RDIconnect® Blog
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Is Autism an Intellectual Disability?
It is a myth that all autistic people have an intellectual disability. The truth is that 2/3 of people on the spectrum have average or above-average IQs. IQ is not an indicator of future progress. IQ tests measure static intelligence, whereas (RDI®) treatment progress is measured by how well the child can navigate the dynamic world.
Commonly Asked Questions About RDI®
In this webinar, RDI® Certified Consultant Kat Lee and Echo Li, RDI® China correspondent, discuss commonly asked questions about the program.
What is the Connection Between Apraxia, Echolalia and Autism?
Apraxia, echolalia, and autism are highly comorbid – if your child is diagnosed with one, they should be evaluated for the others, because they frequently occur together.
Updates to Language
Over the past 30 years, the DSM and public understanding of autism have evolved. Our original work from the 1990s may use language and terminology that make it sound outdated by current standards,...
Self-Regulation: Independence and Autism
As adults, most of us self-regulate habitually – we barely think about it. But can you guide your autistic child to self-regulate as you do? Self-regulation is the process that we go through that gives us the ability to control our behaviors and emotions – which is crucial to independence in life.
The Emotional Roller Coaster of COVID-19
In this webinar, Certified RDI® Consultants Kat Lee and Dr. Sarah Wayland discuss how the pandemic has affected both us as parents, and our children. During the last two years or so, a lot of parents have struggled just to get their kids through each day. Besides the emotional impact of COVID itself on both adults and children, there are many other struggles to contend with.
What Does It Mean That Autism Is a Spectrum?
Before we fully understood autism, we used terms like ‘Asperger’s,’ ‘high-functioning,’ and ‘low-functioning’ that separated autistics into categories. Today we tend to use ‘autistic’ for all people on the spectrum. Why? Because all autistic people experience autism, and life, differently, but they all share similar behaviors and challenges.
Autistic and Outgoing: I Thought All Autistics Were Introverts
It is a limiting and unfair belief that all autistics are introverts. Just like neurotypical people, autistics are introverted, extroverted, and everything in-between.
‘High-Functioning’ vs. ‘Low-Functioning’ Autism
The “high-functioning” and “low-functioning” labels for autistic people were coined in the 1980s. Sadly, once the research and medical community came to terms and realized that the high-functioning and low-functioning labels were inaccurate and unneeded, the general population had already noticed the terminology and the labeling continues to be used today.
How to Self-Regulate despite the Break in Routine during the Holidays
When your autistic child has support from you, they can learn to manage new situations, process appropriate emotional responses, and practice self-regulation – even with the changes that come with the holiday season.
Parent Guide: Helping Our Autistic Children Avoid Holiday Anxiety and Depression
Autistic children particularly struggle with making sense of new surroundings, changes in routine, and changes in the emotions of those around them – holiday season or not so go into the season prepared and ready to equip your child to understand and even embrace change.
Screen Addiction and Autism
In the last year, we have seen a rise in screen addiction, especially among vulnerable populations, such as teens and children with autism. How can we help?
Can You Have Autism and Empathy?
Our society often describes autistic individuals as lacking empathy and incapable of having feelings as others do. This is a myth, a false stereotype, and a misunderstanding of behaviors. While some autistics lack empathy, many possess it, and this is common to all populations—neurodivergent or not.
Re-Post: The New ABA Textbook
Re-post of “The New ABA Textbook by Ann Memmott.
Is Your Child Exhibiting Signs of Autism? When Should You Seek Out a Diagnosis?
There are a lot of different thoughts and feelings happening when you think your child might have autism. Sometimes it’s difficult to know whether your child is on the autism spectrum, if there’s a developmental delay, or if your child is just developing just a little later than usual. When it comes to what may be autism symptoms, what causes you to seek out a diagnosis?
Why Is It Harder for Girls to Be Diagnosed with Autism?
Autism screening criteria are based on data collected mainly from the studies of autistic boys. Why? Historically, the diagnosis of autism has been more common in boys than girls, so scientists have focused their research on boys–and now girls with autism are being overlooked.
Helping Autistic Adults Find and Keep Employment
Why do so many autistic adults struggle with finding and keeping a job? The world simply isn’t built for neurodivergent people–but there are things employers can do to remedy that.
Transitioning to Independence: 5 Online Resources to Help Neurodivergent Young Adults Find Jobs & Job Skills
85% of adults with autism are unemployed or underemployed, yet 60% of them have cognitive abilities at or above those of neurotypical individuals. So what is the problem?
RDI® is Essential to Everyone
Webinar with Kamini Lahkani: RDI® autism programs are thought of as only for “high functioning” individuals or children. But anyone, no matter their age can benefit from RDI®!
Communication with Autism
In this webinar from the RDIconnect online learning community, Kat Lee interviews RDI® Program Certified Consultant Blair Armstrong on communication in the home. They discuss the differences between imperative and declarative communication, why parent training is so important in the RDI® program, and what myths about autism and communication are being perpetuated in the autism community.
