	View Cart \| Register \| Login \| Contact Us \| Support \| Site Map

Celebrating "RDI® Dads" - 2006

From the very beginning the RDI® Program has been built on nurturing and supporting the foundations of the child-parent relationship, and many dads are excited to find the RDI® Program is a way to help the relationship with their child deepen and grow. The relationship becomes more reciprocal, more meaningful and more satisfying for both father and child. At our 4-day Parent Seminars, we average at least 90% father participation, and some of our Seminars have even had 100% of fathers in attendance! We acknowledge the following dads and all the other "RDI® Dads" who are making such a difference in their child's life:

•Dave (New Jersey) - "Camping or hiking over the weekend with Dad is the highlight ..."
• Dennis (Houston, TX) - "To a great single Dad."
• George (Charleston, SC) - "Spearing waffles together"
• John (Coral Springs, FL) - "John, my love, you rock!"
• Keith (Keymar, MD) - "From here to independence with a lot of fun and bonding along the way"
• Todd (Joey's Dad) - "Dancing with Daddy"
• Vic (Ohio) - "The 'put-everyone-first' kind of man."

Consultants too, contibuted stories about Dads! Due to time and space limitations, we selected just some of the many we received:

• Barry (Canada) - "Unyielding patience and determination."
• Dean (California) - "If I have to change, I am ready to do it!"
• Don (Michigan) - "Not afraid to keep trying things."
• Jeff (Canada) - "From weightlifting to baking delicate croissants."
• Joseph (Canada) - "A special father-daughter relationship."
• Rob (Pennsylvania) - "RDI® - the best return on an investment."
• Tom (Michigan)- "A wonderful mentor to his son."

Dave (New Jersey)
"Camping or hiking over the weekend with Dad is the highlight ..."
I wanted to just say how proud I am of my husband and the way he is trying to incorporate RDI® in everything he does with the kids.

We have 4 children, two on the spectrum. At the start of learning about the RDI® Program and sharing with Dave all about the concepts, he immediately started involving the two kids more in the dynamics of everything they did as father and sons. Camping or hiking over the weekend with Dad is the highlight of their time with him. Pretty much every Saturday he takes them out. I think my 5 year old's first sentence went something like "Go camping with Daddy." From setting up the pop to roasting marshmallows, doing everything together was the highlight!

I have watched that trickle down into everyday life as the kids help Dad "fix" things and just the other day, as friends of ours were moving, my one son, who is 9, was helping and most of our friends sat in amazement as he and Dad put a bed together.

It has been a slow process, over a year now, but as we as parents get more competent, we see huge improvements in our two boys, along with how we interact with our typical children also!

To a great single Dad: Dennis (Houston, TX)
Jaimie's dad, Dennis, is very new to the RDIŽ scene, yet he takes his Dad duties very seriously. Jaimie goes to stay with her dad all summer and it's something she looks forward to with a lot of excitement.

This will be Dennis' first summer with his daughter starting the RDI® Program, but he has supported us in our journey which began in October 2004 towards RDI® in so many ways. First, he never blinks when we ask for funds for our consultant. In fact, he has not missed a support payment in fifteen years! Although we all live in the Houston area, we had to travel to Florida to meet with our consultant (as there was no room in the Houston Connections Center inn). He bought us a dependable car to travel to our destination as a gift and paid the majority of travel expenses. It doesn't get better than that!

Like all parents new to RDI®, he started with the "wait and see," but he is ready to begin this summer on a new venture with his daughter who became an adult this year. We bought a camera "just like Dad's" so that Jaimie can learn from the photography "master." Also, we have a great consultant who will be supporting him as he begins his trek into the RDI® Program.

This is Jaimie and her mom's salute to all of the responsible single dads who go unnoticed, those who faithfully take care of their children...too often without a single "Thank you." So we're saying "Thank you"...for everything.

George (Charleston, SC)
"Spearing Waffles Together"
My husband, George, learned about the RDIŽ Program from me after a four-day [Parent Seminar] I attended in May. He was unable to attend because he is teaching two extra classes and has taken an additional job out of town for two weeks this summer. The money earned is going to pay for our RDI® expenses. Last week after teaching a night class he drove us four and a half hours so we could meet with our consultant and get Johnny's assessment the next morning.

In an effort to reteach his body to walk after nearly 10 years in a wheelchair, he spends three hours a week in physical therapy. He is home only a little while John is awake, but this does not stop him. George is putting in time with John, inventing regulatory patterns. Yesterday at breakfast he made a noise and speared one of John's waffle pieces and ate it himself. John got it almost immediately, made a similar noise and speared one of George's waffles then ate it himself. They literally shared the rest of their breakfast sharing excited facial glances. He shared this story tonight at the support group I sponsor at a local library here in Charleston, SC. When I got done presenting to the group about what I had learned at the four-day, George took the floor and shared from the Father's perspective unbidden. He shared that he believes in the RDI® Program because it is all about family and how it matches our beliefs in the power and indispensibility of the family unit. He also went on to share how much he respects and appreciates our Consultants. You see he and I feel like we have two, April Choulat and her husband - a family guiding our family.

