January 24, 2024, Traditional territory of the xʷməθkwəy ̓əm (Musqueam) First Nation / Richmond, B.C. – The Rick Hansen Foundation is pleased to announce that nominations are now being accepted for the Difference Maker of the Year awards for the 2023-2024 school year. Since 2000, the Rick Hansen Foundation School Program (RHFSP) celebrates and recognizes youth, youth groups, and classrooms from ages five to 18 making a positive impact in their school and community through the Difference Maker of the Year awards.
Award recipients are leaders in making a positive impact for inclusion and accessibility for people with physical disabilities in their school and community. From now until April 7, 2024 teachers and students can nominate exceptional individuals, youth groups and classrooms for their outstanding contributions to improving the lives of people with disabilities.
“We continue to be impressed with the exciting ways our past Difference Maker recipients are creating change in their schools and communities,” says Amanda Basi, Senior Director of Programs at the Rick Hansen Foundation. “Interest in the awards continues to grow year over year and we are inspired to see this increased attitudinal change among youth across Canada. This year we can’t wait to see who will be nominated and for us to share the recipients during National AccessAbility Week in late May.”
Award recipients are chosen by a selection committee that consists of previous DifferenceMaker of the Year award recipients and members of the RHFSP Youth Leadership Committee. Individual award recipients will each receive an honorarium of $500 to recognize their work, while classrooms and youth groups will receive $1,000 to share.
Criteria for nomination eligibility includes:
· Youth between ages 5-18 (individuals or groups).
· Have positively impacted accessibility and inclusion in the classroom, school, and/or community benefiting persons with vision, hearing, and/or mobility disabilities.
· Have addressed a community need of persons with disabilities and involved people with disabilities in the solution.
· Majority of the project completed between May 1, 2023 – April 7, 2024.
· Resident(s) of Canada.
· Nominee(s) have consented to being nominated.
· Self-nominations must provide a reference from an unrelated adult that has direct knowledge of the individual and the project or activity undertaken.
· Must not have received an RHFSP Difference Maker of the Year award in the past.
Nominations close on April 7, 2024. Get inspired with unique ways to make a difference in your school or community with the Starter Kit. For more information on the awards, and profiles of past recipients visit our website.
About the Rick Hansen Foundation
The Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) was established in 1988, following the completion of Rick Hansen’s Man In Motion World Tour. For over 35 years, RHF has worked to raise awareness, change attitudes, and remove barriers for people with disabilities. The RHFSchool Program strives to inspire the next generation of accessibility and inclusion champions through no charge resources in both English and French for students from kindergarten to grade twelve. The program also provides powerful presentations to schools and classrooms by ambassadors with varying disabilities. Visit www.rickhansen.com/schools to learn more.
RHF Media Contact:
Cynnamon Schreinert, Hartley PR
Cynnamon@hartleypr.com
604-802-2733