For this post we're spotlighting a webinar series for parents by RDI Consultant Kat Lee. This year-round series of webinars focuses on holidays, traditions and family events. Webinars are currently offered for parents and professionals who are using the RDI Program. To view one of Kat's webinars available for the general public, click here or on the link at the bottom of this post.

Kat, Please tell us a little bit about yourself.  

 My journey in autism started 15 years ago when my son was diagnosed with autism at age 2. I had enjoyed a career in radio/ TV for over a decade but it was time to go home to be with my son and daughter. We felt autism threatened our whole family and took a pro-active approach, involving ourselves in every area of our son’s treatment. I eventually became an ABA therapist and then became an RDI Program Certified Consultant. I have been certified for 6 years. I’ve been hosting RDILS webinars for almost two years, both for parents and professionals. 

Can you tell us a about your webinar series, how does it run and what is your topic of discussion? 

The series explores holidays, traditions and family events. We discuss how to incorporate RDI into these important times. In our series, we’ve talked about every thing from Halloween to family reunions to various religious holidays…whatever is important to the families, that is what we try to talk about.  It runs around every seasonal event we can think of…including our special series on summer vacation. It’s a year around  series and  the series is available in the archives of the RDILS for review any time by parents.

What is your main purpose for hosting these webinars? 

I have a practical reason and a heart reason. From a practical stand point, events offer us an opportunity to 1) have a multitude of natural activities which we can frame for our objectives ( i.e. at Valentines, we make Valentines cards for friends) 2) also, holidays and events serve as benchmarks. For  example, we can look at Valentines every year and think about where we were last year, where we are this year, and preview were we will be next year. My heart reason though is stronger. I don’t want autism to steal wonderful family event memories from the children or their families. Making Valentines cookies should be a wonderful family memory…family traditions are important and we carry them with us always. I want to ensure that our families have those wonderful memories with them forever. 

What surprises you most about doing webinars? 

I had not really made the connection to the webinars to the TV and radio work I did in the past. It’s really like a combination of the two for me. The radio was always live, the TV mostly recorded. This is a combination of both and I’m the ONLY one talking. No guests to talk to on the phone, no people to interview live. It’s challenging but I love it. For me, I’m using my old skills and my new and combining them and I hope, helping families. 

What have you learned from the webinar participants?

I’ve learned that the best ideas and creativity come from the parents who have been there/ done that. I’m very humbled by the vast amount of knowledge and wisdom our parents have. They come to be helped but our parents end up helping others by exchanging ideas and brainstorming together. It’s a beautiful thing!

What are some of the advantages of having access to the RDI community?

The biggest advantage is that every one has a life of expertise in some area…some skill, some life lesson they acquired long before autism, as well as after. We bring all of those skills, all of those wonderful minds together to help each other. 

What was one of your favourite webinar moments?

Really, my most favourite moments are those when it seemed like every thing was going to go wrong but every thing went more than right. For example, one webinar, my camera would not come up. I had to shut my computer down and it took forever to come up. I came back live at 7:05, said "let’s rock” and off we went. I would have thought it would bomb but it was one of the best ever…maybe all that excitement of whether it would “happen” or not. Or like the time when I had my cats locked out. They found a way in …I saw two little tails prancing by and they proceeded to have a huge fight. I calmly went on as though nothing was occurring. Later some one told me they could not even hear the cats, which made it all the more funny to me. That webinar too went very well despite the distraction. It was not quite the same as reading the news live and having some one moon me but almost!

But of course, the best times are when I know we have really helped some one. 

What has happened as a result of your hosting these webinars? 

I’ve found I want to do them more and more. I’m blessed by doing them, I always learn from who ever is there and a connection is made. It does not matter if only one person is there or even if no one is there because I know we will help some one in the archives. 

What are your future goals or aspirations? 

I’m so thankful to be where I am. I do believe in setting goals but I suppose mine are pretty basic…to continue to work as a family for my son’s best possible life, to continue to grow as a professional, being mentored by others and hopefully to help others by mentoring them. And mostly to be what I need to be to my wonderful children and husband. 

What do you hope parents take away from your webinar series? 

I hope they take away practical ideas and tips for their every day lives with their children. But  more than that, I hope they feel over all support from the community. Autism is a very lonely road for parents. I never want a parent to feel alone or unsupported.  I know that our community here on the RDIOS can provide that support, that help to other parents. I hope I’m able to be a part of that process through the webinars. 

 What defines a good webinar? 

A good webinar is any time that I am able to help even one person. I always  remember that while I may have several people there, I’m speaking to one person at a time…trying to assist them in their every day lives with their children…I never forget that there is a mom or dad on the other end of the  connection that needs help. 

To watch one of Kat Lee's webinars available for public viewing, please click on the image below. 

To contact Kat Lee, please email her at kat1216@aol.com.