R.D.I.:need to know everything

[Italia]

Ciao!;)
Jasper has talked me about R.D.I.(Relationship development intervention)a few days ago,someone can give more information about so that I can talk of it with Enrico's therapists?

I hope you all are ok!Hugs!

[Roman]

As a first step, I suggest trying to do head massage to your kid. You should place two fingers on two opposite upper sides of the head, and do circular movements for about 5 minutes. You should repeat it three times a day. In a week you should try longer time, like 10 minutes. In a month start doing it 15 minutes each time, and that should be about the right time to keep doing it. Try to observe your kid to see if the behavior changes.

You can see the right way of doing it on the picture presented in the following link: http://www.rdiconnect.com/RDI/RDIstory.asp

[Mother's Heart]

ROMAN!! WHat are you doing? Is this sarcasm? I know you were disturbed by that photo, and your interpretation of it, in the past.

Laura....wait to hear from MILI and....oh my...I can't remember who the other member is here....but they have explored this and have some insight as well as links where you can learn on-line about it. I think it is found at RDICONNECT. I'll look for a link.

i'm a chicken about embarking on yet another technique for helping my child...but am thinking RDI would probaly be valuable to him...if I have the wherewithal to carry it out. I'm thinking about it, truly I am.

here: http://www.rdiconnect.com/default.asp

[Mother's Heart]

Hugs (((Laura))) :)

[Italia]

Roman,I think you're pulling my legs........:mad:

When I want to do this kind of things i search for a SCIAMANO

Thanks Mother's heart....hope to meet you in the chat one day...;)

[jasper]

Ciao!

Mili is the real expert on RDI so I will leave it to her explain the neurology behind it. (Mili, if you wouldn't mind....)

But I will suggest one thing, when you do your research, it's best to talk to an "RDI certified consultant" because there is a lot of misinformation being spread about RDI by autism experts. Well, at least that is my experience.

I just checked the RDI website and unfortunately there isn't an RDI certified consultant in Italy. The closest is in London England. Here's a link to the list of consultants. http://www.rdiconnect.com/RDI/consultants.asp It would be worth contacting her to find out if RDI is right for your family.

Personally, the thing I like best about RDI is that the therapy is done by the parents. The consultant is there to coach the parents.

All the best ... Jasper

[milivica]

Yes Roman was pulling your leg.

RDI, in my opinion, is the one program your child cannot do without. I am in my 40's, and am in the program myself for my aspergers. My son is autistic, and has made gains since I was educated in doing RDI. But keep in mind, there is no such thing as knowing 'enough' about RDI, just like there is no such thing as knowing 'enough' about being a parent of any child.

RDI focuses on the CORE DEFICITS common to all people on the spectrum. Ongoing appraisal is one of those deficits, the ability to be in a situation such as a classroom and be able to pick out the important things or priorities (such as the teacher talking) and although you notice the flickering fluorescent light or trees blowing in the wind, your brain manages to keep most of it's attention on the teacher, not the other distractions. People with autism tend to give minor details and sensory things all an equal amount of attention, wind up with (for instance) two dozen 'priorities' in their brains, that of course is too many priorities, there is no sense of organization cause EVERYTHING NOTICED is a priority. Well, anyhow, that's one thing RDI works on, ongoing appraisal, which is a deficit shared by everyone on the spectrum to a degree that creates a handicap. There are nonautistic people who also have much trouble attending, they call it ADD or ADHD, I would speculate RDI would help them too. There are nonautistic people who also have much trouble attending but do not have ADD or ADHD, other nonautistic people are very organized and structured, they do not need help with ongoing appraisal, they do so automatically. RDI helps you to 'manually' teach your child ongoing appraisal - as well as the other deficits common to people on the autistic spectrum (I'm just naming one). That's one thing I love about RDI, all the issues or deficits they spoken about are common to all of us, it's just people that are autistic have them to such a degree it handicaps them from a lot of choice and independence, much like being an alcoholic and drug addict and over eater and stutterer would. We all take a drink, a drug like asprin, eat too much at Thanksgiving and have stumbled on our words, but if you did all of them all the time, it would be a handicap to a person from much choice and independence...hope that analogy makes sense.

