DIR® C Clinical Specialist and Educator Certificate Program

Program Description: The DIR®C Program provides in-depth advanced levels of education to assure the quality and recognition of DIR® competencies. The program is designed for  licensed and credentialed professionals from different disciplines who apply DIR® principles and practices in their existing areas of expertise and specialization in their work with children with developmental, learning and infant mental health challenges.

Acquisition of the Certificate is based on the demonstration of clinical or educational competencies through case presentations at a minimum of two summer Institutes. Presentations need to include such features as: developmental, sensory processing, and caregiver-family profiles, dynamic clinical and/or educational formulations, short and longer term goals and stages of intervention process, comprehensive case management (if applicable) and intervention challenges, reflective practice, etc. 

To enter the Program you are expected to already have some range of experience in your discipline working within the DIR® framework to conduct assessment and intervention, utilizing developmental and sensory processing profiles, and relationship/caregiver patterns. Later, you are expected to demonstrate competencies working long term across a range of children through case presentations and a written case, as well as to complete professional development requirements (individual and group tutoring).

Who Can Attend

Professionals from the following disciplines are invited to attend including: education, special education, speech and language pathology, occupational therapy and physical therapy, developmental optometry (visuo-cognitive therapy), art, drama, and music therapy, clinical social work, marriage and family therapists, nursing, pediatrics, developmental pediatrics, child psychiatry, infant mental health, clinical social work, developmental and clinical psychology. Specialization in developmental and learning disorders and infant mental health is welcome. Certificates are granted within the discipline or license candidates have already acquired, i.e., DIR® Certificate as a psychologist, occupational therapist, special educator, etc.

Pre-Requisites: Participation in the DIR®B Program.  If you have not participated in the DIR®B program, you can also request advanced standing into DIR®C if you have experience working in a recognized DIR® setting, or experience supervised by a DIR® clinician or educator who recommends you. 

Difference between the DIR®B and DIR®C:

The main difference between the DIR®B and DIR®C programs is the extent of experience you have actually had using the DIR® model and your readiness to demonstrate competencies across a range of children and families leading to the DIR® Certificate.  The DIR® program focuses more on learning how to do DIR® work and the DIR®C program focuses more on advanced competencies.  Joint activities between the programs include model case presentations, panel discussions, and special presentations.

Candidates are required to present multiple times during the course of the DIR®C as they are advanced through the program and meet criteria. This includes:

• An assessment and short term treatment case (about one year) presented the first summer.
• A long term case (18+ months) demonstrating experience integrating DIR® in comprehensive assessments, treatment, and work with families, schools, groups, etc. presented the second summer.
• A clinical challenge presented the second summer.
• A written case and video of a long term case (2 years or more). The fourth case can be submitted and does not require attending the summer program.  For those who do not see children beyond each school year, a comparison of two children over the course of one year is an alternative.

In addition, candidates are expected to obtain 25 hours individual reflective professional development during the course of the program.

It is possible to complete the requirements for the DIR® Clinical or Educational Specialist with attendance at two summer residence programs and completion of individual and or group professional development hours and written requirements during the following year.  Highly experienced applicants can request advanced standing.

DIR®C Features

• Faculty includes nationally known DIR® experts across disciplines including education, speech and occupational therapies, psychology, psychiatry and pediatrics.
• Case-based workshops with presentations of clinical cases and challenges or education based intervention in small groups with two faculty. Starting candidates present a videotaped clinical case to their small multidisciplinary workshop group and participate in the discussions of other cases. Advanced candidates also present a clinical or educational challenge. Guidelines are provided.
• Each candidate will participate in two different groups led by interdisciplinary faculty with in depth reflective discussion of cases presented by candidates. An Education and/or Infant Mental Health focused group may be selected for one of these groups.
• Implementation of DIR® based principles and programs in early intervention programs and center based school programs in special education, inclusion and regular education settings.
• Introduction to DMIC (ICDL Diagnostic Manual for Infancy and Early Childhood) and the FEAS (Functional Emotional Assessment Scale).
• Pre-Institute guidance for preparation of case presentations and videos.
• Group and individual feedback and consultation during the Institute and individual phone feedback after the Institute.
• Conversation hours with individual faculty.
• Follow-up professional development opportunities with faculty.

Institute III

In 2008, Institute III will be available for candidates who have submitted their proposals for their written cases and would like the opportunity to present these cases in an advanced group.  Advanced candidates interested in becoming future trainers are also invited to Institute III to present their cases as training models.

Please understand that the DIR® Institute is a developing Program responsive to the training needs of its candidates and services needed.  ICDL reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to alter, amend, expand or otherwise modify the requirements for the Program, at any time, without notice. The determination as to a candidate's successful completion of the Program requirements will be solely that of ICDL and the DIR® Institute.

Application for 2008 DIR®C Program