John (Coral Springs, FL)
"John my love, you rock!"
What can I say about Nathan's dad, John, my husband? Well, I can tell you this: my son would not be starting to come off the Spectrum (in my opinion) without this man. He is definitely the brainiac but wisdom is his passion, an artist who sees things that I have trouble seeing; and I am the resource person and it is a recipe for success for Nathan.

I actually spent about 2 years complaining about how slow my husband moved when interacting with our son, about how he just 'hung out' and didn't 'get' anything from Nathan, how he was all about the experience and didn't focus on the task, how he spent too much time having fun and not getting anything done. Get my drift?! Foolish me; I finally realize that he was building lasting memories for Nathan, allowing Nathan to think and have time to process and just 'hang' without having to perform.

As an Artist and Designer, John actually studies static and dynamic systems; trends that drive design that make things work comfortably for human beings. He also studies broadband communication and bandwidth in order to do some of his work on web-sites; he has to understand how something can be 'user-friendly' and what motivates users to feel compelled to want to navigate through a web-site that has a product they want. All of that coupled with the fact that my husband stops (and I mean stops) to 'smell the roses', makes my son not want to do anything unless my husband is right there watching and smiling; Nathan just wants to be with John; and thank God, it has generalized.

There was a time when Nathan and I could do nothing together unless it was me getting something from him under the stimulus of external reinforcement or prompting; things that he just did because he wanted to please, and it was a compliance issue. My husband never was and never will be like this. I am so glad to have him for a role model and he has taught me so much about slowing down and it is really challenging for me; but I want Nathan to want to just 'hang' with me too; I won't stop trying to get better at it.

We definitely have come so far and I know with my husband as my partner in the RDI® Program, that our son will get a "No longer diagnosis of Autism" in a matter of years. I thank my husband from the depths of my soul that he held steadfast even when I nagged, nagged, nagged and I say to him on this day of appreciation, 'Happy Father's Day - Nathan and I love you more than you'll ever know. John, my love, you rock!'

Keith (Keymar, MD)
"From here to independence with a lot of fun and bonding along the way."
My husband, Keith, is the father of our 9 children. He has always been supportive of homeschooling as well as supporting me as I've looked into the different concerns I've had about our children–dyslexia, speech delays, Aspergers, etc. Usually I've been the one to take the recommended steps in helping our children with their different difficulties. Well, that was up till we began the RDI® Program.

Keith has really taken the lead on not only understanding all the different stages pertaining to Josh, our 12 year old son diagnosed with Aspergers, ADHD, etc., but he has also jumped in with both feet with the videotaping and coming up with different projects to do, not just to be videotaped, but also that he thinks Josh would benefit from. I've seen Keith's patience and understanding of where Josh's brain is coming from just blossom and then being able to meet Josh at those points and help lead him through. Not only has Joshua grown and been passing different stages, but their relationship has only been blessed by Keith's interest in the RDI® Program and more importantly in Joshua.

They've done things from taking walks and just co-regulating, to wiring the barn and changing the oil in the car. They've played ping pong and he and the rest of the kids have done dancing - like the Virginia Reel together. What a blast!! This Dad of our Children really has many wonderful stories, both inside and out of RDI®, but pertaining to RDI® I think one of the most significant blessings that has come is Keith's understanding of Joshua and his understanding of himself with regards to helping Josh get from here to independence with a lot of fun and bonding along the way.

Encouragement from Todd (Joey's Dad)
"Dancing with Daddy."
Joey will be 6 in August and our family discovered the RDI® Program back in March. Getting eye contact from Joey is always a great challenge but recently I stumbled onto an actitvity that he simply loves. It's just called "dancing with Daddy" where he stands on my feet while we dance but when I added the nonsense sounds "Uhga Buhga Uhga!" in a gravelly toned-voice he lights up like a light bulb and won't take his eyes off me 'til we're done. The look of glee on his face: priceless! Hope this encourages other Dads out there–it's worth a try.

Vic (Ohio)
"The 'put-everyone-first' kind of man."
My husband, Vic, is the most amazing father. His understanding of what our son, Nathan, needs is ingrained in every interaction. He spends time with our daughters also either tossing the football or writing a cartoon. I am deeply moved many times a week by the considerate, caring, put-everyone-first kind of man I married 15 years ago.

Certified Consultants acknowledge Dads:

Barry (Canada)
"Unyielding patience and determination."
Barry was meant to be a dad. He is gentle, kind, nurturing, patient, and completely devoted to his children. When we began RDI® over a year ago, we encountered quite a rocky start and Barry, being the stay-at-home parent at the time, persisted daily with guiding his son to feel what dancing with another person feels like. Eventually, after much resistance, Barry developed a trust in his son that has led him to become the experience-sharing addict he is today. When I see this master and this apprentice interact now, it looks and feels so natural and so effortless that I'm often astounded by how far they've come. Barry's unyielding patience and determination is a constant inspiration to me and I'm sure will be to many other RDI® dads as well.

