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Frequently Asked Questions

(Families)

• What is Relationship Development Intervention® Program?

  RDI® is a program for educating and coaching parents and teachers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and others who interact and work with the child. It is a 'mission oriented' program. This means that it is not wedded to any specific techniques. The mission of RDI® is to develop the most effective methods to remediate those specific deficits which impede people on the autism spectrum from productive employment, independent living, marriage and intimate social relationships. It involves: systematic, long-term remediation of specific deficits that define autism spectrum disorders; preparing parents to act as participant guides and restoring the critical early guided-participation relationship damaged by ASD; creating numerous daily opportunities for the child to respond in more flexible, thoughtful ways; and helping children capture and stockpile critical memories that build a repository of competence, in gradually more complex environments. The RDI® Program protocol consists of 9 essential elements, which includes a curriculum of hundreds of step-by-step, developmentally-based objectives and a thorough Relationship Development Assessment™. See the complete RDI® Program protocol.

• What is the difference between RDI® Program and other therapies?

  RDI® is the first intervention that targets the core deficits of Autism. Each program is individually constructed for the child's specific needs in order to decrease the child's obstacles and utilize their strengths to develop meaningful relationships, cognitive flexibility and relative information processing.

• What is the first step in beginning my RDI® Program?

  We believe the first step in beginning your RDI® Program is to become aware of the theory and components of RDI®, which is done through a 4-day Intensive RDI® Parent Seminar. For additional information about parent seminars and locations, please go to http://www.rdiconnect.com/RDI/4daySeminar.asp. Following the parent training, you will be referred to an RDI® Program Certified Consultant in order to continue with the Relationship Development Assessment® (RDA®).

• What does the assessment entail?

  At the Connections Center in Houston, TX, we offer a package which includes several components to maximize your learning experience. However, if you are planning on using a Certified Consultant outside of the Connections Center, please check with them for scheduling and quotes. The Package in Houston includes:
  
  a. Initial Assessment in Houston

  • Review of questionnaires, rating scales and a short video segment from home
  • Initial Consultation with parents only
  • RDA1 with patient and one parent
  • ADOS w/ patient and clinician
  • RDA2 with patient and clinician only
  • Program Planning with parents only
  • RDA3 session 1 with patient and one parent
  • RDA3 session 2 with patient and one parent
  • Consultation session with parents only
  • Language Assessment
  • IQ assessment
  • Written intervention plan with recommendations

  b. Ongoing video review for 12 tapes (approx. 6 months)

  • Submission of one, 30-minute video every two weeks to be reviewed by a clinician. Feedback (within one week of the tape's arrival) is provided through e-mail.

  c. Re-evaluation in Houston, which includes everything from the initial assessment

• Is there anyone in my area who can do the assessment?
  We refer families only to those that have fully completed the RDI® Program Certification process. For a complete list of RDI® Program Certified Consultants, please visit our website at http://www.rdiconnect.com/RDI/consultants.asp.
  
  
• What happens once I complete the package mentioned above?

  Following your re-evaluation, we encourage you to continue with the program, including the ongoing video support and re-evaluation as a package. We offer this to all families that have already had an evaluation with the Connections Center.

• How long will my child have to do RDI®?

  RDI® is an ongoing process; however, how long one chooses to continue the program depends on each child's specific needs, parental goals for the child, and family commitment. If the program remains consistent, the children progress into dyads and small groups with peers at similar levels of functioning while parents still continue to work with their children at home.

• How often will I have to do RDI® at home?

  The greatest success is seen in families who have an "RDI lifestyle." We teach families to use their objectives and frameworks within everyday activities to maximize progress and ensure generalization.

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