What Is Autism?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurobiological condition that can affect the
normal function of the gastrointestinal, immune, hepatic, endocrine and nervous systems. It
impacts normal brain development leaving most individuals with communication problems,
difficulty with typical social interactions and a tendency to repeat specific patterns of behaviour.
There is also a markedly restricted repertoire of activity and interests.
The term spectrum refers to a continuum of severity or developmental impairment. Children
and adults with ASDs usually have particular characteristics in common, but the conditions cover
a wide spectrum, with individual differences in:

Number and particular kinds of symptoms

Severity: mild to severe

Age of onset

Levels of functioning

Challenges with social interactions

Relationship Development Intervention

RDI is a developmental- and cognitive-based family-focused intervention dedicated to treating
the core deficits of autism spectrum disorders. The RDI curriculum and protocol are based on the
most current research in the fields of autism, human development and the brain. It is a parentbased, consultative ASD treatment model designed to systematically remediate the
neurologically based deficits associated with autism spectrum disorders.
The Relationship Development Intervention (RDI) Program was developed by Dr. Steven
Gutstein and Dr. Rachelle Sheely. They have spent years studying and organizing the research
literature in the areas of human development, neurology, and neuro-developmental disorders to
develop a comprehensive, research-based approach to neuro-development. RDI utilizes a
comprehensive set of developmentally sequenced objectives that represent all aspects of human
development from birth through adolescence to address the childs specific developmental
deficits. RDI tries to help children interact positively with other people, even without language.
According to RDI, when children learn the value and joy of personal relationships, they will find
it easier to learn language and social skills. RDI utilizes remediation whereby therapists
deliberately work on the childs greatest areas of weakness. On a neural level, remediation for
ASD means developing the brains capacity for integration and neural collaboration. Cognitive
interventions have been successful in changing brain pathways of people with autism, dyslexia,
obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression.
In our Relationship Development Intervention programme, a thorough assessment process is
conducted to identify the developmental gaps for each particular child. Subsequently, a plan is
developed to address the objectives for the cognitive, self, communicative and relationship
domains that requires attention. One of the many strengths of this programme is parent
participation. RDI is a family-based programme, where trained consultants support families to
alter their interaction and communication styles.

There is a period of parent education, followed by an assessment of both the child and the childparent relationship. With the knowledge that parents are a childs first teacher and the home is a
natural learning environment for young children, the programme heavily involves parents, who
receive training and tips on participating in their childs treatment.
The childs progress is monitored in weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly meetings where the child,
his/her parents, and the childs team are present.
Early research of RDIs effectiveness published in 2005 indicates that Relationship Development
Intervention may be more effective than some other treatments. When compared to a control
group with autism, children whose families participated in RDI showed greater improvement on
the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and more independence at school. However, more
studies have to be conducted to further support this claim.

RDI is a significant departure from traditional ASD interventions, and does not simply seek to
mask the childs condition with scripted conversations or rehearsed behaviors, but actually
makes neuro-cognitive changes over time that provides the child with the skills needed to
navigate lifes challenges on their own. By developing a childs capacity for dynamic thinking
we open the door to the possibility of a greater quality of life, one that includes:

Reciprocal communication

Genuine friendships

Confident independent living

Prolonged relationships

Meaningful employment

High Quality of Life

The RDI Program is:

A parent-based intervention program: where parents are provided the tools to

effectively teach Dynamic Intelligence skills and motivation to their child.

About the joy in connecting: a path for people on the autism spectrum to learn
friendship, empathy, and a love of sharing their world and experiences with others.

About changing neurology: a way for people on the spectrum to become flexible
thinkers and creative problem solvers who enjoy the challenges of change and who desire
to expand their world.

Based on over 20 years of research: by world's experts on typical development as well

as scientific studies on people with autism.

Developmental & systematic: a step-by-step program that focuses first on building the
motivations so that skills will be used & generalized; followed by carefully and
systematically building the skills for competence and fulfillment in a complex world.

