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IDD WORKFORCE CERTIFICATION

The professional standard for everyone who supports someone with IDD.

VantageIDD is the only IDD workforce certification platform built with Dr. Karyn Harvey, Ph.D. as Chief Clinical Architect, delivering three tracks for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), Support Coordinators (SCs), and the organisations that employ them.

Explore the programs → Book a call
3
Program tracks for every workforce type
30
Days to first certified DSP cohort
NADSP
Competency-aligned credential framework

Dr. Karyn Harvey, Ph.D.

Chief Clinical Architect, VantageIDD

Chief Clinical Officer, REACH Services  ·  Published by AAIDD  ·  35+ Years IDD Research

THREE TRACKS

Built for every IDD workforce need

Each track addresses a different training need and a different buyer conversation. The Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and Support Coordinators (SCs) tracks are structured certifications. The à la carte track is a guided diagnostic that packages modules into a coherent named program.

1

DSP (DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL) CERTIFICATION

30-Day Intensive + Annual Subscription

Professional credential for direct support professionals. NADSP-aligned. Coaching-anchored.

  • 7 modules across 30 days with live WICS coaching throughout
  • 3 group sessions and 2 one-on-one coaching sessions per cohort
  • Module 5 anchored by Dr. Harvey - trauma-informed care in IDD settings
  • NADSP-aligned credential issued on completion
  • HCBS Medicaid-ready documentation and compliance export
  • Year 2+ subscription renewal for certified DSPs
See the 7 modules →
2

IDD CASE MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM

Self-Paced + Annual Compliance Cycle

Professional certification for support coordinators and TCM staff. Audit-ready dashboard included.

  • 4 modules: Trauma-Informed SC Practice, PCP Goal Writing, Fatal Five (SC lens), Mandatory Reporting
  • Module A anchored by Dr. Harvey - trauma from a case management perspective
  • Fully self-paced - no live coaching sessions
  • Annual completion cycle aligned to Medicaid TCM requirements
  • Manager dashboard with group management, new hire auto-enrolment, and exception handling
  • Audit-ready completion export for DMH and state surveyors
See the SC program →
3

À LA CARTE CUSTOM PROGRAM DIAGNOSTIC

Guided Diagnostic to a Named Program

Five questions. One coherent program. Outcome-driven curation from modules across both tracks.

  • Five outcome-focused diagnostic questions identify your organisation's specific training need
  • Routes to one of four named program packages - not a module shopping cart
  • Coaching recommended or essential depending on the outcome your organisation needs
  • Dr. Harvey Trauma Program available as the sole standalone option
  • Minimum three modules to ensure coherent learning outcomes
  • Annual subscription renewal on all selected modules
Take the diagnostic →

TRACK 1

DSP (Direct Support Professional) Certification ProgramSeven modules. Thirty days. One credential.

Direct Support Professional Certification

A structured 30-day intensive with live WICS coaching throughout. Every module is sequenced to build on the last. The credential is NADSP-aligned and Medicaid-ready. Dr. Harvey anchors Module 5.

M1DAYS 1–3

IDD Foundations and Person-Centered Practice

What IDD is, the history of disability rights, person-centered thinking, NADSP Code of Ethics, dignity of risk, and self-determination. Every DSP signs the NADSP Code before advancing.

M2DAYS 4–6

Communication and AAC

Presuming competence, augmentative and alternative communication, communication barriers DSPs create, supported conversation techniques. Practical application with real individuals in care.

M3DAYS 7–10

Health, Safety, and the Fatal Five

Recognising and responding to the Fatal Five, health change escalation, daily support fundamentals, universal precautions, and behaviour as health communication, all with coached real-world application.

M4DAYS 11–15

Medication Administration Fundamentals

Six Rights, medication classes in IDD settings, psychotropic monitoring, MAR documentation, error response, and refusal of medication. Prepares DSPs for their organisation's certification process.

M5DAYS 16–21

Trauma-Informed Practice in IDD Settings

Dr. Harvey's clinical framework applied to direct care. Trauma prevalence in IDD populations, behaviour as trauma response, the five principles, stabilisation strategies, secondary trauma, and DSP self-care.

