Back to school ads are all over the place as we wrap up these last few days of Summer. Kids aren’t the only ones going back to class. Many adults are picking up courses, programs, and individual classes as part of their continuing education. Some fields require individuals to stay up-to-date on what’s happening in their field such as new interventions or practices, policy changes, or innovations on the horizon. This is especially true for fields that require licensing or certification. For example, our Information Specialists are certified by the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems and participate in webinars and conferences to keep their certification active.

Several NIDILRR-funded projects and centers offer courses, webinars, and programs which individuals can take to earn continuing education credits. Here are just a few selections (items marked with $ have related registration fees):

• Accessibility Online, offered by the Great Lakes ADA Regional Center and the US Access Board, offers courses on accessibility to the built environment, information and communication technologies, and transportation. Credits are available for several certifications including the American Institute of Architects and Landscape Architecture certification.
• The Centers on Knowledge Translation for Disability and Rehabilitation Research (KTDRR) and Employment Research (KTER) offer continuing education units approved by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) for webinars and for their annual KT conferences.
• The ADA National Network offers an ADA Basic Building Blocks Course – 12 free sessions introducing you to the basic principles and core concepts in the ADA. General continuing education and CRC credits available.
• Virginia Commonwealth University Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers offer two courses which include credits or certification from the Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators ($). Other self-paced courses are also available but may not offer credits.
• The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Universal Design and the Built Environment offers extensive courses through UDEducation.org ($). US Architects can receive CEUs.
• The New England ADA Regional Center offers courses on the ADA on employment requirements (HR Certification Credits available), architectural accessibility laws (AIA credits available), and an overview of disability rights (CRC credits available).

We regularly feature new webinars, online and in-person conferences, and other continuing education opportunities from the grantee community in our News and Notes newsletter. Some may charge for the programs or for the credits they offer, so make sure to follow the links to get the full details.