Realistic: a program that can be started easily, and implemented seamlessly into regular,
day-to-day activities to enrich the life of the whole family.

Precise: a method that measures and begins at the edge of each person's capability and
then carefully but continually raises the bar

Parents Intervention in RDI

Relationship Development Intervention is a program designed to empower and guide parents of
children, adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorders to function as facilitators
for their childrens mental development. RDI teaches parents to play an important role in
improving critical emotional, social and cognitive abilities through carefully graduated, guided
interaction in daily activities.
Under the guidance of an RDI Program Certified Consultant, parents first learn to establish the
parent-child guided participation relationship. In typical development, this relationship
develops from infancy and throughout childhood and is the primary method through which
children learn to understand the complex world around them. They learn to trust their parents as
guides and to seek them out for guidance, support and feedback to navigate continually higher
levels of challenge. In the process, parents learn to modify their communication, slow down their
lifestyle, set appropriate behavioral limits, and restore their confidence and competence as
guides.
Once the guided participation relationship is in place, parents and their children have the ability
to redo the stages of development that were missed due to the childs neurological challenges.
Based on extensive research from the fields of child development and neurology, RDI uses a
comprehensive set of developmentally sequenced objectives that represent all aspects of human
development from birth through adolescence. The objectives encompass abstract thinking, selfawareness, communication, behavioral and emotional regulation, friendships, problem solving,
collaboration, academic learning, and many others.
RDI Program Certified Consultants work closely with parents by providing education, strategies,
and feedback as the guided participation relationship is developed and child objectives are
addressed. They teach parents how to use lifestyle activities such as chores, daily routines and
play to create opportunities for thinking, communicating, and relating in ways that promote
optimal growth and development.

RDI goes right to the heart of autism and remediates the actual core deficits" of autism
spectrum disorder

Self-Awareness the ability to understand how ones behavior impacts others; the ability
to understand and appreciate others unique values, beliefs and perspectives
Episodic Memory the ability to use past experiences to guide future behavior, and to
learn from consequences.
Flexible Thinking the ability to flexibly and successfully cope with lifes numerous
unexpected situations; to think in shades of grey, and without rigidity.
Dynamic Appraisal the ability to filter out superfluous information on a moment-tomoment basis, and to quickly determine how to respond to it.
Experience Sharing the ability to participate in genuine, reciprocal communication,
and to enjoy the dance of social interaction

Cost considerations
If a child is in a Relationship Development Intervention (RDI) program, the parent need to pay
for the assessments, the consultant fees and a subscription to the RDI Learning System.
Medicare and some private health funds might cover some of the costs of a consultant. If the
consultant has HICAPS, the parent might be able to make a claim immediately.

Research on RDI Program:

Within 18 months, over 70% of children in the initial study improved their diagnostic category
on the ADOS. 70% of the RDI Program group moved from a special education or home setting
to a regular classroom without any special support. On the contrary, not a single child in the
comparison group (of children receiving 2x the amount of other intensive interventions)
improved their diagnosis, nor progressed into a regular classroom without an aide. This is the
first study to ever demonstrate that a clinical intervention can change children's diagnostic
classification on the ADOS.

Reference
Autism Teaching Methods: Relationship Development Intervention. (n.d.). Retrieved
November 26, 2016, from http://www.autismweb.com/rdi.htm
UK, R. A. (2015, October 27). Relationship Development Intervention and Autism.
Retrieved November 26, 2016, from http://researchautism.net/autisminterventions/types/behavioural-and-developmental/developmental/relationshipdevelopment-intervention
Relationship Development Intervention (RDI). (2016, November 25). Retrieved
November 26, 2016, from http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/rdi_th.html
Relationship Development Intervention (RDI). (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2016,
from https://www.quickstartautism.ca/english/info-resources/therapies/relationshipdevelopment-intervention.html