Dean (California)
"If I have to change, I am ready to do it!"
A year ago Dean came in to my clinic with his adorable 3 year old little girl for an RDA assessment. Dean and his wife came into the program with a full understanding of RDI® Program practices, and without me having to tell them, they were able to make the changes needed for their daughter's remediation. Although I could sense their anxiety over the recent Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis, Dean and his wife read up on available treatments and made very wise choices, often against what was recommended to them by professionals. They knew that their daughter was not ready for school, and that pushing in that direction too soon was not going to help her. They made the decision to slow down and put school at the bottom of their list.

Over this past year I have come to know Dean very well. He is a very proactive father, who is diligent in reading all of the Connections Center newsletters, participates in the RDI® Program Yahoo groups and generously shares his knowledge with other parents who come to him. All of this without me telling him to do so! Dean comes to the clinic every week with a video tape for us to review, and his little girl has blossomed into such a sweet 'Chatty Kathy"!!

What impressed me about Dean has been his perseverance in overcoming overcome his own personal difficulties. I would never forget my first home visit, Dean's little girl threw such a big tantrum because she wanted to play with the bowling pins in a certain way. Before RDI®, the usual way Dean would have dealt with the situation would have been to follow his daughter's demands and do anything to make her happy. However, on this day I coached Dean through the tantrum, and he was ready to remain calm and in control even when everything we tried did not work. Eventually we had a small victory, and Dean was able to reconnect with his little girl sitting together on the sofa. He told me that day, "If I have to change, I am ready to do it!"

Today Dean and his little girl spend lots of time playing together. She constantly borrows his perspectives because she knows that's where her biggest accomplishments would be. She just learned to 'paddle a boat' together with her Dad. It was hard, but they stuck through it, and they celebrated over and over again...

Don (Michigan)
"Not afraid to keep trying things."
In consulting with Don and his family I have the opportunity to watch a wonderful father-daughter team grow together. There is a wonderful bond that has been established between Don and his 8 year old daughter as they engage in many different activities together on a daily basis. Whether they are making chili, shoveling woodchips, or playing a game together, Don is always careful to frame things in a way that promotes his daughter's competence and success. They have both been able to step outside their previous comfort zones to try new ways of doing things. Don is very conscientious about watching his own work on video in order to learn and improve, and is excellent at implementing feedback. He's not afraid to keep trying things to improve his own level of competence with his daughter. Don's willingness to prioritize time with his daughter has yielded wonderful results thus far, and will continue to do so into the future.

Jeff (Canada)
"From weightlifting to baking delicate croissants."
It's impossible to watch Jeff's video footage without smiling the entire time. Since embarking upon their RDI® journey over a year ago, Jeff has developed a wonderful relationship with his son that is a constant reminder to me of why I chose this profession. From the get-go, Jeff has worked diligently on learning how to become an effective and trusted guide for his son and in looking back, I'm often astounded by just how far he's come. From weightlifting to baking delicate jam and cream cheese croissants, Jeff has consistently demonstrated his ability to generalize RDI® concepts to everyday life and his son has developed into quite a well-rounded individual as a result! To watch this father guide his son, regardless of what they're doing, is truly inspiring and I feel honored to have had the pleasure of being their consultant.

Joseph (Canada)
"A special father-daughter relationship."
Joseph has such a wonderful way of relating to his daughter that I look forward to every video this family sends. From reenacting WWF moves to baking banana bread, I'm always amazed at this father's motivation and natural sense for scaffolding to always ensure that his ready and willing apprentice is challenged and competent. Joseph's humor, creativity, and openness to the process has led to the continued development of quite a special father-daughter relationship that I have had the honor of seeing unfold. Despite working long hours, Joseph continues to devote time to remediation and his continued progress as a coach is proven by the sounds of frequent shared giggles on tape. I can't wait to see what the future holds for this father and daughter!

Rob (Pennsylvania)
"RDI® - the best return on an investment."
Rob is a wonderful father and RDI® Program coach. He is the first person at support meetings who stands up to talk about how RDI® has changed his life for the better. He has said that the RDI® Program is the best return he could ever get on an investment. However, the main reason that he has seen his son's growth is because he is so devoted to helping him. I have watched tapes of Tae Kwan-Do, making milkshakes, and playing drums together just to name a few. Rob even knows how to make washing the dishes fun. Both Rob and his wife are a wonderful team who are committed to supporting each other along with building their son's competence.

Tom (Michigan)
"A wonderful mentor to his son."
I always look forward to the tapes I receive from Tom for two reasons - 1) It is wonderful to watch him with his son and 2) I always learn something myself! Tom is a very dedicated RDI® dad who is always coming up with unique and purposeful projects to do with his 13 year old son. Whether fixing a muffler, chopping wood, or digging holes for pipes in the backyard, Tom is a wonderful mentor to his son and is very conscientious about framing things in a way that allows his son to be successful and work on objectives. His scaffolding allows his son to take risks and actively think about things in new ways. The bonus for me is that I get to learn about car repair and glass cutting in the process! The entire family is a joy to work with, and I know that this young man is better off for the time his father invests in him on a daily basis.