RDIconnect
Through its innovative Relationship Development Intervention (RDI) Program, RDIconnect gained a worldwide reputation for designing family-based programs. Currently, RDIconnect provides programs for an entire range of developmental difficulties.

Forging New Pathways

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Forging New Pathways

Learning from Each Other

This blog focuses on parents, professionals, families and relationships. Humorous and informative it provides an additional outlook on the day-to-day lessons and wisdom we learn from each other as well as reflective insight into the RDIconnect Programs. Forging New Pathways publishes content submitted by RDI Consultants and the families who work with them. Moderated by RDI Consultant, Lisa Palasti.

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  • Hitting a Rough Patch - Part 2 by Stacey Tessis

    The following is the second part of an article written by RDI Certified Consultant, Stacy Tessis, B.A., A.T.C. Read Part 1 here . Stacey is a Parenting Coach and has been an RDI® Program Certified Consultant since 2008. Stacey has a private practice in Toronto, Canada, and works with clients as far away as Greece. You can reach Stacey at stessis@gmail.com We were making changes at home, but the problems still existed at school. My son felt like he was spinning his wheels...

  • Hitting a Rough Patch by Stacey Tessis

    The following is the first of two articles written by RDI Certified Consultant, Stacy Tessis, B.A., A.T.C. Stacey is a Parenting Coach and has been an RDI® Program Certified Consultant since 2008. Stacey has a private practice in Toronto, Canada, and works with clients as far away as Greece. You can reach Stacey at stessis@gmail.com - - - - It's hard to believe that only a few weeks ago, I was taking full advantage of the beautiful summer-like weather. I had every...
    Published 9 May 2012 7:31 AM

  • FAQs About the Family Consultation Program

    The cornerstone program of RDIconnect is the Family Consultation Program (FCP). Developed by Dr Steven Gutstein, the FCP has helped many families find hope and help when struggling with a child with development needs. The following are a set of FAQs to give an overview of the program. What is the Family Consultation Program? The RDI Family Consultation Program was designed to help families restore the natural "Guiding Relationship" when it has been disrupted or...
    Published 2 May 2012 6:22 AM

  • Using Memory to Overcome Fear - by Susan Baker

    Fear! We all have it, but how we respond to it is different for every person. Facing one’s fears or learning to move through fear is an important psychological behavior that builds resilience and increases self-esteem and self-efficacy. Fear is an important emotion, one that helps us to learn to escape danger but, sometimes, it can inhibit us. For children on the autism spectrum, fear can be even more challenging. With these children, recognizing they are afraid can...
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  • Co-Regulation: The Basis for All Social Interaction

    The Following article, written by RDI Consultant, Linda Murphy, first appeared in the Fall 2011 issue of Autism Spectrum Quarterly Part One of Two Parts As a speech-language pathologist, I am indeed familiar with standard social communication goals and objectives. In the past, like others in my profession, I typically focused on specific social language skills such as the number of conversational exchanges the child exhibited;his or her ability to respond to questions or...

  • Tips on Creating an IEP with a Developmental Focus by Libby Majewski

    I know, I know…its March and it is NOT the most wonderful time of year. IEP (Independent Education Plan) season is upon us and parents everywhere are preparing, researching, talking to other parents, consulting with advocates, case managers, and a variety of professionals. All in hopes of hitting the nail on the head and creating a comprehensive plan that will take their special needs child to the next level, academically and otherwise. As one of those parents, you...

  • Recognizing Resiliency – A Little Success Story by Lisa Palasti

    I k eep a folder of snippets my clients have sent me over the years about successes they’ve experienced in their RDI journeys. Occasionally, I like to re-read these gems to reflect on those triumphs no matter how seemingly big or small they are. I view them as tremendous triumphs that should be lapped up and relished. This little tid-bit was shared by one of the parents that I work with about her son and the resiliency he demonstrated during a routine bath. The child...
    Published 2 Apr 2012 9:47 PM

  • Adapt and Thrive - Part 4

    This is the last of a series of posts taken from an article by Zoe Thompson, originally published in the UK's SEN magazine.Click below links to read more. Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 - - - - - - - - - - 4) Helping Children Cope with Setbacks and Challenges We cope with setbacks and challenges and learn from mistakes by drawing on our episodic memories of experiences that are similar but different to the current situation, to help us decide what to do. Research shows that this...

  • Adapt and Thrive - Part 3

    This is part Three of an article by Zoe Thompson, which first appeared in the UK's SEN magazine. Part 1 Part 2 Some autism researchers and practitioners believe that it is possible to help children with autism develop flexible, adaptive thinking in order to better equip them with the range of competencies they need to flourish in an ever-changing world. This can be achieved by using the natural developmental pathway of typical (non-autistic) children as the framework...

  • Adapt and Thrive - Part 2

    Following is Part two of an article by Zoe Thompson, which first appeared in the UK’s SEN magazine. Read part one here. Compensations and accommodations have their place - they are vital supports while a pupil is working on developing flexibility. However, we do children no favors if we are working around their difficulties and applying strategies that make them fit more appropriately into the box of our educational system instead of working directly on the difficulties...

  • Adapt and Thrive - Part 1

    Over the next few days, we will feature an article by Zoe Thompson, which first appeared in the UK’s SEN magazine. At a recent National Autistic Society’s Annual General Meeting, I met a 64 year old with Asperger’s Syndrome. As I gave him a lift home, he told me about his life. He said that because his parents did not understand him, he had often been “farmed out” to relatives. School had been “a nightmare”. He had experienced pervasive...
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  • Finding Normalcy by Jo Fokkes

    RDI Consultant, Jo Fokkes The following is the story of a family who has found some normalcy through our work with RDI. I initially heard from them in late 2009 and today, they are feeling like a normal family...for the first time in their history. The family is Mum, Dad and three boys, two of them on the spectrum. When we first met, only the first child, Johnny, had been diagnosed. He had been traumatized by his attendance at preschool with unsympathetic teachers and was...
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  • Dranxiety...by RDI Consultant, Melissa Reiner

    RDI Consultant, Melissa Reiner Dranxiety /draeng ‘zaieti/ n. 1 a mixture of dread and anxiety. 2 great fear and apprehension combined with concern and excessive unease. A friend of mine who has five children (the eldest of which is diagnosed with Autism), just invented this fabulous new word to aptly describe the feeling that she and her husband wake up with each morning. Dranxiety . Always, of course, immediately lessened by anyone’s advice to, “...just...

  • Letting Go: Taking a Step Back

    Letting Go: Taking a Step Back My RDI Experience RDI Consultant, Carol Subramani The following journal entry was used by permission from a dad who is a client of RDI Consultant, Carol Subramani. I grew up in a family that has excelled in sport at all levels, from the Olympics right down to school sports. Sport is life and is discussed at family gatherings and, if given a slight window of opportunity, at any time of day. It is not a new phenomenon that parents nowadays try...
    Published 7 Feb 2012 3:16 PM

  • RDI Rocks! A Story from a Proud RDI Dad

    RDI Constultant, Prue Watson, shares the following true story submitted from a family she works with using RDI. It was used with permission and with names changed. Prue Watson lives in Australia and has been an RDI Certified Consultant since 2007. "Just so you can understand just how WOW this is....our little 6 yr old boy has had extreme social anxiety (he has slept with us every night of his life because of his fear) and could be quite controlling of those around him...
    Published 1 Feb 2012 8:15 AM
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