Product Description

A Groundbreaking Developmental Program that Opens the Door to Lifelong Social & Emotional Growth for Persons with Autism, Aspergers Syndrome & PDD"

Steve Gutstein, psychologist and autism specialist, sought to discover why children with autism lack the social skills that come so easily to the rest of us. The result of his efforts is an innovative program - Relationship Development Intervention - that take social skills teaching to the next level. You'll learn about the social development pathway of the nondisabled child and the life-changing detour taken by children on the autism spectrum. However, instead of leaving you there, Autism/Aspergers: Solving the Relationship Puzzle describes ways to steer children with autism onto a bright new path of self discovery and social awareness, one that will ultimately bring them home to meaningful friendships, shared emotions and heartfelt connection with the people in their lives.

It's an important new book in the autism field.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #105751 in Books
• Published on: 2001-03-14
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 200 pages

Review
A remarkable intervention program! -- Dr. Tony Attwood

Customer Reviews

Be Cautious
I have a child with High Functioning Autism. We did ABA and yielded good results. Later I heard about RDI. I have had trouble jumping on the RDI train so I bought this book to heighten my understanding. The RDI concepts make sence and the book is a good read but the book is filled with alot of hype and propoganda. It lacks actual direction on how to best begin implementation of an RDI program without pouring thousands of dollars into Dr. Gutsteins bank account! This book is like a teaser to get you to buy into the whole RDI Connections "Gutstein Gravy Train". First there is this book, then thousands of dollars to attend his seminars to get more information, then more $$ to hire an RDI consultant ($100-$150/per hour or more), then more $$ on his additional books and training! Remember people NONE of this will be covered as "therapy" under any insurance! I just wanted to add this comment to help stuggling parents navigate this world full of "PROMISES" for ASD kids! Be cautions how much you spend on "cures". Read the book then put the book down and PLAY, Laugh, get down to your child's level and ENGAGE (no matter WHAT it TAKES)! Even if he is non-verbal, standing in a corner, looking at his fingers -- DONT GIVE UP! Stay ENGAGED - He/She will know (even if YOU don't think they know or feel you there -- They Do!!) There is your RDI --Relationship Development Intervention --- FREE --- Without making Dr. Gutstein Rich off our desperation! Gain an understanding of the "core deficits from Autsim from this book" -- Then put the book down -slow down - and TRUST your parental instincts - make steps to CONNECT with your child, and advocate for all your child's needs (from schools/doctors/community agencies, etc...) before you depleat your bank account chasing Dr. Gutstein's continuting plan.

MOVING THE CHILD FROM RETREAT TO ENGAGEMENT
RDI enables the child to move from the self-imposed safety of a static system of his/her own making to engagement in the fluid world at large. The steps are based on the developmental stages of a normal childs venturing into world while he/she looks to the caregiver for support and referencing. The child on the autism spectrum ventures out until the world becomes confusing and chaotic and because he/she does not look back at the caregiver for a broadening understanding becomes overwhelmed and retreats into stimms or idiosyncratic habits to create a static, safe or predicatable environment. The child looks odd as he/she is not engaged in the fluidity life. The words static and fluid or big with RDI as the idea is the child is constantly controlling his/her environment to block out anything which might change the order they seek. The step by step process of RDI is a very optimistic idea in action as it can be used with a 2 year old or an older more entrenched Aspergers child with defined obsessions for example - basically it doesn't matter the treatment begins with breaking into the child's stimm or obsessions in a playful fashion to make them used to the interruptions of their solo activities. This is pretreatment then the program moves through levels based on developmental stages. Level 1 for example is about co-ordination and self referencing with the care giver and the child is never allowed to move forward without the caregiver right there step by step - this is a back and forth relationship play level, based on facial gazing for information - infact avoiding language at this stage is very important as the child should learn to read anothers face at this point the caregiver says "I need to see your words" - once the child has mastered back and forth - gaze reading and shared joint attention it progresses to shared novel interactions that involve spontanity, a higher level of emotional attunement and fluidity. The goal is for the child to become an initiator and to become adept at keeping co-ordination when actions and reactions grow more complicated. I believe this program is a neccessary component to any intensive program with developmentally disabled children as ABA only goes so far - ABA is great at working with these kids excellent memories to teach rote skills - but it does not provide for the rich experience of life which can not be predicted and which gives life meaning. Lynn Koegal at UCSB discovered looking back over her 20 years of videos that the kids who really mainstreamed indistinguishable from typical peers and became independent adults had self-initiation skills and this is the ultimate outcome of RDI. That they learn through referencing the other, where the self is in the relationship, and the payoff is equally enjoying what they can add or initiate in relationships.

A critical piece, but not the only piece of the puzzle.
I was given this book by another parent whose son has autism, and my son has a preliminary diagnosis of PDD-NOS. While I do agree that an important part of the missing piece for specturm children has to do with their inability to read and respond to the emotional and social cues of their peers, I have my doubts as to whether or not that certain "piece" is the most critical and primary component of autism that needs to be adressed first and primarily in order to begin the process of recovery. Frankly, I am dubious of any therapy that requires parents to spend $3,000 on a four day seminar before they can purchase more therapy, which will likely have to be paid for out of pocket. I find that the RDI's official websites use of guilt and fear in goading parents out of their precious resources is not only irresponsible, but generally reprehensable as well. When I hear something like recovery, or hope for you child's fullest potential, initially comes with a three-thousand dollar cash outlay plus the cost of travel and hotel accomodations, so that someone can tell me over the course of four days, that my son has a deficit when it comes to socialization, I immediately become suspicious. Buyer's beware I say: when therapists have our children's best interest at heart, they never use guilt or fear to get parents into their offices so that treatment and help can begin to lighten the already heavy load of caring for a child with autisim spectrum disorders.