Excellence in Disability Supports (EiDS)

Building competencies for high-quality supports to individuals with developmental disabilities

Excellence in Disability Supports (EiDS) is a specialized, competency-based training course designed for new and emerging community disability services professionals, as well as experienced staff looking to strengthen their skills and enhance the quality of services they provide. Grounded in person-centred and rights-based approaches, EiDS helps learners build the knowledge, confidence, and practical skills needed to deliver high-quality supports to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The EiDS program is a redesigned and condensed from our Foundations Online program. It is a shorter, streamlined learning pathway featuring updated scenario-based learning and practical skill application.

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Audience

• Disability Support Workers: Strengthen confidence in delivering quality care and support.

• New and emerging disability support professionals: Build essential specialized competencies and gain the knowledge and training needed to provide quality care aligned with sector standards.

Delivery Methods

• Self-paced learning and delivered online via the ACDS Moodle site, with assignments and applied skills checklists completed with mentor support.

Each learner must identify a mentor at the time of their registration—typically a staff member at their respective organization. The mentor provides advice, experience, and guidance throughout the learner’s progress. 

Learners can access the course and work offline on their mobile phone or tablet by downloading the official Moodle app. Any progress Learners make while working offline will automatically sync and upload to the server the next time learner reconnects via Wi-Fi or cellular data.

Length of Training 

• 20-24 weeks

Fees

• ACDS Members: $350.00
• ACDS Associate Members (Organization): $359.00 
• Non-Members: $422.00 

PDD Contracted organizations are eligible for a subsidy of $175.00 per learner on the fees. 

Certification

On completion of all the online requirements, learners can download the Certificate of Achievement in Excellence in Disability Supports training.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand the historical, social, legal, and ethical foundations that shape disability services and frontline support work.
• Apply person-centred, rights-based, and inclusive approaches that promote dignity, choice, privacy, advocacy, and safeguarding.
• Recognize individual needs, disabilities, communication preferences, and support strategies that strengthen respectful and effective service delivery.
• Support daily living, personal care, health, wellness, nutrition, and independence while maintaining safety, dignity, and well-being.
• Identify and respond to health, safety, emergency, infection prevention, and safe food handling requirements in community disability service settings.

Mentor Information

A mentor serves as a guide for the learner. As part of their role, they will grade the assignments (using non-numerical grading), review checklists and upload them on the system. It is essential for learner success that the mentor has a thorough understanding of the role and expectations of a community disability services professional. The mentor must be from the disability sector and be either currently or recently employed in the Community Disability Services sector.

Full contact information of the mentor is needed at the time of completing the registration form.

Mentor Orientation

Excellence in Disability Services course mentors will have access to the following: 

• A link to the full course syllabus content 
• EiDS LMS Navigation Guide for Mentors and mentor cheat sheet
• Access to Fundamentals of Mentoring Mentor Led Training Programs – ONLY for EiDS mentors. This mini-course has been designed to provide agency-based mentors with the skills and knowledge to fulfill this important role.

FAQs

What is EiDS training program & how is it different from Foundations Online?

The Excellence in Disability Supports (EIDS) is a standalone, self-paced, mentor-led, online training program. It has been redesigned with updated materials from the Foundation in Community Disability Studies (FCDS) Online training.  It is a shorter, competency-based learning pathway with scenario based learning, and practical skill application. EIDS program length is reduced by streamlining 16 modules into 10 focused modules. The EIDS course can be completed in 24 weeks.

EIDS offers a faster, more accessible, and competency-focused pathway for developing support skills for frontline community disability support workers. It helps new and existing staff build the essential skills needed for effective practice while enabling organizations to onboard, train, and retain employees more efficiently. Foundations remain the option for learners seeking a more comprehensive and in-depth exploration of community disability services, while EIDS provides an efficient route to workplace readiness and core competency development.

How will the EIDS training benefit new, emerging, and current workers?

New & emerging workers:

• Gain core community disability supports competencies in a shorter timeframe.
• Build confidence and job readiness through practical, mentor-supported learning.
• Enter the sector with a strong foundation for effective frontline practice.

Current workers:

• Strengthen and refresh essential skills without the commitment of a lengthy program.
• Apply learning directly to day-to-day support roles.
• Access professional development that is practical, relevant, and achievable.

What is the value of this training for organizations? 

• Accelerate onboarding and workforce readiness.
• Provide consistent foundational training across teams.
• Reduce training time while supporting quality service delivery.
• Strengthen staff confidence, retention, and overall workforce capacity.

Overall Value of the Program:

EIDS offers a faster, more accessible, and competency-focused pathway for developing frontline disability support workers. It helps new and existing staff build the essential skills needed for effective practice while enabling organizations to onboard, train, and retain employees more efficiently. EIDS provides an efficient route to workplace readiness and core competency development.