To learn more about RDI, you can look at the site www.rdiconnect.com but I found the site overwhelming. You can also Search this site using the word RDI and I have posted probably 100 times about it, sometimes with lots of details. My strongest advice would be, if you are financially able, purchase the $150 5 hour DVD to better understand the principals of RDI. It will explain exactly what RDI is - however it will not explain what you need to do to apply it to your child. That is something that takes a lot of training UNLESS you are gifted which some mother's are. You will most likely need a trained and certified consultant to teach you how to do RDI with your child. MOST important, even if you do no more research on this topic via DVD or searching the RDI site, find a certified consultant and make an appointment. I cannot stress that strongly enough. For a consultation plus one year's worth of biweekly consultation, which is how the program works, it will cost you roughly $3,000 for the year, which is far far below any other therapy I'm aware of. The consultant will be your 'coach' or 'mentor' and explain RDI to you throughout the year (or how ever many years you need) and give you many things to do with your child until RDI becomes automatic for you to do with your child.

If you are not on the autistic spectrum, RDI is something you do all day long without any effort, it's natural for you. Self awareness for instance, is another deficit common to all kids and adults on the spectrum...I'm sure you don't run down the street naked, but a person on the spectrum might. RDI is just common sense (as it is for nonautistic people) packaged in a way so that people that are autistic can 'learn' what comes naturally for others. It is a way for autistic kids to grow and develop in areas that should have grown and developed as babies. Referencing for instance, when a child looks at you to see what your expression is, so they know if what they are doing is ok or not, safe or not, pleases you or not....but if you can't read facial expression there's not a lot of point in referencing of course.

So, first and foremost, go to the www.rdiconnect.com site, find a consultant in your area (we go to one out of state) and make an appointment for a consultation. The gains a child makes with RDI (self awareness, episodic memory, referencing, reciprocity, flexible thinking, ongoing appraisal, awareness of others thoughts and feelings, etc....) are all things no child or adult can do without, weather autistic or not. The difference is, if you are not autistic, you will learn these things well enough without RDI.

I've never been more passionate about any 'program' before. RDI isn't something you do 'instead of' something else, RDI is something that is intertwined in every facet of nonautistic lives, it's just part of their natural neurology. RDI was the first time as a parent, I ever felt like I was taken by the hand and told "This is what you do". I'm sick of learning about autism, I'm on the spectrum myself for Pete sakes, however, I never could pinpoint exactly what was different between autistic and nonautistic as I can now with RDI. It's made HUGE differences in my life, and little by little Vince is doing amazing things I never imagined. Flexible thinking being one thing. Very often now, when things don't go his way or the usual way or the way he planned, he can say "Oh well" and instantly adjust to the different or new way. To us, that has been almost a miracle.

My Best to You!
Mili

[Italia]

Mili,thanks a lot.((hugs))!

[Italia]

I've read everything about RDI on the site of DR Gutstein,I'm really fascinated,and to be sincere I was going to cry as for the first time I feel that I can be an helping mother for my son,which I don't often feel lately:As for your experience do you think Dr Gutstein is a serious person?Because the dvd and the training courses are very expensive and the closest place where I can have them are in United Kingdom,and this means more money to spend...

But if you assure me it's a serious thing I will spend them.Everything for my son;)

Any other mom as experienced RDI?Isabelle?What about you?

[Mother's Heart]

I haven't done the RDI, though a therapist suggested it for my son 3 or 4 years ago. At the time I felt overwhelmed and I just didn't have the $$ or energy to put into it.

More and more it appears to me that Dr Gutstein is sincere, not a fraud, and this RDI seems to have a really solid foundation and to offer a lot of hope. It sure IS expensive, isn't it?

[Italia]

Yes,mother's heart,really too expensive...someone would have to talk with doctor Gutstein and tell him to be less greedy!(lol)
Would you do it if it was less expensive?

[Mother's Heart]

I think I'm needing to read through the information again first to see if I think it is better for my son now than what we are already doing. I think if it were less expensive and more readily available locally I probably would...once I get my act together. Everything in our world seems on the verge of being out of control right now...juggling too many things. I'm afraid if I add one more thing I will drop all the balls.

I think it looks like it's worth doing, if you do it right. It sure seems logical and like it would be beneficial.

I think Dr. Gutstein should consider the benefits of mass marketing....now that his protocol is becoming better known, he should lower the price, make it available to more people (a good thing) and then he could profit from the volume of sales (also a good thing- I suppose). After all, there is no shortage of autistic individuals to market to. :(

[milivica]

I've read everything about RDI on the site of DR Gutstein,I'm really fascinated,and to be sincere I was going to cry as for the first time I feel that I can be an helping mother for my son,which I don't often feel lately:As for your experience do you think Dr Gutstein is a serious person?Because the dvd and the training courses are very expensive and the closest place where I can have them are in United Kingdom,and this means more money to spend...

But if you assure me it's a serious thing I will spend them.Everything for my son;)

Any other mom as experienced RDI?Isabelle?What about you?

