TERMS AND CONDITIONS | REGISTRATION CRITERIA

Please also refer to our Privacy Policy

This page contains the following which you must agree to, as part of your commitment as a student and colleague of Dialogica.  

Please note some of this agreement refers only to the ADA Practitioner Pathway where stated, and does not apply to other courses.

Please read it carefully.

ADA Practitioner Pathway

In order to apply for the full ADA Practitioner Pathway course (does not refer to other courses), you will already be at least Level 2 in one of the professions below, and progressing towards a professional qualification in your chosen vocation. If you do not have this level of qualification, or do not not agree to our terms and conditions, please do not proceed.  If in doubt please email [email protected]. Dialogica reserves the right to accept or refuse entry to anyone under these terms. 

Coaching
Therapy
Counselling
Education
Occupational and speech therapy
Criminal justice system
Social work
Public and private health professionals

You will also have some appreciation of strengths-based autism approaches and be open to safe (not always comfortable) inner-change dialogue work in a closed community over one year. By purchasing a place you are confirming that you meet these criteria, as well as agreeing to the terms and conditions below.

You agree to learn, embody and practice the four practices of dialogue and you are aligned with strengths-focussed autism and inclusive practices. You agree to engage in dialogue on the specific days in your own way and to your own capacity.

About Dialogue

Dialogue is an ancient art, skill and practice, and largely forgotten, so we aim to encourage its use everywhere!  We sincerely want to help people use dialogue, wherever they wish.  This is our mission.

Dialogue groups are taking place all over the world and the practice is growing. Group Dialogues are places where people connect with the public, friends and colleagues. By coming together and making use of the powerful principles and practices of dialogic communication, new insight and knowledge is generated and cohesion is maximised in order to instigate better action and create growth.

Of course, we have no control over anyone using Dialogue for whatever purpose, wherever they wish, including setting up of groups and communities. As specialists in the field of dialogue, we feel we have a responsibility to inform you and the public of what we perceive as good conduct.

The rules and guidelines on this page are offered for general public support only, for anyone who is NOT affiliated with Dialogica (student or otherwise)

IMPORTANT USE OF TERMINOLOGY & Distinction of the Autism Dialogue Approach®

Our Dialogue speciality is in Autism and Neurodiversity, a legacy which began in 2017 and of which we are extremely proud. We therefore seek to maintain the highest standards and protect our interests for it to proliferate and grow in the best ways. 

‘Autism Dialogue’ or ‘Autism Dialogue Approach’ or ‘ADA’ is a registered trademark and may not be used without undertaking our specialist training and written permission. For a full description of our trademark and its use please see below.

We are developing provision for supporting unaffiliated groups and individuals and groups to create an Autism Support Network. Dialogica has designed various workshops and training programmes, including this Pathway" to certification which fully addresses the practice of Dialogue from our point of view and covers conduct and ethics in greater detail. You may also refer to your own Code of Conduct and Ethics, for example with BACP and EMCC.

Contractual Training Agreement (ADA Practitioner Pathway only)

This training agreement is between you ("student") and us ("Dialogica").

*What you agree to.

Dialogica agrees to support your completion of the following course subject to the attached Terms and Conditions:

Course title: Autism Dialogue Approach® Pathway

Start date: April 2024

Expected duration of the course: One Year

*I confirm I have read and understood the attached Contractual Terms & Conditions surrounding my Training Agreement and will fully cooperate with the agreement

Contractual Terms & Conditions

I understand Dialogica will allow study leave of maximum of two 'Dialogue Days' days.

I understand a completion Certificate will be given to me, the student at the time of graduation, which will allow me (subject to further terms and conditions to be supplied) to use the term 'Autism Dialogue Practitioner'.

I agree to pay the course fees. After completing the course the training agreement will be exhausted with no payback necessary.  In the event of my failure to pay, I agree that Dialogica has the right as an express term of my contract of training to request any outstanding amount due under this agreement.

Dialogica will notify the student in writing of any outstanding balances remaining after this to come to a suitable payment arrangement on recovering the cost.

TRADEMARK / INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

Autism Dialogue Approach® is a registered ® trademark and its limits of use are laid out below. Intellectual property rights are administered under English Law. Concepts and names like Autism Dialogue, Autism Dialogue Online, Dialogica and Dialogue for Autism are also protected. 

This outline does not yet cover use of the terms by practitioners of our method(s) and until it does so, there is no permission granted or implied for use in any manner other than as a student, by a student or anyone else.

Intellectual property rights apply to the methodology and approach developed by us. A brand name has been registered for Autism Dialogue. You may not use this phrase nor the words Autism and Dialogue in the same phrase for any practices, projects or work.

Material on our websites (also covered in or Privacy statement)

Licence is governed by creative commons (CC). Below is the meaning of the three indicators in the picture:

The licence is governed by Creative Commons. The three indicators mean:

Attribution – The user must mention the creator of the work, insert a link to the license and indicate whether the work has been modified. You may do so in a reasonable manner, but not in such a way as to create the impression that the licensor agrees with your work or your use of the work.

Non-commercial – You may not use the work for commercial purposes.

No Adaptation – You may not distribute the modified material if you have re-mixed or changed the work or built on it.

Although we are keen on distributing the core ideas and practices, please mention our copyright and use the model and methods as they are explained on this website.

Please acknowledge the source as follows: Autism Dialogue by Dialogica UK.

If you intend to use the material on any of our websites for commercial purposes, please contact us.

