FAQ’S FOR ON-LINE COURSES
How do I register?
You will find a registration form on CDBA Ontario’s website, The registration form is in a PDF format, so you will need to print the blank form, fill it in and then scan and email it to . You can also fax the completed form to 519-442-1871, or you can mail it to the following:
Training Department
CDBA Ontario
50 Main St.
Paris, ON
N3L 2E2
How much will it cost to register?
The courses will be priced according to the number of weeks they will run. Shorter courses (10 weeks) will cost $200.00. The longer courses (12 weeks) will cost $250.00. CDBA Ontario employees may request payroll deductions to pay for a course.
Do these courses qualify for CDBA Ontario’s Educational Assistance funding?
Yes. Employees must request and be approved for Educational Assistance funding prior to the start of the course. Upon successful completion of the course, the employee will then be reimbursed for up to one-half of the cost of the course.
How will taking the course benefit me?
There are multiple benefits to taking an online course with CDBA Ontario. First, each course has been created in consultation with a group of Intervenors who identified information that they required to be successful in their work. Therefore, we know Intervenors will find the information useful. Second, two of the current courses are considered equivalent to two of the ten courses from George Brown College that are required for a Certificate in Congenital Deafblindness. CDBA Ontario is planning to develop additional online courses that will also meet the requirements for the certificate. Finally, your desire for professional development will be recognized by CDBA Ontario and considered should you desire future advancement within the organization.
What is a Certificate in Congenital Deafblindness?
At CDBA Ontario’s request, instructors from George Brown College have been offering some of the courses from the Intervenor Program on a part-time basis as community courses in the Brantford area. Our training department and the Coordinator of the Intervenor Program at GBC have worked together to create this certificate. For participants in the community courses, the certificate offers a tangible goal that has been tailored to meet the needs of CDBA Ontario’s Intervenor Services staff. To achieve the certificate, participants must successfully complete 10 specific courses. As mentioned above, two of the online courses are equivalent to the community courses and will count towards achieving the certificate. For specific details regarding the curriculum for the Certificate, please consult the CDBA Ontario Database at Organizational Documents > Training Department > GBC Community Courses > Certificate Program Outline or contact the CDBA Ontario training department at .
How much time will I need to invest each week?
That will vary from person to person, depending upon your previous experience and/or learning style. However, generally speaking you could expect 4-5 hours of work per week for the cours.
How long are the courses?
Two of the four courses – Deafblindness and the Role of the Intervenor and The Role of the Intervenor in Health, Wellness and Aging – will run for approximately 10 weeks. The remaining two courses – The Role of the Intervenor in Concept Development and Communication and The Importance of Planning in the Role of the Intervenor – will both run for 12 weeks.
Do I need to take the courses in any specific order?
Yes. The course Deafblindness and the Role of the Intervenor is considered a pre-requisite for the remaining three courses. The remaining courses may be taken in any order that is convenient to you.
Will there be assignments and/or quizzes?
There will be a few mini-assignments in each course, plus up to two major assignments. The courses have been developed to allow sufficient time for the students to complete the assignments, even while still working. The majority of the assignments will be done as case studies where you will be able to apply to knowledge you’ve learned to a specific situation based on the information you’re given about a fictional person who is deafblind.
How are these courses different from other training in Deafblindness that I’ve taken?
Each course will either cover topics that have not previously been part of CDBA Ontario’s in-house training or will provide more in-depth information on a particular topic. In addition, these courses will include assignments that will test your ability to apply the information you’ve learned to a practical situation. You will receive a grade for all of your assignments, as well as a final grade.
I can’t attend this course, will you offer more courses again?
Yes. A schedule will be posted on CDBA Ontario’s website with start dates for each course. We expect to have courses running 3 times per year.
My computer is older; will I still be able to take an online course?
The important thing is whether or not your software is up to date. At a minimum, your browser should be one of the following versions: Google Chrome 11, Firefox 4, Safari 5, or Internet Explorer 8. We also recommend that you have Adobe Reader installed on your computer. If you don’t already have it installed, it can easily be downloaded for free from Some of the courses include links to videos on You Tube or similar sites. If you have a dial-up connection to the Internet, please be advised that you may experience a delay in the streaming of the videos. A word processing program, such as Microsoft Word or Open Office, will also be required for writing your assignments.
What if I don’t have access to a computer or the Internet?
You do not need to have your own computer to participate in a CDBA Ontario online course. The courses are delivered using a platform called Moodle. This is accessible from any computer that has Internet access. This means that you could use a public computer at your local library to access the course, or perhaps a friend or family member’s computer. As long as it is connected to the Internet, you’ll be able to view the course materials. Another option would be to book time in the computer lab at the CDBA Ontario Resource Centre, where you can use one of two computers that are available.
To access the course, you will be provided with a username and password, as well as a link to our Moodle training site. After you log in for the first time, you will be prompted to change your password. That way, you can change it to something that is more meaningful for you! From then on, that username and password will enable you to access the course from any computer that is connected to the web.
I’m really interested in these courses, but I’m not all that comfortable around computers. What can I do?
CDBA Ontario recognizes that not everyone is completely comfortable around computers. In addition, many people have never taken an online course before. Therefore, we are offering a half-day workshop that will provide you with some tips and suggestions on how to become an effective online learner. You’ll have a chance to practice on a sample course with support from the course Instructors. There will be two opportunities to attend this workshop. The first date will be Monday Oct. 28 from 1:00 – 4:00 pm. The same workshop is scheduled to be offered for a second time on Thursday November 21, also from 1:00 – 4:00 pm. Information will be coming soon on how to register for one of these workshops.