Advanced Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders
We are excited to announce a collaboration between Dr. Stephen Shore, Professor of Special Education at Adelphi University and Dr. Rachelle Sheely at RDI Connect in offering an Advanced...
Spotting Signs of Anxiety in Autistic Children
Children with autism often express anxiety and stress like neurotypical individuals, however, autistic children can experience anxiety more intensely and more often than other children which typically prompts a regression in behaviors.
RDI®️️ Myths and Truths
There are a lot of topics that come up about RDI® that are not necessarily what we are all about. So we are here to share some myths and truths about the RDI® Model!
Making the Fourth of July Fun for Everyone!
July 4th can be a difficult holiday for anyone with sensory struggles, especially noise sensitivities. The fireworks, the crowds, the noise, the change in routine can all trigger an autistic child, teen or adult and can cause anxiety, stress or meltdowns. But there are ways that you can help your child or loved one minimize their stress!
Selective Mutism: What Is It and Why Does it Happen?
Selective mutism is the inability to speak or communicate effectively in situations where one is overwhelmed or has anxiety. How does it relate to autism?
The Basics of Mindful Guiding
The process of Mindful Guiding has two different functions: Support functions and Management functions. Below is a breakdown of each of those functions and how they relate to you, the Mindful Guide.
Coming Out Of Chaos
One year after COVID Kat Lee and Lisa Palasti are coming back to talk about how they survived and more importantly, how you can continue to move out of the chaos.
Steps to Self-Compassion for Kids
Self-compassion is essential. It nourishes our mental well-being by reducing anxiety and depression. It keeps us from making self-limiting choices and from thinking thoughts about ourselves that can stifle our motivation and initiative.
Nurturing Ourselves: 10 Self-Care Tips for Autism Parents
As a parent of an autistic child, do you feel burned out or stressed? Are you in need of time alone, with nobody to watch the kids, yet you feel a heavy load of guilt?
Autism is NOT: 8 behaviors that are common stereotypes of “autism behaviors”
There are still so many misconceptions and misunderstandings around autism. These misunderstandings can cause a great deal of pain because they can perpetuate harmful stereotypes.
Talking about Co-Regulation!
Learn how co-regulation improves communication, encourages independence and practical ideas to implement this core concept of parenting at home.
Mastery Motivation: A Foundation of Intrinsic Motivation
Intrinsic motivation is the ability to be motivated internally, without external reward. Building intrinsic motivation in our children, autism or not, is a goal of all parents because without this force driving them, they will never achieve independence.
When Stimming Turns Violent
Your priority in addressing violent stimming is to remain calm and to keep your child and family safe. It may feel incredibly difficult when you are in the middle of an aggressive behavioral episode with your child but know that there are things that you can do to help the situation.
Online Event: Neurodiversity and Eating Differences
Special 2 day online event tackling eating and sensory issues that affect eating in children and adults with autism. April 24-25th, 2021
What Causes Regression in Autistic Individuals?
Autistic burnout can occur at any point in your child’s life, but it commonly presents during times of transition, such as toddlerhood, adolescence, or young adulthood. At these pivoting stages in life, children experience many changes which may promote stress and can lead to an episode of burnout.
Building the Foundations of Mental Apprentice (and what that means!)
In order to benefit from the MindGuiding relationship the child (apprentice) needs to have formed certain foundations. Here are the five Foundations of a mental apprentice – and how to help lay them.
Laying the Foundation for Intrinsic Motivation through Declarative Language
Being asked questions is perceived as a demand by many children. In fact, questions or demands actually raise blood pressure in the child, putting them on the defensive! Use declarative language instead!
Benefits of Free Time for Kids
Your child learns and develops from planned activities, but with a balance of free time, space is given for your child to naturally develop the motivation to learn.
RDI® Intervention Staging
The RDI Program approaches intervention in the essential areas of teaching, building foundations, and creating growth through problem resolution.
How RDI®️️ and Dynamic Intelligence Lead to Quality of Life for Adults on the Spectrum
Dynamic growth is a key function of dynamic intelligence. With this, your child’s mental resources are improved. Your child constructs and continuously builds a library of personal knowledge that they can retrieve from as needed.
The Second Function of Dynamic Intelligence: Ongoing Growth
Along with their application in mentally challenging, dynamic environments, dynamically intelligent persons preserve mental resources for a second critical function – dynamic growth.
How does Dynamic Intelligence Help Our Autistic Kids during the Holidays?
The more “normal” and routine life is during the holidays, with fewer unexpected circumstances, the more you can help your child avoid overload that could lead to a meltdown.
How to Improve Communication with Autism
Your role is to not “cure” the child of autism but to improve communication which bolsters the autistic child’s growth and development and therefore helps to set and strengthen a foundation that encourages independent living.
Six Areas of Dynamic Intelligence
The development of Dynamic Intelligence is crucial to the ability to have a quality of life.
Improving Parent/Child Communication with Autism
As a parent, we experience much joy when our autistic child gains the ability to answer static questions, but what does it look like for our child to communicate in a much deeper sense, and how do we help them improve?