Thanks Mili for the link.

I did read thru it and it does sound interesting.

Tho no matter where I looked I couldnt find anywhere to find a cost or if insurance covers it. Being a single disabled parent. I barely make it living month to month.

Thanks,
Gina Marie

It's the most reasonably priced program available, and for me the only program I've felt really in sync with. The max cost would be $5,000 per year. That's with a consultant. I would, based on a friend of mine, highly recommend getting a consultant. You might be able to go it without one, as for me I couldn't. I really need her.

Now, before you say you can't afford it, which we also couldn't but planned to put on a credit card forever if need be....DO check and see if your school (as with JungleMcButterBabe) pays for it. In our case, it turned out our state (Wisconsin) paid for it.

You get an assessment about every 6 months. As far as I know, consultants will come to your home. I'm guessing they all don't, but so far the ones I've heard about (and the one I have) does. I chose our consultant from the list on the rdi site. She has been twice certified, is one state away BUT the one in our state just started, and I wanted one with experience.

The assessment is the bulk of the cost. You then every other week go to (or if it's far away send video tapes) every other week of 30 minutes of you doing the RDI with your child for the consultant to tell you what you're doing right, wrong, and the consultant is there to answer all your questions. That is $95 for each 30 minutes every other week. So, not hellacious by comparison to anything else I know of. But yes, still costly. Again, see if your state or school district covers RDI. So far, I'm not aware of anyone paying for it out of pocket.

I loved the initial consultation....it took 3 days, and covered things never before covered in any other assesment we'd done. Here is what an assessment covers:

What is a Relationship Development Assessment?

The Relationship Development Assessment (RDA) is an assessment and training process. During the first appointment, the RDA is administered to the child with the child and parent interacting in a structured and fun way with the guidance of the clinician. During this two-hour appointment, the RDA helps measure several areas such as:

Ability to reference others.
Handling transitions and changes
Regulating, coordinating and pacing with others
Level of emotional response and range of emotions
Episodic and emotional memory
Referencing others non-verbally
Attention span
Persistence on a project
Imagination and Imaginary play
Ability to give and receive understanding
Communication style
Integrating others ideas and point of view
Flexible thinking
Ability to reflect on past experiences and anticipate future scenarios
Curiosity

This session is video taped. Following the session the clinician reviews the tape and scores the RDA – this takes about three hours.

The second session is called the hypothesis session. After the RDA is scored, the clinician develops a series of hypotheses regarding what elements are needed for the Relationship Development Intervention (RDI) plan. During the second appointment, the clinician and the child go through parts of the treatment plan to see what parts may need to be adjusted. This session is also video taped and the tape is then reviewed by the clinician. The second appointment takes forty-five minutes to one hour.

During the third session, the clinician reviews treatment plan with the parents. The parents, and other caregivers, are trained in the intervention plan to work on at home. The treatment plan is demonstrated with the child, parents and clinician. This session is also video taped and a copy will be sent to you. The total time for this appointment is 1 ½ hours.

I would recommend learning about RDI yourself, and planning to begin in the new year, 2007. Why in the new year? Because they made changes in the way things will be done, as with any good program, it changes and grows...I think it would be better to start with the new changes being implemented in 2007 rather than now. I'd hesitate to buy any materials from the site, despite me loving the cd I can't justify the money for it seeing as how all these 'changes' are supposed to start in the new year. However, the basics and core of the RDI program will be the same. I just love it...even where it has not helped my son at all (yet) it immediately helped me to finally feel competent as his mother. I mean, wow, what a feeling. Finally.

I do still feel overwhelmed a lot, but it's almost completely adhd related, the autism part isn't nearly as challenging to me as the insane hyperactivity, yeesh.

One more thing...someone (may have been you) was asking about ABA advice. Although I praise RDI to the mountaintops, it will not help with food allergies, or other problems along those lines. So, while I do still swear by RDI being the one thing our kids cannot do without, that does not apply to a child who for instance, has such severe food intolerances or allergies that they cause autistic 'behaviors' and once removed the child would no longer be considered autistic. Does that make sense? So, if you are certain your child's autism is of a neurological nature, go for the RDI head on...but don't forget to look in other areas too. RDI is not a cure all, it's not a quick answer, it's just the thing that for our family makes more sense than anything ever has. And I really from the bottom of my heart feel it would be the foundation of developement for every child on the autistic spectrum. But I do not feel it's the ONLY answer, or ONLY piece of the autism puzzle. If autism were a pizza, I would consider RDI to be the dough - imagine a pizza with no dough???