⊕ Dr. Karyn Harvey, Ph.D. - Chief Clinical Architect
M6DAYS 22–26

Documentation, HCBS Compliance, and Mandatory Reporting

Person-centred documentation, Medicaid HCBS audit standards, incident reporting, HIPAA, abuse and neglect mandatory reporting, and the VantageIDD compliance export. Audit-ready by module end.

M7DAYS 27–30

Professional Identity and Career Development

What a professional identity means in direct support, compassion fatigue and recovery, career pathways from DSP to QIDP and clinical roles, and the cohort completion ceremony. Credential issued on Day 30.

5Coached sessions across 30 days
3 group + 2 individualSession breakdown per cohort
~8 min/dayAverage daily coaching commitment

TRACK 2

IDD Case ManagementProfessional Program

Support Coordinator (SC) & Targeted Case Management (TCM) Staff

For support coordinators, TCM staff, and supervisors. Four self-paced modules aligned to Medicaid TCM compliance requirements. Manager dashboard with full audit-ready export. Annual subscription cycle.

MODULE A

Trauma-Informed Support Coordination

⊕ Dr. Harvey anchored

Reading trauma history in case documentation, writing trauma-sensitive service plans, and coordinating providers around trauma needs - the SC lens, not the direct care lens.

MODULE B

Writing and Monitoring Goals for Person-Centered Plans

HCBS audit-standard goal writing, goal monitoring frequency, progress notes, and when to revise a goal. The core SC competency most commonly cited in audit findings.

MODULE C

Fatal Five - Monitoring and Coordination Lens

Recognising Fatal Five patterns across case notes over time, escalating when a provider minimises a concern, and documenting a health concern as a case management record for coordination.

MODULE D

Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation - SC Mandatory Reporting

SC-specific mandatory reporting obligations distinct from direct care staff, recognising abuse and financial exploitation in home visits and case notes, and filing when a provider minimises.

Manager Dashboard + Compliance Export

HR coordinators manage up to four training groups, annual assignment cycles, new hire auto-enrolment, individual exception handling, and one-click audit export, without IT involvement.

Group management Annual cycle + due dates New hire auto-enrolment Excuse / extend individuals Audit trail export
Sample data - illustrative only
J. Martinez - Module AComplete
T. Wilson - Module BIn progress
A. Patel - Module COverdue
S. Thompson - Module AComplete
K. Rodriguez - Module DIn progress

TRACK 3

À la carteFind your program.

Five outcome-focused questions route you to a coherent, named training program. The questions are designed the way a professional needs assessment should be, outcome first, not product first.

The four named programs

Every diagnostic path resolves to one of these four. No isolated modules are sold outside these packages, except the Dr. Harvey Trauma Program.

IDD Workforce Foundation Program

New hire cohorts, high-turnover orgs

Establishes professional identity, foundational clinical competency, and a career pathway that gives DSPs a reason to stay. Approximately 14 days. Coaching recommended.

M1 FoundationsM2 CommunicationM3 Health/SafetyM7 Professional Identity

Trauma-Informed IDD Organization Program

Clinical quality gap, no existing trauma framework

Dr. Harvey anchors this program. Builds consistent trauma-informed practice across the organisation. Coaching essential, practice change requires human accountability. Both DSP and SC versions available.

Dr. Harvey M5M1 FoundationsM3 Health/SafetySC Module A

IDD Compliance and Documentation Program

Audit risk, documentation quality gaps

Covers HCBS documentation standards, mandatory reporting, HIPAA, and person-centred note quality for both DSPs and SCs. Self-paced sufficient for this outcome, compliance is process-based, not relational.

M6 DocumentationSC Module B PCP GoalsSC Module D ReportingM3 Health/Safety

IDD Mixed Workforce Professional Program

DSPs and SCs trained simultaneously

For organisations with both DSPs and SCs who want a unified training program. Dr. Harvey anchors the clinical component. DSP track includes coaching; SC track runs in parallel self-paced.

M1 FoundationsM3 Health/SafetyDr. Harvey M5M6 DocumentationSC Module ASC Module D
★

SOLE STANDALONE EXCEPTION

Dr. Karyn Harvey Trauma-Informed IDD Practice

The only product available as a standalone outside the four named packages. For organisations that already have a training system in place and want to upgrade their trauma-informed practice component specifically. Includes all five Dr. Harvey videos, the Case Companion Guide, three IDD-specific case studies, and a completion certificate. Priced separately - contact for rates.

