Relationship Development Intervention (RDI)

Relationship Development Intervention (RDI) aims to create strong personal family bonds for you and your child with Autism through shared family fun time.  Developed by psychologist Steven Gutstein Ph.D, RDI focuses on skills that normally develop in infancy and early childhood that lead to social interaction and flexible and dynamic thinking.  This parent-driven clinical treatment program helps prepare parents to act as guides to create daily opportunities for their child to succeed in everyday settings. The child will be working towards increasing flexibility and problem solving, understanding social communication, dealing with unpredictable changes, and developing real relationships.

Related Sites

www.rdiconnect.com  This site directly links you to RDI training, educational recourses, and parent supports.  It also provides access to a newsletter and information on family based programming.
http://www.autismteachingtools.com/page/bbbbfg/bbbbwg  Autism Teaching Tools provides information and teaching tips for children with Autism.  They explain Social and Relationship Interventions and provide other useful links and information for parents.
http://www.remediatingautism.com/dynamic-connections/services-for-familes/rdi.html  This web site offers family-centered, developmentally based interventions customized to meet the needs of families and children affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Books

Relationship Development Intervention with Young Children: Social and Emotional Development Activities for Asperger Syndrome, Autism, PDD and NLD   by Steven E. Gutstein and Rachelle K: Friendship.
Description:  Even for the most able, requires hard work, and the odds are heavily stacked against those with autism spectrum disorders.  Designed for younger children, typically between the ages of two and eight, this comprehensive set of activities emphasizes foundation skills such as social referencing, regulating behavior, conversational reciprocity and synchronized actions.  The authors include over 300 objectives to plan and evaluate a child's progress, each one related to a specific exercise.  Suitable for parental use, the manual is also designed for easy implementation in schools and in therapeutic settings.  A comprehensive website acts as companion to the book, free to purchasers.

The RDI Book: Forging New Pathways for Autism, Asperger's and PDD with the Relationship Development Intervention Program   by Steven E. Gutstein Ph.D.
Description:  In a highly readable and carefully detailed manner, The RDI Book chronicles the integration of cutting-edge theory and powerful clinical tools resulting in a program that has provided new hope to thousands of families with an ASD child.  Dr. Gutstein describes the process in which parents are empowered and carefully trained by skilled professional consultants, to guide the cognitive, social and emotional development of their children.  Through the framework of a unique dynamic intelligence curriculum, children become motivated to seek out new challenges and overcome their fear of change.  Based on over ten years of research, Dr. Gutstein honors the delicate choreography critical for children of all ages to grow into independent, emotionally connected, responsible adults.  The RDI Book is a landmark publication demonstrating how every family can apply their inherent wisdom and courage to attain success.

Relationship Development Intervention with Children, Adolescents and Adults   by Steven E. Gutstein and Rachelle K. Sheely.
Description:  Remove our emotional bonds with family, colleagues and friends and few of us would want to go on living.  Yet establishing and maintaining such bonds is particularly difficult for people on the autism spectrum.  This volume contains over 200 activities and exercises ranging over the entire gamut of social and emotional development, and is applicable to anyone, regardless of diagnosis, but will be particularly valuable for those on the autism spectrum.  Activities can be undertaken independently, or with a teacher or therapist, and a full schema for the evaluation of progress and objectives is included.  A companion website provides a wealth of further information and support.

Tools

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbdaJtPEBfk&feature=player_embedded   Dr. Gutstein, the founder of the Relationship Development Intervention(RDI), provides a brief overview of the program and how it works.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjlIYYbVIrI&feature=player_embedded   Carol Gray, creator of Social Stories, gives a 5 minute overview of what Social Stories are.
http://thegraycenter.org/social-stories/carol-gray   The Gray Center allows you to browse and purchase books, dvds, and other material related to Social Stories.
http://autism-help.org/intervention-relationship-development-1.htm   This site provides an easy to read Fact Sheet about RDI.

Parent Forums

(Some forums require you to sign in to Yahoo or Facebook to locate forum names.)
Forum Name:  RDI-Chicago
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/RDI-Chicago/info   This group is for families or professionals who are interested in or currently using RDI (Relationship Development Intervention) therapy to remediate autism.