Relationship Development Intervention (RDI) is a parent-education programme based on the latest research on the brain, developmental psychology and autism. The focus of the programme is to promote and enhance the child’s social and emotional understanding rather than to teach discrete behaviours and skills. Children on the autism spectrum – and with other neuro-developmental difficulties - miss out on or fail to master many of the early developmental stages that typically-developing children learn effortlessly. RDI teaches parents to provide treatment that offers their child a second opportunity to master these early developmental stages.
In the Autism world, we have been trapped in the realm of teaching skills and compensatory approaches to help people with Autism get by, believing somehow that we can not really treat whatever the underlying problems are that prevent individuals from following typical development. Until recently, we have not investigated what the potential is for actually correcting their deficits to the point where they are less of an obstacle to gaining friendships, rewarding employment or independence. That investigation into what it would mean to treat the core deficits of Autism led to the development of the Relationship Development Intervention Program (RDI) by Dr Steve Gutstein.
The RDI program excels where other programs fail by:
Educating, empowering and valuing parents to create profound changes in their child.
Providing a consultative model that puts parents in their
rightful role as guides to their children significantly reduces the
cost of treatment. Parents spend the most time around their children –
not therapists! Parents learn to their to be the therapist for their
child.
Using an expansive and revolutionary series of objectives for
parents and children, based on decades of research literature into how
children develop through the guidance of their parents, to
systematically move children along the path of typical development.
Using quality of life outcomes, such as meaningful relationships and
rewarding employment, as the primary end goal of treatment and not a
series of discrete skills that become meaningless in real world
situations.
Being based on the most current research in the fields of autism, human development, and the neurology.
Utilising
a balanced treatment planning process that considers the autism as well
as other conditions or obstacles, and takes the needs of the whole family
into account.
Allowing families to live life while treating autism.
Families experience the quality of life they deserve and learn how to
make remediation of autism a part of their everyday life. It does not
have to separate from everyday life.
Constantly evolving to reflect
new research and information, which ensures that the program remains
cutting-edge and relevant over time.
Using an innovative web-based
system to provide parents with continuous access to program information,
communication with their consultant, video footage, and much more on an ongoing basis.
HOW DOES RDI WORK?
RDI® is a parent-based model. The parents are trained to become the primary therapists or “guides” to their child, and the Consultant provides the parents with tools, guidance and support.
Parents will begin with Parent Stage Objectives to learn how to guide their child in the process of becoming more dynamic and flexible. The Relationship Development Assessment (RDA), which examines the principles of the guiding relationship, will occur regularly with parents and Consultant. The information gained from the RDA and regular consultation sessions will guide the intervention process and progress in Child Stage Objectives. RDI “therapy” is primarily implemented in the home and community. Parents are encouraged to video tape their therapy with the child and review and analyze tapes to determine if the child is improving.
The sessions with the Consultant are usually spent with the parents alone, and may occasionally include the child for demonstration in the particular objective or lesson.
The Consultant is the single most important tool in the RDI program.
Consultants are trained to play a role as facilitators, tailoring
learning programs based on the unique needs of each family.
Consultants:
Carefully transfer their abilities to parents over a series of
clear objectives so parents can become fully independent in applying
the essential tools.
Help parents modify their communication, slow
their pace and focus
on the underlying opportunities available in their daily routines.
Teach
parents to conduct observations and analysis of critical
processes. Break down large, complex abilities into manageable
units.
Break down large, complex abilities into manageable
units.
Construct clear, systematic assignments, individualised to the
daily realities of the family.
Tailor what they do for each parent and
child.
Analyse child obstacles to make learning environment user
friendly.
Determine each child Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) to know where
developmentally to proceed.
