RDI®
An Overview
Relationship Development Intervention (RDI®) is a treatment specifically designed to address the unique deficits of autism. It is effective and appropriate for all ages, stages, and levels of functioning. RDI® addresses the core deficits of autism, such as Emotional Referencing, Social Coordination, Declarative Language, and Flexible Thinking. These deficits are universal to individuals on the autistic spectrum; they are deficits shared by all ASD individuals. In the past, common interventions used to treat autism have not been shown to affect these deficits. In other words, they are lifelong deficits. RDI® "targets" these deficits and has been shown to affect them.
Libby's Personal Experience
After 12 years of working in the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA), Libby Majewski began learning about a new and exciting intervention for children and adults with autism. The new intervention was called Relationship Development Intervention (RDI®) and Dr. Steve Gutstein's workshops seemed to be popping up everywhere. Yet little was known about this persono and his background in autism. Not in the field of ABA, Dr. Gutstein's work at his clinic and Houston, TX called Connections Center, was not familiar to Libby and her colleagues. Intrigued, Libby traveled to Pittsburgh to see Dr. Gutstein's Introductory Workshop titled "Solving the Relationship Puzzle". She was accompanied by a mother looking to help her daughter form deeper, more meaningful relationships.
The first trip to Pittsburgh occured back in 2003 and its impact on Libby (and countless other professionals) is immeasurable. Libby found that Dr. Gutstein actually defined autism as he called direct attention to its "core deficits". This was an area of discussion that never seemed to surface in the world of autism treatments. And yet, how can we be treating it successfully if we don't even know what it is?
Libby is now a certified RDI® program consultant. However, as can only be the case when working with a deep and evolving model, her journey through RDI® continues with every passing year.
