"Prior to becoming an RDI Consultant I had a private speech and language practice. I was struggling to keep enough clients to work, and struggling to feel competent with the autism population. The RDI Training and on going learning involved in being in the field has provided me with an invaluable set of tools to work with and help families with. It has also provided me with an amazing group of other therapists to think and learn through. As a result, my practice is very busy. I am invited often to speak and share my knowledge with parent and professional groups. I have opportunities to join into meaningful research and to help develop useful ways to help families with the remediation of autism. I feel that I am able to inspire and mentor others as well as continue to learn and grow in this field on a daily basis." –Amy Cameron, M.A., CCC-SLP

The beauty of being a Consultant comes from the artistry implicit in guiding parents. It is the Consultant’s responsibility to empower the parents, helping them to become more competent in their own abilities as guides to their children. The Consultant and the parents work as a team in reflecting, planning, and problem-solving. Now that you're familiar with our Consultant Training Program, here is the information that you will need to begin training and gain access to the Learning Support Community. 

The Certification Program is broken down into four steps:

Beginning Seminar 

Intermediate Seminar 

Professional Supervision 

Advanced Seminar 

We employ different methods of adult learning during our intensive seminars, including lectures, presentations, structured exercises and role plays, individual assignments, facilitated group discussion, case studies, and demonstrations. The Beginning and Intermediate Seminars focus heavily on the Family Guided Participation Program, while the Advanced Seminar concentrates on the Dynamic Education Program and other professional topics.  We encourage and highly recommend professionals attend the Beginning and Intermediate Seminars back-to-back as opposed to attending them separately.

Professional Supervision requires that each Consultant-in-Training (CIT) work with two families. Immediately upon completion of the Intermediate Seminar, each CIT is matched with a RDI® Certified Consultant who has been given the status of Supervisor. Using the Dynamic Consultation Tool, CITs upload their consultations and appropriate paperwork and receive feedback. Consultants-in-training return for the Advanced Seminar as soon as they’ve met their professional supervision pre-requisites. Typically, the entire Certification Program is completed in approximately 18 months. 

Pre-Requisites:

• Professionals must have a bachelor degree prior to applying.
• Professionals must read The RDI® Book prior to applying.
• Professionals must submit a completed Application for Certification to the Professional Training Coordinator, Laura Morehead, morehead@rdiconnect.com. Once your application has been accepted, we will mail you an official Contract for RDI Program Certification. Upon receipt of signed contract for the Consultant Training Program, we will contact you to complete your registration. 

 2011 Dates:

November 1-4, 2011: Advanced Seminar
November 29- December 2, 2011: Beginning Seminar
December 5-8, 2011: Intermediate Seminar 

2012 Dates:

April 17-20, 2012: Advanced Seminar
June 19-22, 2012: Beginning Seminar
June 25-28, 2012: Intermediate Seminar
October 16-19, 2012: Advanced Seminar
November 27-30, 2012: Beginning Seminar
December 3-6, 2012: Intermediate Seminar

Seminar Basic Info:

Our four-day seminars are held at our training facility in Houston, Texas. All seminars are facilitated by Dr. Steven Gutstein and/or Dr. Rachelle Sheely.  Seminar hours are typically 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Currently, all seminars are presented in the English language. All participants need to be proficient in reading, writing and speaking English.

Costs:

If attending the Beginning and Intermediate Seminars Back-to-Back: Reservations for the back-to-back Beginning and Intermediate Seminars require a $3520 (USD) non-refundable, non-transferable deposit. A second payment of $3520 will be charged ten business days prior to Beginning Seminar. This covers registration for the Beginning and Intermediate Seminars, as well as Professional Supervision.* 

If attending the Beginning and Intermediate Seminars individually: The cost of each seminar is $2200. Reservations require a 50% non-refundable, non-transferable deposit with the balance due ten business days prior to seminar. Supervision is $2640. It can be paid in full or divided up into two 50% non-refundable payments (first payment is due when registering for the Intermediate Seminar and balance due ten business days prior to Intermediate seminar). 

The cost of the Advanced Seminar is $2200. Reservations require a 50% non-refundable, non-transferable deposit with the balance due ten business days prior to the Advanced Seminar. Prices are subject to change.

Payment is through credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express) or cashier's checks from American banks. In case of an emergency, there is a $300 non-refundable administrative fee if a transfer to another seminar is necessary. We regret that we do not accept checks. 

Discounted rates for hotel and transportation to and from the training facility during seminar dates are available. (Please contact Laura for current discounts, morehead@rdiconnect.com.) Lunch is provided each day of the seminars.  

Parents who wish to apply:

If you are a parent of a child participating in a RDIconnect Program, your letter of recommendation (in the Application for Certification) must be from your RDI® Consultant. The letter must include the following:  He/She must verify that you and your partner/spouse have mastered all parent objectives of the Family Guided Participation Program and are currently working in the Dynamic Education Program, he/she must verify that you and your partner/spouse have consistently met with him/her every two weeks over the last six months, and he/she must verify that you and your partner/spouse have consistently submitted video clips to your consultant of your work with your child through the Dynamic Consultation Tool over the last six months.

*Prices are in USD and are subject to change.