CHAT FAQ

Who is the Dr. Sheely's chat for?
Dr. Sheely's Chat is for anyone interested in the RDI® Program - parents, professionals or adults who are new to the RDI® Program and want to get more information about it, as well as for those who have already started an RDI® Program.

Who is Dr. Gutstein's chat for?
While any parent is welcome to log onto Dr. Gutstein's chat and to "listen in," to actively participate in Dr. Gutstein's chat, you must currently be working with a Certified Consultant or Consultant-in Training, have attended a 4-day Parent Seminar, or have attended Dr. Gutstein's on-line chats for more than a year.

Are there set topics for the chats?
To see if there is a set topic for any particular week, check the Live Chat Schedule.

When are the chats?
The Parent Chats are regularly scheduled for Tuesday evenings, 8 pm CST in North America. If you live in another time zone, see what time the chats are in your local area. For any last-minute changes to the Chat Schedule, check the web site Live Chat Schedule .

What is the “etiquette” in the Connections Center Chat Rooms for asking questions?

Dr. Sheely says: "Feel free to throw a statement or question out there. To keep answers to each person straight, I usually put the person's log-in name at the beginning of my response. If you are directing a comment to another person, that's often a good idea, as the chats can sometimes move very quickly. There's often many threads (of different questions and answers) to follow, so don't worry about that. There are often four or five topics going on at the same time!

You'll love it but get ready for some chaos! The first time I was on, I thought my head would burst; now I jump in and out like everybody else. The first time I was on, I couldn't follow anything. Now I sort of love the chaotic nature--reminds me of being a teenager."

Dr. Gutstein says: "We often have three threads going on at once. You can ask anything related to the topic."

What if my question does not get answered?
We're here to talk to you and answer your questions. Sometimes questions are missed due to the chaos, a lack of time, or another topic might have “taken over.”If your question isn't answered, please come again and ask another time!

What else should someone new to on-line Chats know?

Log-in Name / Safety and Security
When you log in, you will be asked to provide a user name. For security, feel free to use a nickname, first name and last initial, or first name and state, etc.

How to be “seen” better
During the chat it is easier for you to be “seen” if you use a different color (preferably a dark color rather than a light one). To change your text color, click on the "Color" button which you will see in the row of buttons towards the bottom of the chat screen.

How do I leave the chat or log out?
Click on the "Logout" button which is last in the row of buttons towards the bottom of the chat screen.

How can I get help if I am having problems?
For technical help, check the Help Page (click on the Question Mark Button) or email the webmaster for Tech Support.