Dr. Steven Gutstein Will Answer Your Questions About RDI (Relationship Development Intervention)
Tuesday May 23, 2006
Relationship Development Intervention, is a relatively new treatment for autism that is gaining momentum and interest. Developed by Dr. Steven Gutstein and his associates, it involves parents and peers as "coaches" in a process that includes structured social games and activities. Over time, say the program's creators, children with autism gain the ability to relate and engage with others on their own -- and to enjoy and build on their social relationships.
Dr. Gutstein has agreed to answer reader questions about RDI, and this is a terrific opportunity to learn more about the program and how it works. Do you have a question? If so, post it here!
Comments
Dr. Gutstein, are you currently planning to release a second DVD with the rest of the RDI program being shown in action? I have the DVD and found it to be very informative about RDI, though the steps to implement are not easy for me to grasp. Thank you for taking questions here. I look forward to learning more about RDI when the books I’ve ordered arrive next week.
Dr. Gutstein could you speak a little about comparing and contrasting RDI with DIR/Floortime, developed by Dr. Greenspan.
Thanks
Dr. Gutstein,
Why did you choose to start charging parents for services before developing a research base instead of the more mainstream sequence of verifying a treatment through research before using it clinically?
I would be very interested in seeing Dr. Gutstein response to Erich’s question of June 13, 2006. I would also like to know why the research paper that is “in Press” has been removed from the RDI Connect website. Dr. Gutstein, I have been informed by the JADD that your research is being published as a Brief Report rather than a full peer reviewed paper. Your literature downloads and your web pages do not reflect this. I have emailed Dr. Gutstein privately, posted on his website, emailed the website administration, written in to a radio show he did last week and have not received any replies to date to my questions:-( Hopefully I will be able to make contact through this site. It was just advertised on the latest RDI Connect newsletter.
Hi Dr Gutstein,
I have seen over the past 2 years RDI transform my children. We were currently in an ABa program before RDI. My biggest obstacle was teaching my children the *why bother* instead of just skills. I see this emerging alot in people who are introduced to RDi with that background, especially claiming they use your book to help. What can I say to them to help them understand functions??
Kathy
Dr. Gutstein,
I currently have my 3 yr old in a 25 hr per week VBA program. I have seen some great gains, but the rigidity is as strong as ever. I am reluctant to abandon his VBA though. Can a parent do both RDI and VBA together?
Thank you.
Hi Dr. Gutstein,
I was wondering how the veteran parents who will not be able to make it to the Denver meeting in August will find out about the new developments in the RDI program.
It is pretty nice of you to take questions here. I don’t know where you find all the hours in a day! Thanks.
Dr Gutstein,
Have you thought about putting together some kind of simplified brochure on “what” RDI is so that parents will have a way of easily presenting RDI to other professionals or government funders?
For parents trying to obtain funding for RDI it can be very complicated to explain RDI to others when they have not yet began an RDI treatment program.
Keep up the good work. We can not wait until RDI is recognized by everyone in the field as the only real treatment for autism.
Hi. I very much appreciate what you are trying to do although I strongly affirm that I am not trying to normalise my children, they will never be “normal” and Im happy with that, rather, I would like to help them survive in a “normal” society. My eldest is attending a sort of ABA school and is loving it. We are seeing great gains and are very happy. My youngest 2 yrs is yet to join. You have said several times that you like to get them young, but it is difficult to resist sending them to school!! When will we see RDI approach schools??
Hi, how will we be able to see the answers from the questions? Perhaps you could provide a link? Thanks.
Dr. Gutstein,
A good clinician uses techniques that s/he finds will work. Therapy, or remediation, is as much an art as it is science. Every MAINSTREAM clinician knows this.
In reference to the comments (not really questions) made by Erich and Mary, I want to commend you for delivering RDI services, and training consultants in RDI now, rather than later.
If I had to develop a “research base” for every move I make as an SLP, I would accomplish very little, in terms of remediation.
There are thousands of people on the planet who have been helped, and are presently being helped, by RDI. Since I have to share my social environment with them,I am grateful for whatever remediation they receive.
My question is: why didn’t people come up with this sooner? What took you so long???
Dr. Gutstein: RDI has revised and modified several times since its inception. Your preliminary research appears to have been based on the original construct. Your “second study” encompasses approximately 6.5 years of intervention. Does, and how does the modifications in the program affect the validity of your research, and if not, why not?
Hi,
I am a student at the University of Missouri, as well as an ABA therapist for two 4 y/o boys with Autism. I have heard a lot about RDI and am writing a research paper on the comparisons and contrasts between RDI and ABA. Have you done or do you know of any research that has been done concerning the benefits of RDI?
Thanks
Dr. Gutstein,
My question is - when do you you plan on answering all of the questions that have been asked here?
Dr. Gutstein,
We live in Israel. Are there RDI guieds here?
Hi and thanks for taking the time to answer our questions. My husband and I are new to RDI but are orderig the dvd and the solving the relationship puzzle book. Our son is 16 and a high function asp/spd, fully verbal but struggles seriously with school/socializing. We are hopeful that RDI might make a difference as things are tough at the moment and comments all over the web are so promising. However, we live in Malta, Europe and as far as we know there are no consultants here, or are there?? Also are any of your other books more age and level appropriate for our son as so much is written for children and I don’t want to buy yet another book with hope and then find it is wrong. Again thank you and look forward to your reply.
Dora
Hi I am an occupational therapist working in an autism centre and would like to know everything about RDI. We use a lot of VBA and SI.. If you could provide me with a link wherein i can read up on RDI it would be great Thanks