What is RDI®
professional training?
A career path for individuals looking to change lives.
Change lives while empowering special needs children and their parents!
Classes will prepare professionals to work with special needs children and their parents.
We will equip trainees to empower parents through meaningful engagements.
Training includes learning the theoretical foundations behind Dynamic Intelligence.
The RDIconnect® Training Program is a unique educational program available for adults with credentials in a broad range of professional backgrounds and specialty areas. At the end of the program, students will gain certification that allows them to work with
families using the Relationship Development Intervention Program.
We train in general consulting principles including: ethics and managing the Certification Process, productive client communication, developing responsibility contracts, sensitive clinical interviewing, avoiding the 'instant expert' trap, and maintaining a 'win-win' position where both consultant and the family are cared for.
CASE STUDY
Why clients are loving us
Frequently asked questions
Training includes learning the theoretical foundations behind the core principles and goals of our programs as they apply to neural development, Dynamic Intelligence, communication, early childhood development, etiology and pathogenesis and myths vs. science.
The training course is $2,835 USD. We offer several payment plans that must be complete before the start of the course. They are outlined during the registration process. If scholarships for the Professional Training Course Part I become available, they are awarded on a first come, first serve basis upon request
A combination of lectures, small group discussions, actual parent training sessions, video reviews and case studies will equip trainees to empower parents through meaningful engagements. We meet each Wednesday evening virtually.
We are proud to be the only RDI official training centre in Canada and we offer training internationally as well.
Entering the RDI® Professional Certification Program represents a significant financial commitment, similar to other educational endeavors. Though RDIconnect® is not set up to receive any type of government financial aid for our programs, there are many ways to creatively secure the necessary finances. Many trainees have secured funding via grants and/or fellowships through private and governmental agencies and professional organizations. Some trainees make arrangements with their employers, who view helping cover costs as an investment in the future of their business. Still others look to small business or personal loans to seed their new career path. If trainees are located in Canada, BC, Alberta, and Ontario provide funding for families to implement RDI programs. The supervision portion (part 2) of RDI Professional Training requires that trainees work with an “Supervision family” through a series of projects. Parents will pay for this service which can also help to offset the cost of training. If parents are also seeking to become trained RDI professionals, they may be able to use some of their funding to cover the cost of training. Payment plans can also be made available. Please feel free to book a time to chat with the director should you have questions about the professional training tuition.
RDI™ consultants come from all kinds of educational / experiential backgrounds and a wide range of disciplines. All are welcome to apply as long as you meet the pre-requisites. Some exceptions may apply. If you are in doubt, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Applications typically take 2-3 business days to process.
Classes sizes are limited and occasionally fill up; therefore, it is best to give yourself plenty of time to apply – ideally at least one month prior to the date of the first class.
Because our programs rely on rebuilding the early-guided relationship between parent and child, it is imperative that there is an outside perspective to guide you in this process. The assessment from a third party gives clues to obstacles that are not readily apparent to parents and can provide a roadmap to moving forward. No matter what level of education or professional accomplishments, a parent might have, things change when it is your own child who needs help. Additionally, it is important that parents and their children be afforded the opportunity to focus on developing their guiding relationship first and foremost.
RDIconnect® does not assign these families to you; it is the trainee’s responsibility to recruit them. Here are a few ideas: 1) Ask a consultant for a referral. Many consultants have a heavy workload and are happy to refer. 2) Find and build relationships with potential clients. Where would families with Autism hang out in your community? Where are their support groups, etc? Connect with other professionals who support the autism community, let them know that about your training and that you are looking for families to work with. 3) Create some flyers or marketing materials. 4) RDI® consultants can also provide ideas for how to find a family, so pop into the discussion boards and ask for help! I will also share many ideas during training, and you will be given some tips to help build your caseload.
As a Consultant-in-Training you are functioning as an RDI® professional and we expect that you will receive professional fees for your services, which are real and valuable. It is typical that trainees charge a slightly reduced fee, but as a professional going into private practice, you will set your own fees and now is the time to begin thinking about this. Don't hesitate to ask our community of consultants or ask Lisa for advice about these practical matters.
Once you get through the first few projects with your supervision and case study families and begin to gain comfort with the curriculum, you are welcome and encouraged to add more families to your practice. Any additional families will not undergo supervision, though as a trainee you will continue to be supported.
Typically, the entire process can be completed in less than 18 months, depending on when you attend the trainings. Getting through the 14 supervision projects can realistically be done in 7-9 months, but it can also take much longer. Even if you are highly motivated, there are other factors at play including the commitment level of your families and their grasp of the material. You do not want to rush the process. If you feel like things are lagging, be sure and chat with your supervisor about this.
Each week through part 1 a & b, trainees will be given a homework assignment which will take 1-2 hours to complete. Self-paced learning is also provided for trainees to expand their learning at their own pace.
RDI is a parent coaching model which works beautifully for virtual work. While we prefer face to face sessions, we have worked successfully with clients using video conferencing platforms. Lisa has worked successfully with clients from all over the world for well over a decade. Online distance work has been one of the most rewarding aspects of her career in the ability to support and serve families that may not otherwise be able to access the very best guidance in helping their children achieve their greatest potential.
Your business will be what you make of it. You can decide how busy you want to be and how many clients you will serve at one time. You have the opportunity to be creative and design the kind of business you always dreamed of. An average caseload size would be anywhere between 10-20 families. Some consultants have developed creative ways to provide more services to groups of families at once.
That will depend on each consultant, supply and demand and their disciplines. Once certified rates can vary between $100 - $200 per hour. Many consultants also use packaged rates which can be beneficial in managing case loads and ensuring that parents are committed to the process.
RDI was developed based on the latest cutting-edge research. Founder, Dr. Steven Gutstein has spent well over 30 years continually engaging in a meta study of the best consensual research in the field of neuroscience, typical development and Autism. He has developed the clinical practice of RDI™ to deliver a clinically sound program based on progressive research. Additionally, there is a great deal of research supporting all aspects of RDI theory and this can be found on the RDI-LS and is cited in the “The RDI Book”. More RDI research can also be found here.
RDI® Professional Training Outline
Classes will prepare you to work with special needs children and their parents and focused on the remediation of Autism’s core deficits. Download the RDI Professional Training Outline.