Norms & Guideline for CRE

(Effective from 1st April 2023 onwards)

RCI is responsible for the development, standardization and monitoring of training programs in the field of disability rehabilitation and special education. It is mandatory to register in Central Rehabilitation Register (CRR) of RCI to work in the field of disability. After registration, RCI has the additional responsibility to ensure that professionals/personnel in these fields to update and upgrade their knowledge and skills on a continuing basis through Continuing Rehabilitation Education (CRE) program. The objectives of CRE programs, and the norms / guidelines for conducting CRE programs are enumerated below:

Objectives

1. To upgrade the knowledge and skills of in-service and practicing rehabilitation professionals/ personnel, registered with the RCI u/s 19 of the RCI Act of 1992.
2. To update professional knowledge and skills of master trainers working in the field of disability rehabilitation and special education.

Methodology of CRE program:

1. Online mode: The technology platform will be provided by RCI. All participants will pre-register (upto starting time of the webinar and login through mobile OTP verification, using the mobile number registered with CRR. Resource person(s) shall be arranged by Institute. Institute shall provide a set of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) topic wise from respective resource persons (@ 4 questions per hour) maximum two days prior to the scheduled programme, which will be programmed by RCI before start of webinar and shall be displayed to audience at random time intervals during program. All participants shall answer them online within a short timeframe, so that attendance and attention at all times is ensured. Evaluation sheet shall also be displayed online to participants immediately after the webinar is finished. The participants must score overall 70% or more to qualify for CRE points. Based on correct answers, they will be declared pass/failed in CRE and accordingly CRE points shall be generated and added to RCI’s database which can be accessed at individual participant’s registration dashboard at RCI portal. RCI reserves the right to record all proceedings of online CRE, collect random photographs during progress of CRE and later on broadcast the recorded program on electronic and social media channels. Every online lecture shall typically consist of 45 min of lecture followed by 15 min of interaction with participants.RCI will also organize many CRE online programs directly. RCI may collaborate with National Institutes/CRCs/RCs or any other agency to organize CRE programs.
2. Offline mode: For local/District levels, Institute shall organise CRE program, preferably in its premises or preferably in Special Schools of Inclusive School/College premises. High quality Resource person(s) will be arranged. A suitable evaluation shall be done by each resource person for each participant, based on which CRE points shall be granted. The questions will be of multiple choice based on the sessions conducted and not only based on the contents given through the PPT. The participants must score overall 70% or more to qualify for CRE points. RCI may provide a mobile App on which the participants will answer the questions. RCI will also organize many CRE offline programs directly. RCI may collaborate with National Institutes/CRCs/RCs or any other agency to organize CRE programs.
3. Experiential Mode: (on pilot basis to be run directly by RCI) Apart from classroom type training, actual EXPERENTIAL learning by visiting Research institutes, hospitals, manufacturing units, Early Intervention centers, Anganwadis, educational institute, participation/surveys in Government schemes like ADIP/ UDID, Skills, DDRS, etc, will be encouraged. Exposure to and working on field level Assistive Technology, assistive issues, Central and States Govt. Schemes, etc. will thus also count towards gaining CRE points.

Eligibility Conditions for Institutions/Organizations

1. RCI’s approved Training institutions having valid RCI approval.
2. National level Professional Associations and/or any organization of national repute working for the empowerment of persons with disabilities with at least 3 years of experience and having valid society registration/trust/company registration.
3. National Institute/CRC/RC shall normally not collaborate with any institute for any CRE program and shall conduct CRE in their own premises only. Every NI/CRC/RC shall submit their own application directly at RCI website following all CRE norms.
4. For CRE status to any online/offline/Experiential program, proposal on the website of RCI shall be submitted at least 30 days in advance.
5. ICT requirements for ONLINE mode (mandatorily on RCI webinar platform):
   1. Ensuring adequate internet connectivity for online CRE at institute and participant levels
   2. Arrange proper camera, speaker, mic enabled desktop/ laptop for delivery of talk, for each speaker. The lighting should be proper and there should be no background noise.
   3. All accessibility/ adaptation features to be ensured by Institute so that any PwD participants will have no difficulties
   4. If any requirement of sign language interpreter is there, same shall be arranged by organizing Institute.
   5. Institute to ensure necessary technical support to the resource persons, if required.

General Guidelines:

