Hi everyone:
On a recent thread I mentioned Relationship Development Intervention also known as RDI. It appears to be the latest thing for treating autism and those on the spectrum in the U.S. and is spreading out to Canada and Australia too - it's only a matter of time before there are certified consultants in the UK. Sort of like where ABA was a few years ago.
Describing it simply RDI is a parent based treatment method. RDI is more about understanding the autism spectrum and what the difficulties are for people affected focussing on incorporating certain activities into your lifestyle to motivate your child to want to interact and by interacting they are learning. Many of these activities seem to be as you go about your daily business. There also appears to be ?floor? activities. It appears to be all about fun and relating and enjoying your child and having the child enjoy you and learn the value of communication and relationships. Appears to be used for people on the wide range of the spectrum from nonverbal young children through to teenagers and adults who have difficulties in relating to others due to aspergers.
They have a chat board which I have lurked on for awhile now and there are a lot of parents saying it is working for them in a way nothing else ever did ? we feel like it is something we have to take a better look at. Some of these parents have been using ABA and continue to use ABA in conjunction with RDI. They even have on-line chats with the founders Dr. Steve Gutstein and his colleague Dr. Rachelle Sheely.
There are parent seminars and workshops which are now only in the U.S and Australia I think unfortunately ? but it?s only a matter time before they are here in the UK. I am acquainted with a SENCO here in the UK (unfortunately not the SENCO at my dd?s school) who went to the professionals seminars in the U.S. and came back raving about RDI saying how a lot of what they said just made so much sense. It really looks like Dr. Gutstein has done his homework.
From the looks of it the family use the treatment methods themselves within the home and their general life and those who are fully using it regularly check in with consultants for guidance either by going to meetings or communicating via email or phone if they are long distance. Downside is that it can cost a bit of money to get started (i.e. attending seminars/workshops etc especially if they are not local to you). Long term being able to treat our daughter ourselves will make it easier being international and not having to hunt down therapists every time we move. We are going to start with the DVD ?Going to the Heart of Autism? and the books ?RDI Social and Emotional Activities for Children, Teenagers and Adults??. Will let you know when I get it and what I think.
I really recommend having a look at the RDI website rdiconnect.com - I spend hours on there hunting down the chats, testimonials and children?s stories to see real life account of what people think. You can also get signed up to receive their regular newsletters by email.
Near the bottom of the main page there a link to the ?DVD Release Notes? which gives you an idea of what the program is about. It will explain it better than I could. Like I say I have found it interesting and we are taking a look at it.
I know this has turned out to be quite long but we are a group who share and being so new many may not have heard about RDI. It may not be suitable for everyone but IMO definitely worth a look and deciding for yourselves.