Relationship Development Assessment/Intervention

The CDC provides multidisciplinary assessment and treatment of autism spectrum disorders including speech and language therapy, Relationship Development Intervention® (RDA/RDI), occupational therapy and psychological services.

About RDI®

RDI® is a program for educating and coaching parents and teachers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and others who interact and work with the child. It was developed by Dr. Steven Gutstein and his wife Dr. Rachelle Sheely with the objective of helping individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders attain a quality of life. Our center has adopted this vision that individuals on the autism spectrum can have productive employment, live independently, have a successful marriage, genuine friendships and intimate social relationships.

We believe our...

• MISSION is developing the most effective methods to remediate those specific deficits which impede individuals on the autism spectrum from having a quality of life. Remediation is a gradual, systematic process of correcting a deficit, to the point where it no longer is an obstacle to reaching ones potential. It is based on typical development and involves addressing early areas that, due to this neurological processing disorder, were never mastered. Through careful analysis and ongoing evaluations, we search for the period in development where the child was not able to progress any further, go back and build from that point on.
• INVOLVEMENT OF THE PARENTS, family membersand teachers to act as the primary, participant guides will set up the environment so daily opportunities for the child to respond in a more flexible, thoughtful way to new, challenging and unpredictable situations can be provided in daily life.
• SUPPORT OF THE PARENTS, family membersand teachers to build competence in themselves and their child is of primary importance as they learn the necessary tools they will need to guide the child through this dynamic, ever-changing world.
• SYSTEMATIC set of objectives that are based on neurotypical development help guide the parents and teachers through a gradual process of changing how the child views and thinks about the world without experiencing overwhelming fear and anxiety.
• INCLUSION of extended family members and peers can build and expand the child’s awareness of feeling competent in more complex situations.
• OPPORTUNITY to develop a specialized program will help parents, family members and teachers incorporate experiences into daily life.
• NAVIGATING families and teachers through a gradual process of understanding where the child is functioning and how to slowly raise the bar will create new opportunities for the child to experience success, building positive, episodic memories and a motivation to share emotional experiences with others.

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