Rdi - Autism Spectrum Message Board

km604 · 08-26-2005, 03:18 PM

Has anyone used Relationship Development Intervention Program (RDI)? I have a 5 yr old son with Asperger's Syndrome.

SHReed · 08-26-2005, 07:27 PM

We are getting ready to start RDI with our son, who is 6 and is high-functioning autistic. After researching this treatment program, I have so much more hope than I have in a long time. While my son is intelligent and is able to pick up things quickly in school, and he does receive Speech and Occupational therapy at school, I don't think that the school is really equipped to give him the help he needs. I've been looking for a program such as RDI for a long time that will let us, as his parents, learn how to administer the program at home, and what really appeals to us is that you incorporate the therapy into everyday activities and you can get the entire family involved. (Plus it's considerably less expensive than some other programs I've read about.) I truly believe that this will give our son a much better chance of having meaningful relationships and live independently in the future. We're going to a 4-day workshop in October to learn how to do RDI at home, then we meet with a consultant several times after that for an assessment, and she will help us to customize the program for our son.
Are you considering RDI for your son? If you're really interested in pursuing it, I recommend that you buy the DVD (listed on the RDI website). It's expensive, but it's 5 hours long and very thorough and gives you a good idea of what the program is all about.

km604 · 08-26-2005, 08:20 PM

Thanks for the info. I received a limited amount of info from a company called Kids Ahead in NJ. Apparently they will work with me during that time teaching me and viewing videos of my son. The fees are $5,000 for six months and I doubt that our insurance would cover any portion of this. But still, the cost seems worth it if truly helps my son. We have a Behavior Analyst coming out currently. But I just don't think that having my son memorize appropriate times to say please and thank or training him to do certain tasks with a cookie is the answer. I want him to learn how to feel emotions and share them with others. It would be so nice if he could make friends for the sheer joy of having a friendship.
Please let me know how the program works for you and your son.

r_helpmom · 09-01-2005, 02:53 AM

Hi,

We've just started our RDI all anew for the 2nd time. Our daughter is 2 and half. A year ago we were not confident when we interviewed Kids Ahead

. We tried a independent in-training consultant who turned out to be totally unreliable

. Now we're with a new consultant who is very professional and reasonable

. I think RDI is a great program. You just have to stick with the routines and disciplne of video taping and followups.

If you are from NJ, I suggest you join the RDI NJ and/or RDI Central NJ yahoo groups. Both goups meet every month and are great resources to meet other parents and professionals.

--Real