By comparison to other therapies and programs, this is the least expensive by far.

Dr. Gutstein does seem sincere, and has thought about an area in autism, and created a program for an area in autism, that no other professional has yet. I believe his is the beginning of better programs in the future, and believe for now it's the best out there for kids on the spectrum. I believe it will grow and change and improve with time, just as any 'people' program needs to it should continue to develop and never be 'finished'. I have not felt this enthusiastic or alive since my son (now 11) was diagnosed and I was told to put him on a waiting list for an institution cause it may take a few years to get him in. I was left with no hope, common to most new mom's, to mom's with older kids, and common still. RDI has given me a renewal of being able to have dreams for my son.

HOWEVER, when ever you use a consultant, the RDI can only be as good as the consultant. If you were using our consultant I'd tell you to spend every last dime on her, cause I know she's worth it. So, my first concern is you putting all of your hopes into a consultant that may or may not be worth it. Also, RDI isn't something you do 'instead of' another program or by itself, it's more like something you intertwine into his daily life, all day long - just like it is automatically intertwined into the lives of 'typical' children. RDI is 'those things' you can't quite put your finger on, that our kids with autism are missing.

I'm in a huge rush at the moment, I stand behind RDI 100% provided the consultant you are using is 100%. My consultant has a website so all the parents that use her can speak to one another. See if the consultant you would go to has that, and if you can get some feedback from the parents that use her for their children.

The state we are in, pays for RDI...with biweekly tapes and an annual reassessment, it's probably about $3,500/year maximum. We are flat broke, didn't realize our state paid for it - we were going to put it all on credit cards and pay it off gradually, but thankfully didn't have to do that. I realize expense is relative, for some, $3,500 is not possible. For us, it would have been debt to pay off but was possible if we did that. But compared to the cost of any other therapy I know of, it's very inexpensive. The main thing though, is does it work? As I received my first ever breakfast in bed from my autistic son, I would have to say YES. And I'm still feeling a little sick from my peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a cup of applesauce for breakfast, hee hee. But it was worth it, and honestly I don't know why he did it - he said the idea popped in his head so he did it. The most greatest thing about it was, he didn't do it then ask for something he wanted (he will do that, very see through manipulations). I'm just not used to him doing anything for the sole reason of making me happy, it was awesome.

Do some more looking into RDI, but I will swear by it. I would also make sure and look into food intolerances (which will not show up in an allergy test), do get allergy tests, personally I would try probiotics and look into trying other common but nonrisky and noninvasive things - try them one by one so you know what is helping. Check for biomedical issues even with RDI. Again, just like a parent intertwines love into their child's day all day, as well as stability and discipline and joy, RDI is something you intertwine all day into your child's life more so than a 'therapy', little by little, step by step, until it becomes automatic for your child.

Sorry, gotta go I hope that made sense!
Mili

[Lara]

The state we are in, pays for RDI...with biweekly tapes and an annual reassessment, it's probably about $3,500/year maximum.

This is off-topic from the RDI question, but something Mili said there made me think about a show I watched here last week. One of Lovas' sidekicks has been out here in Australia trying to sell ABA. I'm not interested in it myself for various reasons obviously, but I was absolutely astounded at the cost!

"Scott Wright
Parents of children diagnosed with autism have been spending in excess of $70,000 a year on intensive therapy called ABA (Applied Behavioural Analysis). The therapy is relatively new to Australia, but research shows the results are life changing. American Scott Wright, an expert on Autism, joined us to discuss the early intervention program." from 9am with David and Kim

[jasper]

I don't mean to get off on a rant here :o ....

But this has been bugging me and I need to get it off my chest.

When people complain about the cost of RDI...

Before RDI we did other interventions at the following costs:

$120/hour for speach/language therapy

$80/hour for behaviour therapist to set the behaviour program

$16,000 /yr for ABA school tuition PLUS $20/hour for one on one support

RDI is only a small fraction of that cost.

Also, Dr. Gutstein gets picked on for charging so much for RDI. The truth is he doesn't get a penny of what I pay for RDI. 100% of what I pay for RDI goes to our consultant. Our consaltant is free to charge whatever she wants.

Blaming Dr. Gutstein for the cost of RDI would be like blaming Lovas for the cost of ABA.

Anyway, glad I got that off my chest ... I feel better! :)

[Italia]

Ciao Mil:) ,

Of course what you say as a sense!To be sincere I had already thought that if I have to spend so much money it's better I go straight to the centre where dr.Gutstain work,just to be sure that the consultant is a good one.....

Do you think this is a good idea?

