Does my child have to be given a certain diagnosis in order to work with you?

No, we work with individuals who have been diagnosed with a wide variety of disorders and also with individuals who have no diagnosis at all. If your child has any type of developmental, learning, or behavior challenges we can assist you with appropriate evaluation and strategies. Labels or diagnoses are not nearly as important as what needs to happen to treat them!

What ages of children do you work with?

Any age. We love - and are successful - working with teens and adults as well as younger children.

Can you work with families who do not live near you?

Yes! Much of our work happens in the family home and some families choose to come to us. Technology makes it possible to provide high quality consultation to families regardless of location. We are also very happy to provide services to families outside of Ireland.

How much does it cost to work with you?

Our fees vary depending on the type of service provided and the professionals involved in treatment. We have a variety of service contracts, payment plans, and payment options available to allow as many families as possible to benefit from the services we provide.

Is the RDI programme effective for everyone on the Autism Spectrum?

We find that all people on the Autism Spectrum can benefit from the RDI programme. It appears to be helpful regardless of IQ, language, gender, or diagnosis.  The most important factors in determining the rate of improvement is the degree to which we have to overcome obstacles like the child’s desire to control others, and the presence of any co-occurring illnesses.

What about non-verbal children?

We have found that the RDI programme dramatically increases children’s motivation to communicate and to use meaningful reciprocal language.  However, the RDI programme should not be the sole intervention for any individual with severe speech and / or language development problems.

Is the RDI programme just for social development?

No. While social improvements are dramatic, children who succeed in their RDI programme demonstrate dramatic changes in flexible thinking, pragmatic communication, creative information processing, problem solving and self development.

Does the RDI programme replace social skills training?

We view social skills as important, but vastly different from Dynamic Intelligence. Skills such as behaving appropriately, following rules, good hygiene and proper dress are essential for social acceptance and success.

How do I decide if the RDI programme is right for the needs of my family?

An initial consultation with ReConnect will help you decide whether RDI is right for your family. During this FREE no obligation consultation, you will find out about how participation on the programme will look and feel for your family. You will be guided through the RDI process by your consultant who will answer any fears or concerns you may have. If you then decide to participate on the RDI programme, a detailed assessment will be carried out by your consultant. A parent education plan will then be put in place before any child objectives commence.

Developing dynamic intelligence seems to be core to RDI - what is Dynamic Intelligence?

Neural under-connectivity in people with ASD leads to a rigid and static view of the world. Because of this dislike of change and inability to cope with new information, people with ASD do not develop dynamic intelligence which is essential for relationships, independence and quality of life.  Dynamic Intelligence means being able to think flexibly, take different perspectives, cope with change, process information simultaneously (e.g. listen and look at the same time), take into account different factors when making a decision. These abilities are essential in the real world.


How do children with ASD develop or learn Dynamic Intelligence?

Typical children develop dynamic intelligence through guided participation, that is being guided and given challenges by their caregivers. Due to their social difficulties, this relationship breaks down in children with ASD and so families must be supported to re-build it, in a slow and more deliberate manner. Children need to learn to reference their parents, share emotions and use experience-sharing language in order to build a close and trusting relationship where they can learn and cope with the uncertainty of life.

Do you have any other questions?

If you have questions that are not answered above, please email us at info@reconnectautism.org for a speedy and confidential response.