Mili

Dunno how close this conference would or would not be, it's in LA http://www.rdiconnect.com/workshops/...nt.asp?wid=129

It's an awesome conference, you will walk away feeling electrically charged, finally grasping what needs to be done. But, for me, I had no clue where to begin or how to do what needed to be done. Which is why I saught a consultant. Great conference to grasp the theory that propels RDI. It's so simple, you'll keep thinking "why didn't I think of that". But, if you're like me, understanding it was not enough to understand how to implement and apply the knowledge to my child.

Thanks so much for the info Mili.

Im not so sure about my boys school as its a small country school. It is it's own district. It has the elementary school and the charter school that people homeschool from. The elementary school is a K-8th yet only has about 210 kids total. I can ask but wont hold my breath about it. I was blessed that they paid for him to be in counseling for his anger.

I'm not sure they are even convinced yet that he is AS or HFA.. Im still working on them helping me get him diagnosed.

I will work on it tho.

Thanks.
You have been LOTS of help.
GM

That conference is about 8 hrs away at least. I also couldnt come up with that much money that quick. I only have one credit card and it has a 500 limit and it is almost at that limit already from emergencies. I dont have any reliable transporation right now either. My van broke down 2 months ago.

I'm trying to find a van with a wheelchair lift that I can buy or have donated to me.

I'll keep my eye out for another conference tho.
GM

Mili,
I'm in your state and I'm interested in RDI. Although my son is 8 we are finishing our 3 yrs of intensive so we can qualify for post intensive. How did you apply for RDI thru the state? I wonder if we can do both, hmmm? And if you don't mind me asking who your consultant is, I'd like to know. I looked on the RDI website and saw only one person in our state certified and I saw she was new.

GinaMarie, yes, definately keep an eye on conference dates and places. I'm sorry to hear it's so darn hard for you transportation and money-wise. It really hurts, to have things out there that are either hard or impossible to access. I get really sick of feeling like a mule with a carrot dangling in front of my face, that I'm always wanting and can't seem to get.


Mommasboy,
The consultant I chose was:

Amy Arnoff
1108 N. Mill Street, Suite 6
Plainfield, IL 60544
Phone: 815.725.1049
Email: aarnoff@comcast.net

who as you can see is in Illinois, but, it's like 3 hours away so not out of the question like 30 hours or something. She was in one of the RDI books, so I felt I got to know her a bit thru the book (My Baby Can Dance - great book, but, does not tell you a thing about RDI really, just about families succeeding with it). Well, it seemed clear to me she was more than experienced, so I went with her over the only person I saw in Wisconsin (Milwaukee I think it was) and have not been sorry. I called her, made an appointment for a consultation (not realizing our state paid for it) and she informed me she has other clients from Wisconsin who are funded...so, I called Vincent's case manager woman, gave her the RDI consultants number and they wisked paperwork back and forth between them. I just showed up at the assessment basically, and the paperwork technical stuff was taken care of.

Since Vince too is in 'post intensive' we go through a place called Family Support and Resource for any services he receives, in Madison. You must have a place near you, and a case worker or manager or whatever, that he will be assigned when post intensive. Vince has a case worker there that oversees any money I need for his post intensive treatment. In post intensive your son should get $23.75 per day for approved services, which RDI is since it has objectives and progress is monitored and recorded so can be proven....or something like that, I still haven't memorized all the new 'rules' about this stuff thanks to Governer Devilspawn. When your son is post intensive you will be assigned someone you can go to for services being paid for, like RDI.

You shouldn't do both together, RDI is kind of a lifestyle, not just a so many hours per week thing. Plus, RDI is the opposite of a lot of the intensive stuff focusing on kids intrinsic understanding of function, rather than skills. So, in RDI, a child would look at you to get information from your eyes and face, after it has become a natural reaction they have gained. In say Lovaas style ABA, a child would look at you cause they know they're supposed to, but not cause they are 'reading' your face.