Dr. Karyn Harvey

Dr. Karyn Harvey, Ph.D.

Chief Clinical Architect, VantageIDD

CHIEF CLINICAL ARCHITECT

The clinical authority behind every VantageIDD program.

"A direct support professional role deserves a real professional identity, clear standards, and recognised credentials. The people supporting individuals with IDD deserve a workforce that is trained to that standard."

Dr. Harvey designed the clinical and curriculum architecture underlying VantageIDD. She is not a guest faculty or endorser, she built the framework the entire program rests on. Her trauma-informed IDD practice model anchors Module 5 of the DSP Certification and Module A of the IDD Case Management Professional Program.

The Relias connection: The trauma-informed IDD module that many providers currently complete through Relias was built on Dr. Harvey's published research. VantageIDD brought Dr. Harvey into the room. She does not just underpin the content, she designed it.

FIELD

Trauma-informed care in IDD populations

PUBLISHED BY

AAIDD - American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disability

CURRICULUM SCOPE

DSP Module 5, SC Module A, and the Harvey Standalone Trauma Program

OVERSIGHT ROLE

Reviews WICS coach alignment and clinical standards across all VantageIDD programs

THE TEAM

Built by the people behind Hello, It's Me®

VantageIDD is inspired by and operates under the Hello, It's Me® umbrella - a Focus EduSolutions initiative dedicated to empowering the IDD community.

Dr. Karyn Harvey, Ph.D.

Dr. Karyn Harvey, Ph.D.

Chief Clinical Architect

Dr. Karyn Harvey brings over 35 years of clinical and research experience in intellectual and developmental disabilities. She holds a Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of Maryland and is nationally recognised as an expert in trauma-informed IDD support. Currently serving as Chief Clinical Officer at REACH Services and formerly a Professor of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine, Dr. Harvey has authored three books: Positive Identity Development, Trauma-Informed Behavioral Interventions, and Trauma and Healing. She has received national awards for clinical excellence from NADD (2016), AAIDD (2020), and START (2023). At VantageIDD, she designed the clinical and curriculum architecture underlying every program, she is not a guest endorser. She built the framework.

Chief Clinical Officer, REACH Services Published by AAIDD 35+ years IDD research NADD · AAIDD · START award winner
Vik Aurora

Vik Aurora

CEO and Founder

Vik Aurora is a visionary founder of Hello, It's Me® who has dedicated 35+ years to empowering individuals with disabilities to forge meaningful connections. A first-generation entrepreneur who entered the education industry at 20 and never looked back, Vik brings multi-domain expertise spanning information technology, human resource assessment, behavioural competency-based retention, and e-learning. Holding an MBA from Northeastern University in Boston, he has been the driving force behind the creation and launch of Hello, It's Me® and the strategic vision behind VantageIDD. His goal: reach half a million users by 2028, expand to 50 countries by 2030, and build a world where every individual, regardless of ability, can connect, learn, and thrive.

Founder, Hello It's Me® MBA, Northeastern University 35+ years education industry
Randeep Kaur Sethi

Randeep Kaur Sethi

Operations Lead

With close to three decades of experience in education, Randeep Kaur Sethi has built schools, trained educators, and developed programs that address real industry and community needs. She focuses on aligning educational initiatives with the unique needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, ensuring every program delivers meaningful, user-focused outcomes. Randeep's collaborative approach connects stakeholders and drives impact at scale, her ability to bring organisations toward a common cause makes her a force multiplier for the IDD community. She is the primary contact for all VantageIDD program enquiries.

25+ years education sector Associate VP, Focus EduSolutions IDD program alignment specialist
Shyam Nair

Shyam Nair

Vice President, Innovation

Shyam Nair leads innovation and product development, bringing over twenty years of experience in eLearning, instructional design, and education technology. Working across clients, instructional designers, graphic designers, programmers, and visualisation strategists, Shyam develops interactive and innovative learning programs that meet the needs of diverse learners. At VantageIDD, he leads curriculum architecture and the technical delivery of the three-track program framework, ensuring the platform is built to the standard the IDD workforce deserves.