This makes things much more difficult as it's not simple to go to United States nowdays....we've to do special passports,then flying to U.S.A. is psicologically stressing for an anxious person like me,as I'm sure every traveller should look like a kamikaze to me...and I'm not exagerating about me!!:rolleyes: Then finding a place to live in in the meanwhile......I know all this concerns lokk like stupid,but I'm very stressed.....so tired...and everything seems so difficult!:eek:

Jasper.........:p ,it's not that I don't want to spend money for my son,but we're not rich people and we already spend every month about 1000 euros(1 euro is about1,27$).Part for Enrico's private therapy and part for a person who helps my parents with Enrico when me amd my husband are at work...so you can understand why I want to be sure that my money is in good hands....

Well ,about the fact that dr. Gutstain doesn't take a dollar........well,let me be
sceptical about..and telling this I also have taken it out of my chest;)

Any other suggestion and opinion is VERY welcome.

Hugs to all of you!(((jasper)))

[peglem]

I think you may be able to do the consultation by video tapes and telephone.

[Italia]

I don't think videos and phone are the best ways to teach something and I prefer to see the contest ,the persons of that centre,just to have an idea wether they are serious or not.

Anyway I've already contacted them by internet,I'm waiting for their answer

[milivica]

The consultation or assessment would have to be in person. However, every other week you send a 1/2 video of you and your husband doing the RDI games with your child. I found this invaluable for 2 reasons....one, I had no way of knowing what I was doing was correct or not, and I love being checked every two weeks to make sure I'm on track. The other reason, our consultant is in another state, and I would sure hate to drive there and back every two weeks.

Here is what the our initial assessment/consultation consisted of:

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:

1. Ability to reference others.
2. Handling transitions and changes
3. Regulating, coordinating and pacing with others
4. Level of emotional response and range of emotions
5. Episodic and emotional memory
6. Referencing others non-verbally
7. Attention span
8. Persistence on a project
9. Imagination and Imaginary play
10. Ability to give and receive understanding
11. Communication style
12. Integrating others ideas and point of view
13. Flexible thinking
14. Ability to reflect on past experiences and anticipate future scenarios
15. 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.

Jasper, I couldn't agree MORE, RDI is far less than any other therapy - and - you actually get results and for once are the one doing the therapy with your child. I am fortunate because our state pays for it, however before I knew that I was prepared to put it all on our credit card until maxed out, and pay for it over time. But I realize some don't even have that option, and I most identify with those who are broke, having had the proverbial carrot dangled in front of me so often, and been unable to afford it. It hurts in the worst way because it's for your child, and feels so unfair.

As you all know who have been following my school saga, I am desperately fighting to get RDI into the schools for all kids on the spectrum, doubt I'll do much more than make myself sick and crazy trying to, but at least am trying. I understand how financially and emotionally milked most of us have been, because of our love for our children, and that can accumulate and leave RDI looking like just another so called fix to suck our hearts and pockets dry. I can tell you as a person on the spectrum and with a child on the spectrum it is for real. We tend to accept the cost of doctors appt's and the insane cost of the meds...one ear infection is equivalent in cost to two-three months of RDI would be one way to look at it.

Jasper, what books for starting RDI on your own would you recommend if any? The DVD (given to me by a mom here, I passed it on to Beky) was great at explaining what RDI is, but not how to do it or apply it.

Take care Italia, I would for sure, without any doubt, do RDI. I can't recommend it strongly enough - ALONG WITH medical treatment such as making sure he has no seizure activity, no allergies, no intolerances to foods such as artificial sweetners, I would definitly pay close attention to what you feed him and stick with whole foods (like 'nonna' used to make).

Ciao!
Mili

[jasper]

Jasper, what books for starting RDI on your own would you recommend if any? The DVD (given to me by a mom here, I passed it on to Beky) was great at explaining what RDI is, but not how to do it or apply it.


I'm sorry, I can't think of any books that would be helpful to get started with implementing RDI. I was truly blessed as both the 2 day workshop and the 4 day parent workshop came to my city just as I was starting RDI, so I had 6 full days of education (and I STILL don't have it down the way you do Mili! :) ).

[milivica]

I'm sorry, I can't think of any books that would be helpful to get started with implementing RDI. I was truly blessed as both the 2 day workshop and the 4 day parent workshop came to my city just as I was starting RDI, so I had 6 full days of education (and I STILL don't have it down the way you do Mili! :) ).
OMG are you even kidding me? I have it down? I hope you're right, but geez, I sure don't feel that way. It's so infinite, ya know? I mean, human development is just infinite. The thing that might give me an advantage AND disadvantage, is having deficits in those areas myself, and learning along with him. My deficits aren't as great as his, Gutstein said I would be effective as long as I'm two steps ahead of Vince.

