The RDI® Program for Autism Remediation
Q. What is RDI®?
A.
RDI® (Relationship Development Intervention) is an autism
intervention in which parents are trained by RDI® Program certified
consultants to be their child’s primary change agents in remediating the core
deficit areas of autism or related neurodevelopmental disorders.
Q. What is remediation?
A.
Remediation is a reduction or lessening of the severity of a deficit to a
degree that the deficit no longer constitutes and obstacle to quality of life.
Remediation is not the same as a “cure”.
Q. How does RDI® work?
A.
RDI® Program certified consultants train and coach parents on how to
work with their own child in their everyday lifestyles in ways that result in
remediation of the core deficits of autism over time. The core deficits are related to the way the autistic
brain processes information. Research has demonstrated that autism involves
insufficient neural connections between brain centers, resulting in rigid,
rule-based thinking and difficulty processing “dynamic” information. RDI® aims to build more typical
brain connectivity in persons with autism, leading to more typical information
processing, thinking and behavior.
“The changes we are noticing early on
(after a few months) are his increased interest in faces… he (now) talks about
his school friends… and even blushes over a girl. I thought that was
encouraging for a 4 year old.”
-Donna,
RDI® Mom
Q. What kind of results will I observe
in my child?
A.
In many cases, RDI® programs result in gains in the following areas:
·
Adaptability to new situations
·
Ability to problem solve in a flexible
manner
·
Improved social competence including
initiating and responding appropriately to social contact
·
Emotional and behavorial control
·
Ability to interpret the appropriate meaning
of situations
·
Empathy and perspective-taking
·
Feelings of their own competence
·
Quality of parent-child relationships
·
Level of independence in school
·
Self-awareness
Q. What kind of time commitment is
required?
A.
Typically, parents spend one hour a week with an RDI® Program
Certified Consultant. Homework (1-2 hours per week) is assigned between
sessions to reinforce parent learning. RDI is a long-term program; however,
consultant assistance is phased out as parents gain competence.
Q. Is funding available to cover the
cost of RDI®?
A. Connecticut
passed an autism therapy insurance mandate on
Q. Is RDI® appropriate for
low-functioning children, older children, or nonverbal children?
A. Yes,
in all cases. For children with severe
cognitive impairments, speech production challenges, sensory or motor
difficulties, or significant behavioral issues, other interventions may be
appropriate alongside RDI®. There is no upper age limit for RDI®.
The program has been used successfully for younger children, older children,
teens and adults.
“Before RDI®… MY
child was 7 ˝ years old, didn’t speak, would only eat 5 things, wore pull-ups
and had the official diagnosis of moderate to severe autism and mental
retardation. I would sit and watch him hit himself in the head and he would
come home from school with bite marks on his arms where he bit himself at
school. RDI® came along… my life changed… I became a parent instead
of a caregiver. We are a typical family now. We go shopping and he will eat
almost anything!! He no longer stims, he doesn’t hit himself and hasn’t bitten
himself in years!! What RDI® has given to my son and our family … is
nothing short of a second chance to have a really good life.
- Larien,
RDI® Mom
The RDI® Program for Autism
Remediation
Autism Family Services, LLC
Laura
B. DeAngelo, A.B., M.B.A
RDI®
Program Certified Consultant
deangelo@autismfamilyservices.com
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