Equipping Professionals

I have been able to develop my coaching/mentoring skills to a level I did not realize was missing in my previous years of work. I have learned the art of listening, and guiding others to their own answers, rather than feeling as if I needed to know all the answers before the questions were asked. I have learned to be a more competent observer of intensions, and moments of uncertainty that are key components I did not consider prior to working through RDI. –Lisa Giebink, M.S., CCC-SLP. Lino Lakes, MN. 

The RDI community of consultants creates a fabulous support network and resource network that enhances my learning and improves my practice on an ongoing basis. I never feel like I’m going it alone. –Amy Leventhal, Ph.D. Milwaukee, WI.

As a 40+ year old mom when I began the RDI Certification Process, the technology often presented new opportunities to learn with all the positive and negative scenarios one might imagine in that scenario. From video cameras, web cams, and webinars to file transfers, editing video and burning DVDs, I know that I have mastered technology that I could have easily ignored had I not become involved in RDI.  It urged me to keep up and to incorporate all the technical tools available in this amazing age in order to provide families with the best possible treatment option. –Janice Guice, M.A., CCC-SLP. Alpharetta, GA.

I have become more IT savvy for sure and I am better able to prioritize my work time vs. my family time. I guess I am doing as I tell my clients. –Jennifer Eileen Peters, B.A. (Hons), Pg. Dip. Malaysia.

One of the best parts of the certification process was how Dr. Gutstein integrated theory and research and applied it to practice in a sensible way. The integration gave me a deeper understanding of autism AND a way to apply what I knew and what I was learning. I wanted to jump onto my chair and cheer at the end of the first day of the beginning training seminar because I was finally seeing how my knowledge of child development theory could be translated into my work with children with autism. It was an ‘a-ha’ moment for me. –Amy Leventhal, Ph.D. Milwaukee, WI.

I knew (as did many of my experienced colleagues) that the work in the field of autism was missing some key elements that were rooted in child developmental psychology (ie: fostering the parent as the primary reference point for the child not therapists, developing moment to moment critical thinking functions not rote discrete skills, making children more dependent on supports then truly fostering healthy independence that would translate into the real ever changing world etc…).  Simply addressing the behaviours of children on the spectrum using traditional methods had a very limited result and did not focus on what was truly important to many families, a quality of life for their family and their children. When Dr. Gutstein first published his book Solving the Relationship Puzzle, many of my colleagues and I read it and quickly realized this was the ‘missing link’ in autism treatment puzzle. Many of us were working along these lines intuitively but now a brilliant researcher and practitioner had completed the trenchwork and framed the model that was desperately needed in the field. After a few years of trialing some of the basic RDI principals in home, school and residential settings; attending a few introductory workshops; and watching the RDI DVD Going to the Heart of Autism; I knew this was the direction that I needed to take to have the most positive impact for my families. Once I made the decision and secured financing, I never looked back. –Blair Armstrong, B.Sc., British Columbia, Canada.

With Dr. Gutstein’s efforts to comprehensively examine the research on autism and early developmental processes creating the foundation of dynamic thinking, I feel I am on the cutting edge. Because RDI focuses on developing dynamic intelligence, I am excited at how the concepts underlying RDI have possibilities for application far beyond autism. So I know I can grow my practice in new ways in the future. I love how RDI now has an operating system that functions as a community network, communication tool, objective tracker and organizer and portfolio assessment all in one. It’s one of a kind and I think it’s the wave of the future in health care and evidence based practice. –Amy Leventhal, Ph.D. Milwaukee, WI.

RDI has given me a whole new direction, perspective and confidence in my work and personal life. The principles of RDI have not only helped me professionally, they have helped me personally to be a better father and husband. I have learned many valuable lessons and information from my training and from working with my clients that has allowed me to ensure I am following the right path with my own family. RDI has helped me keep my focus on what is important. –Blair Armstrong, B.Sc., British Columbia, Canada.

I was attracted to RDI after years of working as a SLP in the field of autism. I always felt that there was more that could be done, and that I was not tapping into what the children I was working with really needed. I started reading the Connections Center website, and then Solving the Relationship Puzzle and was intrigued. Then I had the opportunity to hear Dr. Gutstein speak at a 2 day conference and felt so relieved that someone had articulated the things parents had been saying to me for years and that there was a plan to applying the research clinically. I remember calling my husband from the parking lot of that conference and telling him that I needed this training asap! –Amy Cameron, M.A., CCC-SLP. Apex, NC.

Empowering Parents

This is the first systematized program that fully engages and empowers parents to guide their children through those developmental milestones that they missed the first time around. Parents report feeling a sense of relief that they can connect with their child, and the children begin to trust that the busy world in which we live can make sense! –Lisa Giebink, M.S., CCC-SLP. Lino Lakes, MN. 

Without exception, every family I have worked with has found stronger more meaningful ways of communicating with their child on the spectrum, as well as, the entire family. Families report positive changes in the quality of life in their simple day to day interactions and as they move through their communities. Sometimes that means they report how their child tolerated all the holiday celebrations this year or how they shared about their day at the dinner table for the first time. For others they tell about taking their first family vacation since the diagnosis. Finally, families gain a peacefulness, a calm and learn to enjoy their time with all members of the family. –Janice Guice, M.A., CCC-SLP. Alpharetta, GA.

RDI demands that I “walk the walk” of training parents. Though parents may at first feel like I am more successful “doing RDI” than they are, there always comes a point when they realize they have become better at RDI with their child than I. At that point, RDI becomes indistinguishable from being an effective, engaged parent....When parenting issues become evident in child-centered programs, they can be difficult to address without appearing critical. RDI’s unique system of parent objectives enables professionals to promote change as manageable challenges rather than as demoralizing criticisms. –Jennifer Paget, M.S. Yardley, PA.

The parents are empowered and inspired because they are the ones guiding and helping their children who otherwise were in crisis. The child can ‘be a part of’ whatever is happening around them, instead of melting into the back round. The connectedness is astounding, the gratification of the parents staggering. –Lisa Frankel, M.S., Ed. Schenectady, NY.

The prinicipals that are the foundation of RDI are simply good practice for parenting, family functioning, and enhancing child development. So, my work reminds me to live what I try to coach. That is, I strive to implement all that I know in my own young family. We aim for quality time with the kids, slow down to enjoy the simple things because I know how they are enhancing my kids’ development, and that keeping things simple for our family and focusing on the quality of our relationships and interactions with each other are more important than giving my kids exposure to the ‘best opportunities’ or trying to keep up with their peers. –Amy Leventhal, Ph.D. Milwaukee, WI.

The comfort that sweeps over them to realize that there truly is still HOPE!  That they are the ones that can help their child. To see the steps laid out before them somewhat like the yellow brick road. I love when they begin to feel confident in their ability and just take off. Not all of my families have achieved this, but the ones that have are seeing big changes in their kids. They are the ones that make it happen, it is cool to just cheer them on!! –Chresta Ambers, B.S., Sp.Ed. Amarillo, TX.