CODE OF CONDUCT

This Code of Conduct clarifies what is and isn’t good conduct so we can all work towards ensuring that everyone has a good experience in any dialogue group, anywhere.  This code is meant to reinforce our position and complement the practice of Dialogue. This page does not include any information on guidance for you as a member of the public, in actually practicing Dialogue – that is your own responsibility, not ours. 

For convenience, this section is in two parts:

1. Quick rules for interacting with others (useful to get a certain kind of message across)…and the more sophisticated 

2. Ethical Guidelines. 

Together, they make a clear boundary around where you build and grow your foundational practices. Thankfully, if everyone uses and applies Dialogue Practices responsibly, these rules and guidelines, which are largely based on common sense, may seem obvious. 

Every user of Dialogue should feel like their voice can be heard, but not at the expense of someone else.

Quick Rules for interacting with others, online and off.

Do not harass others or organise, participate in, or encourage harassment of others.

Do not promote hate speech. It’s unacceptable and often illegal to attack a person or a community based on their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.  (UK Equality Act 2010)

Do not make threats of violence or threaten to harm others. This includes indirect threats, as well as sharing or threatening to share someone’s private personal information.

Do not try to hide your identity for malicious purposes, or otherwise circumvent devices which enable people to protect themselves.

HERE ARE SOME RULES FOR CONTENT ON DIALOGUE WHICH INCLUDES VERBAL CONTENT SHARED DURING DIALOGUE:

For further privacy information see our privacy statement.

People’s personal data is protected by strict rules governed by GDPR – the European and British Law. Examples of personal data include someone’s facial image and email address. If you are unsure about this, use something like a social media platform to communicate to your group instead of emails or use Bcc (not Cc). You may refer to GDPR (international privacy laws) about this, which we adhere to. 

You may not share private information about other people without their consent.

You may not share information that glorifies or promotes suicide or self-harm, including any encouragement to others to cut themselves, or embrace eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia.

You may not share accounts of sadistic gore or animal cruelty.

You may not use Dialogue for the organisation, promotion, or support of violent extremism.

In general, you should not promote, encourage or engage in any illegal behaviour. This is very likely to get you kicked out of our networks, blacklisted, and may result in you being reported to law authorities.

You may not share content that violates anyone’s intellectual property or other rights.

You may not spam anyone, including your friends, staff or any members including those of Dialogica.

Making false and malicious reports may lead to further action being taken.

Ethical Guidelines for dialogue facilitators and their group members

The formulation of these guidelines takes into consideration the unique position of Dialogica, along with current UK Law and social climate, to be blended into a set of ethical guidelines that are reasonable and yet set high standards for individual, social and professional conduct binding on anyone purporting to apply or use dialogue.

ETHICS of DIALOGUE FACILITATORS

Dialogue facilitators and their group members should be dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of professional competence and integrity. They should dedicate themselves to studying, teaching, disseminating and promoting the art, science, philosophy and practice of Dialogue.

Dialogue facilitators and their group members should seek to continue their studies of Dialogue put forth by the leading exponents, including but not limited to Bohm, Buber, Foulkes et al.

Dialogue facilitators and their group members should endeavour to accurately represent their education, training and experience relevant to their teaching of Dialogue.

Dialogue facilitators and their group members should strive not to be publicly critical of other Dialogue facilitators and group members

RESPONSIBILITY TO COMMUNITY – SOCIAL ETHICS

Dialogue facilitators and their group members should be committed to enhancing the general health and welfare of other Dialogue facilitators and their group members and the community in which they live. This includes respecting the rights and opinions of their students and obeying local laws.

Dialogue facilitators and their group members should embrace truthfulness in all dealings with their community.

Dialogue facilitators and group members should welcome all people regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, financial status, national origin, or physical disability.

Dialogue facilitators and their group members should avoid all forms of sexual harassment.

Dialogue facilitators and their group members should recognise the responsibility inherent in the relationship between Dialogue facilitators and their group members and will avoid exploiting the trust and potential dependency of such. Dialogue facilitators and their group members recognise that they are in a position of power in the Dialogue situation and should not exploit the trust or acquiescence of members. Having regard to the power differential, Dialogue facilitators and their group members are aware of the possibility of relationships between members outside the Dialogue situation complicating or compromising relationship.

When possible, Dialogue facilitators should generously assist members in finding another Dialogue group when requested.

Dialogue facilitators and their group members should espouse the importance of being earnest and sincere in their efforts to avoid casual or careless teaching or examples of good Dialogue.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY OF Dialogue facilitators and group members – INDIVIDUAL ETHICS

Dialogue facilitators and their group members should cultivate a level of health and wellbeing.

Dialogue facilitators and their group members should avoid abuse of substances such as drugs and alcohol, especially during and around times of Dialogue situations.

These Guidelines are not exhaustive. The fact that a given conduct is not specifically addressed here does not mean that the conduct is necessarily ethical or unethical. Classical codes of conduct and the Law of your country should be honoured and observed.

Lack of familiarity with or misinterpretation of these Ethical Guidelines is not justification for unethical conduct.

Dialogue facilitators and their group members who are uncertain as to the meaning or content of the Ethical Guidelines as it relates to a particular situation shall conduct their own research and take full responsibility for doing so, before acting.

If you come across a message or statement that appears to break this code, you may take a number of steps, including issuing a warning or removing the membership privileges from those responsible.

DISCLAIMER

These guidelines are intended for public use only, by way of collective social responsibility and not to be taken as any form of manual or formality. They have no legal standing and are not connected to the rights and responsibilities of Dialogica or any of its staff or members in any way. No inference to Dialogica must be made when referring to the guidelines above and referring to them in any way including in a verbal or written manner removes your right to connect them to Dialogica and any of its staff and members.

UPDATED 5th April 2024