I've registered for the 4-day RDI training...

[Saker]

Feel quite excited as we have taken the plunge and registered for the training next March. It's possibly a bit risky as Ds2 doesn't even have a diagnosis of ASD but I have watched the dvd and I think it could help him.
Just got to wait 5 months now.... .... is anyone else planning on going?

thinking about it. how much and where? last time i looked i could only find dertails of the 2 day.

Baka can't resist a conference, she's a conference tart

pmsl. conference=days away as there are never any near us I have to read the rdi rules - I have a vague memory that signing up to a w/s means signing up to a consultant, and lovely though that would be we're flat broke.I'm such a sucker I'd end up buying loads of their beanbags as well.

Fantastic Saker, I was wondering where you were up to with RDI. There are about 5 UK consultants currently going through the consultancy accreditation. Dr Gustein's daughter has recently started at Oxford Uni so he has been here a few times recently and I am hopeful things will take off in the UK soon, this is great news as it will make RDI more accessible. Wouldn't worry about the lack of asd dx btw, I'm thinking more and more it can help any child but especially those with social/communication difficulties.

I know, I have seen the schedule and it runs 9.30-3.30 which means we can get back home and see the kids etc and travel back down by train the next morning. However I was half hoping it wouldn't finish until 5pm then we would have to stay over in London, eat out, maybe take in a show...

The address to email for details is on the website now. Or you can phone Jill Galinato (number on website). Or I am happy to send you what they sent me if you CAT me.

Deep breath - it costs $2750 for the two of you. You can pay half now and the rest they take 2 weeks before.

I asked on the phone how much interest they had had and she said they had just had some registrations today and also a lot of enquiries.

oh well no then. That's way out of our price range.

Thanks Monica

Yes I have been in contact with one of the potential UK consultants and also with a couple of the US ones. It's hard to know whether to go with someone over there or wait for someone here. We have sort of made a start but it is really hard without help so I am now thinking we will probably wait until after the training although it's a few more months. We are trying to increase declarative language etc and I have to say Ds2 is making big improvements but I don't know whether it is related as I don't feel the RDI that we do is good enough to have much effect!

I'm sorry about that Baka. We are lucky we can afford it.

I know what you mean about the consultant Saker, it's a very personal thing, we were so lucky with ours, we feel we got so much more than the RDA from him, he has 20 plus years experience as a psychologist for the New York state, involving dx of ASD kid of all ages/across the spectrum, he has done teach/aba etc etc. We have taken the ongoing consultancy of initially 6 months too with him, and feel the time he spent with dd and us all as a family was invaluable.

Baka you don't have to attend one of the workshops to get a consultant, we have only watched the dvd, and you certainly don't have to sign up to a consultant once attended the workshop. Our RDA from the consultant was a lot less than the workshop cost, $1500 I think (about £800) but we had to pay the UK visit expenses split three ways too. Saker we have negotiated an ongoing consultancy with him very cheaply too so he will be doing another UK visit to reassess dd next year.

Thanks monica- how many hours did you get for your £800- was that a day's workshop? we would also have to pay within UK travel (being out in the sticks) and accomodation which always pushes the price up.

I have the DVD. I'm still not convinced by the use of RDI for non-verbal children really. I know everyone says it is still very useful but hlaf the activities in the book don't seem possible without speech.

Baka the RDA involved us filling in an indepth questionnaire on dd and vide submission, the consultant then spent 2 hours going through this with us, next day involved a morning of consultant assessing dd (video taped) lots of play type things but he was looking at how/if she referenced etc., next day another half day assessment of dd including myself and dh interacting with her and half a day with us discussing, day three was a home visit to assess the family, then an evening discussing his findings, strategies, where to start on the programme, obstacles/strengths, co occuring disorders etc etc, we then received a 15 page report/individualies programme, with where to start on the programme/strategies etc etc and a follow up video submission from us and feedback. We feel we got so much more than this though. Our consultant has done RDI with a non verbal child and states it is easier/more effective with non verbal children. I know what you mean about the stages though, but I know you understand that 70% of communication is non verbal so I would imagine once a child has mastered stage 1 referencing they could then move on up the stages without lack of language being an obstacle.

I have been really impressed by the quotes from the consultants in the US for the number of hours they reckon to spend with the child and the support they give you. It seems a lot cheaper than an equivalent service would be over here and that is one thing that makes me wonder about employing a UK consultant - you wouldn't have the travelling costs but would the actual expenses be higher?

Do you mind asking me who your consultant is Monica? We contacted one in Vermont - would it be him? If not do you think he would be interested in seeing anyone else over here? Although I probably have my fingers in enough pies for the time being . I quite like the idea of a man because all of ds2's therapists are women and I think it would be interesting to see how Ds2 worked with a man.

Saker our consultant is in Vermont, initials DS. He is a natural with ASD kids, I know RnB's ds worked well with him and dd loves him

Thanks Monica

He's one of the people I have talked to. It depends a bit on whether he can fit us in on his next visit I think, but it's good to have a recommendation. Another thing that I like about the US consultants that it is very clearly laid out what you get and how much it costs (presumably because of their health care system).

Message withdrawn