VP Innovation 20+ years eLearning & EdTech Curriculum architecture lead
● Coming soon FREE WORKFORCE DIAGNOSTIC

DSPWellCheck

A 10-minute anonymous survey for your DSP team. Receive an organisation-level workforce readiness report immediately, at no cost, with no commitment required.

  • Organisation-level results only - no individual DSP is ever identified
  • Highlights professional development strengths and gaps across your workforce
  • The natural starting point for a VantageIDD program conversation
  • Free. Confidential. Results delivered immediately.

DSPWELLCHECK - PREVIEW

How confident are you in recognising early signs of the Fatal Five in the individuals you support?

How often do you feel your documentation accurately reflects the individual's experience, not just the tasks you completed?

To what extent do you feel you have a professional identity in this role, separate from just doing a job?

ORGANISATION REPORT - PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY READINESS

68% of your DSPs report a moderate professional identity score. Focus area identified: career pathway visibility.

GETTING STARTED

From first call to certified workforce

A clean implementation path from initial conversation to program launch. Two weeks from contract to first session. No IT complexity.

TRACK 1 - DSP Certification
1
Discovery call

We identify your DSP cohort size, compliance requirements, and budget conversation.

2
Contract signed

Agreement signed. WICS coach assigned and introduced within five business days.

3
Cohort enrolled

DSPs enrolled. First group session scheduled within two weeks of contract signature.

4
30-day program

Seven modules delivered with 3 group + 2 one-on-one coaching sessions across 30 days.

5
Credential issued

NADSP-aligned credential issued on Day 30. Compliance export generated. Year 2 subscription activates.

TRACK 2 - SC Program
1
Discovery call

We identify your SC team size, Medicaid TCM requirements, and annual cycle needs.

2
Contract signed

Agreement signed. Manager dashboard configured with your training groups and annual cycle.

3
SCs enrolled

Annual cycle assignments configured. New hire auto-enrolment activated.

4
Annual compliance achieved

SCs complete four self-paced modules. Audit-ready export generated for DMH and state surveyors.

TRACK 3 - Custom Program Diagnostic
1
Discovery call

We review your workforce needs. If undecided, the five-question diagnostic routes you to the right package.

2
Package confirmed

One of four named programs selected. Coaching level determined by your outcome need.

3
Contract signed

Agreement signed. Coach assigned if coaching is included in your package.

4
Program complete

Workforce trained to your specific outcome. Annual subscription renewal on all selected modules.

REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT

Built around Medicaid, HCBS, and NADSP

✓

NADSP-aligned curriculum

Module architecture follows NADSP Competency Areas and professional role standards. The credential issued to completing DSPs maps to the NADSP e-badge pathway for further professional development.

▣

Medicaid-ready documentation

VantageIDD captures every field Medicaid auditors require - DSP name, hire date, module completion dates, assessment scores, and supervisor sign-off. The compliance export is audit-ready for both Track 1 and Track 2.

◐

HCBS waiver compatible

Implementation supports person-centered delivery models across waiver-funded programs. Documentation standards in Module 6 align to current HCBS Settings Rule requirements and CMS waiver audit protocols.

RETURN ON INVESTMENT

The cost of doing nothing

Model your current annual turnover cost. National average DSP turnover is 43 to 50 percent. Some organisations report 70 percent or higher. The VantageIDD investment is a fraction of what one year of that costs.

40
45%
18DSP exits per year
$90,000Annual turnover cost at $5,000/exit
$9,000Conservative 10% reduction after Year 1 VantageIDD
10×+Turnover cost versus VantageIDD investment

Assumes $5,000 average replacement cost per DSP exit (recruiting, onboarding, and productivity loss). Actual costs typically range $3,000 to $8,000+. Pricing on request.

GET STARTED

Ready to talk about your workforce?

Tell us about your organisation and we will come prepared with the right track for your situation. No pitch. No product demo before we understand your need.

Randeep Kaur Sethi

Randeep Kaur Sethi

Operations Lead, VantageIDD

Prefer to call? (617) 468-5559/105

help@hello-itsme.com

We will respond within one business day. Randeep or a member of the team will be in touch. No spam. No unsolicited follow-up.

Our services and programs are intended exclusively for individuals aged 18 years and older.