motion World Tour.
For 35 years, RHF has worked to raise awareness, change attitudes, and remove barriers for people with disabilities through its initiatives and programs, such as the RHFSP and RHF Accessibility Certification™.
RHF’s vision is an inclusive world where people with disabilities live to their full potential.