If you really want to try RDI, make an appointment for an assessment after his intensive is finished. Find out what facility will manage his state funds, you may not have a case manager assigned just yet. Worst case scenario, the wheels of bureacuracy(sp) spin too slowly and you have to reschedule the assessment for a later date. Do NOT pay for anything thinking the state will reimburse you, they will NOT. Also, you don't have to pick my consultant for it to work for you of course. By now the one in Milwaukee should have much more experience, and whose to say one is better than the other? I was just trying to do what seemed most logical, by picking the person that had been in RDI longer, and with certifications. Also, she has 3 boys, so she 'knows' boys which Vince is 110% boy. If that percentage is possible. She has been available to me when ever I had questions, has a website for her patients parents to talk to one another. I just really like her cause I think she really knows what she's doing. So, yes I totally recommend her, but if you are way further north of me or close to Milwaukee, certainly try the one there. I don't want to sound like, "oh my consultant is great and all others suck". I just had to go with what made sense to me, I don't want to put any other consultant down at all.

So, make a date for your initial assessment with a consultant of your choice. If there is a wait, which there probably will be, you want to do that. Before the time comes for the assessment, you should have a case manager to do the paperwork thing with the consultant you chose, so you can focus on RDI not paperwork.

Hope that helps.

Mili

Mili,
Thank you for giving me Amy's name and info.
We are in intensive, but I find it to be glorified babysitting really. There is not much in the way of progress being made. We continue so we can get the post intensive. My thought was that I would get trained in RDI and we, as a family would implement it and I would be able to instruct the 'therapists' that do come in to follow my lead. I don't want to wait 9 more months to start with RDI, I feel like we've wasted enough time with all the other junk that hasn't worked.

How long did the RDA take? Was it a one day deal? And can you tell me what you liked about Amy? I know you don't have anyone to compare her to in the RDI realm, but what impressed you about her, her experience, knowledge, do you have complete confidence that she knows the program and really understood how to apply it to Vince? It's all such a stab in the dark, I could pick a name off the list and not have any clue who I'm getting, so any info you can give me, is great and I don't think you are trying to sway me, just giving me your opinion which I appreciate.
Thanks for any input! Sorry to raid the thread!

>>>>Thank you for giving me Amy's name and info.
I really hope you'll get in touch with her asap.

>>>>We are in intensive, but I find it to be glorified babysitting really. There is not much in the way of progress being made. We continue so we can get the post intensive.

Well, can't you do RDI during intensive instead of what you're doing now? I don't consider RDI any less intensive than in home therapy (assuming that's what you're doing) but I don't know the guidelines for intensive versus post intensive...so I'm just thinking out loud here.

>>>>My thought was that I would get trained in RDI and we, as a family would implement it and I would be able to instruct the 'therapists' that do come in to follow my lead.

Actually, not only could you do that, but the therapists or family or teachers or anyone that will be working with your son or living with your son, can be a part of the training. YEP!!! Pretty cool, huh? Everyone I asked to come this weekend, had already made plans (teachers). I understand, that's fine and all, but had they come, they'd have been a part of everything rather than me having to reitterate things said by the consultant. The MORE people you have on the RDI track with your son, the better.

>>>>I don't want to wait 9 more months to start with RDI, I feel like we've wasted enough time with all the other junk that hasn't worked.

I don't blame you. Again, see if you can switch from what you're doing to RDI. I can't imagine why the state would say no, cause RDI is so much cheaper - which I know good and well money means more to the state than our children.

>>>>How long did the RDA take? Was it a one day deal?
Look above in my previous post, read everything in my post that is in bold. But it is done over a period of three days, much of it is video taped. It's the first time I ever felt he even was assessed...not just his behaviors, but HIM.

>>>>And can you tell me what you liked about Amy? I know you don't have anyone to compare her to in the RDI realm, but what impressed you about her, her experience, knowledge, do you have complete confidence that she knows the program and really understood how to apply it to Vince? It's all such a stab in the dark, I could pick a name off the list and not have any clue who I'm getting, so any info you can give me, is great and I don't think you are trying to sway me, just giving me your opinion which I appreciate.
Thanks for any input! Sorry to raid the thread!

