The Relationship Development Intervention (RDI) Program

RDI is a parent-based therapy based on the premise that the core deficits of ASD—rigid thinking, aversion to change, inability to understand other people's perspective, and failure to empathize—must be addressed to improve the quality of the individual's life. Consequently, RDI focuses on building relationships, gaining friendships, feeling empathy, expressing love, and sharing experiences with others.

RDI is based on the work of Dr. Steven Gottstein, a clinical psychologist whose research in the development of typical children led to his findings that people on the autism spectrum lacked what he termed “dynamic intelligence,” the ability to successfully manage changing real life environments.

A recent study by Gutstein SE, Burgess AF, Montfort K monitored 16 children who participated in RDI therapy from 2000 to 2005. The study observed the children, looked at school placement, and gathered parent thoughts on the child's progress. It seemed that the RDI was the key factor in the child getting better. While all children met ADOS/ADI-R criteria for autism prior to treatment, no child met criteria at follow-up.

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