RDI® Program Certified Consultants

Getting Ready for RDI^®

“In the RDI® Program, it is the person who makes the difference, not the technique.”

- Dr. Gutstein

Readiness

If the RDI program sounds like a treatment plan that you may wish to pursue, the next step would be for you to meet with a CATCH consultant to discuss your situation in detail and to find out if this is the right time and RDI the right program for your family.  Please contact us for a phone conference in which we can answer any questions you may have about the RDI program specific to your case.  Following this we recommend that you and your spouse  schedule an Intake Meeting at our clinic here in Sunnyvale to allow us as consultants to get to know you and your child, share some video examples of RDI in action, give you a better understanding of the RDI^® roadmap and allow you to ask any questions you may have about the program in general.

Prerequisites

RDI is above all, a PARENT based program that empowers families by giving mothers and fathers responsibility for their own child’s treatment.  However, the program also demands a lot more of your family than you may be used to from other interventions. As such, we request that you and your spouse complete the following steps prior to beginning with an RDI program:

- Attendance of a 2-Day Introductory Workshop by Dr. Steve Gutstein or completion of the “Going to the Heart of Autism” DVD for both parents.

- Submission of a recent video clip of lifestyle and play from each parent.

- Completion of the CATCH intake form, initial RDI questionnaire and attendance of the Parent Readiness classes.

- Registration for Parent Readiness classes

- Subscription to the RDI Operating System

 

When both parents have mastered the planning sage of the parent objectives, the RDA™ sessions will begin

 

Parent Training

This stage evaluates the parent-child relationship, current communication style, emotional readiness of parents and parent’s ability to function as an effective guide. Parent Readiness classes will prepare and educate parents on the core deficits of Autism, RDI goals, emotional readiness, planning to incorporate RDI into daily lives, learning to become an effective guide and strategies to help their ASD child to become an apprentice.  Homework for each parent will be assigned and completed through the family’s online file. In addition, parents will be readied for the changes they have to make as RDI coaches. 

The RDI Assessment (RDA)

The Relationship Development Assessment (RDA™ ) is a six-part videotaped assessment that will determine the stage and level that your child is at. It is not a test; but a way to customize a treatment plan for the child and parent(s). RDA™ items 1 through 6 provide an initial baseline for intervention, as well as ensuring the individualization of RDI programs.  Upon completion of all six RDA sessions, parents will receive an individualized treatment plan and current RDI objectives.

 

Subsequent supervision will be conducted in the following format: Weekly video evaluations and communication feedbacks from parent to consultant via the online, RDIOS file. Direct meetings with parents will be conducted a minimum of two times a month.  Over time, the frequency of supervision is customized to each family’s needs.  Home visits will be scheduled as needed.

 

Each family will be required to sign a consent form with the Connection Center, which allows them to review their child’s RDI objectives on line, as well as monitoring progress.  Monthly subscription fee for the RDI Operating System is directly paid to the Connections Center..