Initially I picked Amy because she was certified (twice) and had been doing RDI for some time so I knew she wasn't new to it. I am new to it, and wanted someone with solid experience. I spoke to her, and a couple others in Illinois near her, for the same reasons as I chose her to interview. I preferred a place with more than one RDI consultant, and this is recommended by Dr. Gutstein - so they can sort of sound off to eachother, if they get 'stuck' with your kid (oversimplified explanantion)...but she is not a part of a group. But, she was the only one I spoke to, that really seemed to get ME - which I was not even looking for that. It's really odd to me, how she can say what I'm thinking, and knows how my head works when I didn't even know that's how my head was working. Cause she GETS AUTISM. I was also impressed, that she even knew I was on the spectrum, cause since I know how to 'behave', most people do not. I have only rarely been pegged as being on the spectrum. Also, she raised three boys of her own, for me that is a qualification in and of itself, had she not been a mother, she can't understand certain things about me...kind of like how priests give marital advise (what?). There are many things Vince does that is a boy thing that to me seems like "oh my God, what is wrong with him?" but it's just a boy thing. Not only does she get me, she clearly gets Vince...and ya know what? She gets Vince BETTER than ME. I've never experienced that. And, she knows how to word things so I get what she's explaining. And, willing free of charge, to explain things to me via email or on the phone, until I understand. I couldn't tell you if I have a personal liking of her, I suppose so, but that's just not how my mind works....I can tell you that she is a rare individual whose soul matches her profession. Her morals and heart and soul and brain/intellect are a perfect match to working with people on the spectrum. She flows with nt to asd then asd to nt translations as fluently as a bilingual person does from spanish to english and back. She gets me, and Vince, and Carmen, and mr. nt himself dh. She gets what we don't get about eachother, and explains it. She sat there and explained stuff to dh, that I've tried to for 10 years - I can only give him an asd explanation, she gives him two sentences and he's like Ohhhhhh. And I'm thinking, "didn't I say that!!!" And visa versa. She explained stuff to me about what dh has been saying and I was like Ohhhh and he was like "didn't I say that!!!". The best part of course, is that she not only explains Vince to us, but explains how to HELP HIM to be able to think for himself, understand others for himself, be independant....ya know, I just don't know how to answer why I like Amy, I think because she is in the right job, has the right way of thinking for working between folks that are nt and asd and can't get eachother, and cause I feel a faith in her as our consultant. I see her often doing above and beyond what she needs to, the website she created for her patients, all the stuff she'll do free of charge if you get stuck, and I've never caught a 'hole' or any illogic in her advice or words or suggestions. I know there will be a consultant starting soon in Madison, I know her from when we first moved here and think the world of her, but I'd rather drive three hours there and back, and do the long distance thing with Amy, cause I have faith in her, in what she can do for my son, for our family. The lady starting in Madison is GREAT, I love her to pieces as a person, but I don't feel the belief in her ability in RDI like I do with Amy, who has and continues to prove herself to us.

Ok, gotta go! I'm sure you can choose any number of consultants with success. As for me, even on the initial phone calls when I was considering a few, she stood out. Now that I work with her, I know why. She's just acceptional. I can't recommend her highly enough. But that may also be cause she and I have simular goals for Vince???? She might not get along with say a parent that wanted to 'expel' the autism and turn out a perfectly mannered 'nt' robot...know what I mean? I'm thinking about everyone here has the same goals as me though. We all just want our kids to be HAPPY, be able to make a few good true friends, have a good life, independance, a family of their own someday, a fulfilling job and personal life. That kind of thing.

Mili

Thank you so much for answering my questions! You are so sweet to type all that out, I really appreciate it! It sounds like you have really connected with Amy and she understands you and Vince, and of course that is what I'm looking for as well.
We do have an agency that we go thru for the intensive, so I will call the woman I'm in contact with and ask her about RDI in the intensive phase, it would be so cool if it was covered. Thanks again!