1. Topics on which CRE programs can be conducted should be all chosen from the topics listed on the CRE form available on RCI website. However, institutions are free to conduct CRE programs on topics which may not be in these lists, but institutions have to fully justify the need for such a CRE program, such as:
   1. Topics on the latest development in the field of disability , various legislative provisions, like UNCRPD, RPWD Act 2016 , RCI Act 1992, National Trust Act 1999, RTE Act 2007, various schemes and programmes of the DEPwD (Barrier free/accessible environment guidelines of Ministry of Housing & Urban affairs 2021, SIPDA,UDID, ADIP, NHFDC, DDRS,DDRC etc), NEP 2020, National Credit framework, National curriculum framework, employability skills for PwDs, UGC guidelines on online education, important legal decisions of various Hon’ble courts pertaining to disability sector, Important notifications of regulating bodies like DoSEL, UGC, NCTE, NCERT, AICTE, NCVET etc can be topics of CRE. In addition to this, Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO Act, 2012) to be included to generate awareness in this matter.
   2. RCI also promotes CRE programs on emerging areas like use of artificial intelligence in disability sector, new pedagogy practices, best practices in teaching and clinic, hands on training on products/assistive devices pertaining to disabilities, Employment avenues ,entrepreneurship skills, research and developments in emerging areas, research methodologies, visit of minimum 4 hours to factories involved in production of assistive devices, aids & appliances, National Institutes of DEPwD, CRCs, DDRS/DDRCs and other renowned institutes of eminence, early intervention centres, hospitals, online tours of foreign factories and online interactions with foreign professionals or Institutes (min 2 hours), etc.
2. RCI approved institutions may conduct ordinarily a maximum of 04 CRE programs (2 online and 2 off line) within a financial year, provided report of the CRE programmes are submitted to the Council before commencement of another programme, and participants feedback is positive. National institutes and CRCs of DEPwD may conduct more number of programs.
3. CRE points shall be awarded for hourly attendance basis by RCI at the rate of 1 CRE point per hour. However, Offline CRE program can be from a minimum of 1 hour to maximum 18 hours in total. (maximum 6 hours a day, and maximum 3 days duration for CRE program). Whereas, online CRE can be conducted for minimum 1 hour to maximum 4 hours only.
4. Selection of resource persons

1. Selection of resource persons is also best left to the discretion/judgment of the organizing institution. However, the organizing institution shall ensure that the selected resource persons are experts and have a proven record of expertise/skills/research output etc. The resource person should also be well versed on technology for online presentation in case of online programs.
2. If it is deemed that the experts and active professionals in different fields, outside the specializations under purview of RCI, can contribute significantly to the theme selected for the CRE, may be invited even if not having CRR number.
3. Non-governmental organizations conducting CRE webinars shall ensure that at least 50% of the resource persons are from RCI recognised training institutions/ universities, having active and valid CRR number.

1. Prescribed Intake of the CRE - Workshop/Conference/Seminar:

• For programs organized directly by RCI, these limits will not apply.
• For Experiential / Field Visit category CRE programs, maximum limit will be 25 participants. However, on case-to-case basis, RCI may relax this limit.

1. Participant shall apply online on RCI’s website for online / offline / experiential programs. This will be open only till start time of the CRE program. Nobody will be able to register after the program starts. Thus any walk-in participants have to report well in time to ensure that their registration is done before the start of the program.
2. FEE structure: The maximum fees to charged per candidate is as follows:

• No fees shall be charged by RCI for grant of approval for CRE status to any program, nor will RCI take any revenue share from the fees collected by the institute from the participants.

1. Any dispute arising out of quality of CRE will be responsibility of organizing institute and shall be resolved by it. RCI shall stand legally immune out of any such dispute.

Submission of reports after CRE:

1. For Online mode: Reports, PPTs and other study material shall be submitted online by institute.
2. For Offline mode: Reports, PPT, group photographs, videos and attendance sheet, evaluation sheet shall be submitted online by institute, during and immediately after the event.
3. CRE points to participants shall be credited to participants only after successful submission of above reports by organizing institute. Also, certificate shall be made available to individual participant and resource person for download online at RCI website. Organizing Institute to ensure timely online submission of reports and that all participants get the CRE points in their account within 2 working days after the program. If organizing institute fails to do this, it will be debarred from organizing CRE for a period of 1 year.

CRE points required for Renewal of Registration:

1. 1. Total number of 100 CRE points are required to be accumulated for renewal of registration over 5 years. Out of these 100 points, maximum 50 points can be scored through online/webinar. CRE points earned will be as per table given below.
   2. Every registered professional/personnel/resource person shall be liable to earn a minimum of 10 points and not exceeding 50 points per year. A participant can do more than 50 CRE point activities during a year, but maximum 50 CRE will be added, though the certificate of participation or passing will be given for surplus points.
   3. For renewal, Total CRE points shall not be considered merely on the basis of having attended CREs as resource persons, or for Papers submitted, or Higher Education gained etc, but also be requiring minimum 30 CRE points (out of 100) scored as participants in online/offline webinars, or participation in Government schemes, or experiential learning etc. This criteria will be applicable from renewals falling due from 1st January, 2024.
   4. Professionals who are qualified to register in the CRR shall register with the Council within 6 months from the date of completion of an approved course.
   5. All registered rehabilitation professionals shall renew their registration with the Council once in 5 years.
   6. Acquisition of a higher qualification (RCI approved) will be considered for renewal of registration.

CRE Points:

Points that can be earned by RCI registered professional/personnel by participating in different RCI approved CRE programs / addition of rehabilitation education / article publication etc. is as mentioned below:

Pre-CRE: RCI will grant pre-CRE points to students pursuing RCI approved training programs for attending (online, offline, experiential) CRE programmes with maximum 10 points per year. The points will be added to their account when they get their CRR number from RCI after successful completion of their studies. No fees will be charged for the programs directly organized by RCI.