Another thing about me, when I get 'into' something it's like I get overly absorbed in it, that can go on for hours, days, years (I have had one life long obsession along with briefer ones). Currently, EVERY behavior I see has RDI in it, is RDI-like, can be helped by RDI, or is not deficient so needs no RDI - there is nothing what so ever about any behavior that I don't associate with some facet of RDI, not that I try to do that, I try not to. Not that I'm accurate either. It's just part of being on the spectrum (at least for me and Vince) when we have an interest, it's the axis of our brain, all thoughts for around it, it's not a choice.

From Vince assigning himself and me and others a number ranking how much autism one has, I now assign everyone a number of autism they have, and trust me we all have at least a 1 for Pete sakes, so no one should feel 'unlike' their child. There is nothing about your child you cannot understand, if you make a path to it....kind of like if you took the whitest person and blackest person in the world, then, put shades of people inbetween the two faces you would see a path...does that make sense I hope?

We all could use work in all the areas of RDI, it's just a matter of to what degree and is it life impairing. With my son, it is dehibilitating, with me it is also, however, not having the testosterone and aggression levels he has, plus being in my 40's and not 11, I do a real good 'normal', at least until I'm in a crunch and you see me fall apart like if you stood up spaghetti noodles out of the box vertical, let go, and filmed it in slow motion. That's me at IEP's, Walmart, places with social stress.

Anyhow, to me, to be labeled 'nt' means you do not have the deficits described in RDI to the degree that it impairs and impacts your life so dramatically you suffer losing so much 'choice'. Choices like not self mutilating, not twirling or rocking INSTEAD of new experiences cause you NEED STATIC nongrowth activities to block confusion of the world being is so nonunderstandable. With autism, you lose independence, the ability to have friendships and relationships cause you just can't 'do' that, and although you can't cause of neurological reasons it doesn't make you feel any less lonely and like a failure and completely incompetent in ways that are so effortless for others. Losing so much CHOICE is for me is the true heartache of autism. I hate how the DSMIV talked about kids with autism being aloof as though it were their choice...hmmm, well ya can't 'do' social, so what choice is there? And when you're an intellegent human being, as all of our kids are, what the he!! do ya do with ALL THAT TIME nt's spend with social stuff which is in my estimate way way over 50% of the day, probably 90%. What exactly does an nt do, that does not consider the effect their action will have on another, in mind? I hear about nt's that can't even poop in public restrooms cause of embarrassment, I remember my co-workers saying so, and laughing at me cause I said I would feel the same but I just use my index and pinky finger on each hand to plug my ears and nose, then I don't hear or smell anything so can poop relaxed in a public bathroom. Logically, I realize that doesn't protect the unfortunate person next to me, but if I can't see it, hear it, smell it, it's like it's not happening. I was always the person being gossiped and laughed about, working with like 30 women in an office, you can imagine what a lose/lose situation I was in. I wound up thoroughly hated, people would flat out tell me they hated me and hoped I'd get fired already. Since workwise I did nothing to get fired, the boss even said they'd never raise my pay, I was already making more than I should, I thought I really was making more than I should, so offered to make less money - I had no friggin idea they were trying to get rid of me. I frucken hate being so gullable, can you believe I actually worried I was not being fair by making way too much money ($12/hr) after working there TEN YEARS!!! Everyone driving BMW's, owning multiple homes, going on trips, (many coworkers were kids and relatives of the owner) and here I am draggin my muffler down the road feeling guilty about my wages offering to give some back!!!!!!!!! I trust the wrong people all the time, there are many ways that being so called high functioning is so hard, it's like being in a bike race every day with your brakes on, but no one knows there on not even you, and you can't ever figure out why you are last in every race. Would you look forward to waking up every day to that? I sure don't. In fact the IEP coming up has me having nightmares, I'm so depressed, it just isn't good...thank God for this dog taking my mind off things. Well, back to the bike race analogy...the more I learn about RDI the more I see it's not exactly a picnic being nt neither, like I thought it was. So I'm not saying riding a bike every day without your brakes on is easy either. But at least I think you win some. What I hate about my normal facade, created accidentally by trying to immitate normal, hoping to finally get 'it' right like I imagine all aspies had to (sink or swim!) in my generation, is people treat and expect you to be 'normal' and do things you really cannot do. I don't want to be treated normal OR aspie, but when someone understands what I can or cannot do, don't use that to make me feel even more like crap about myself. Like my one doctor friend, she's a workaholic, and I call her lots and leave messages for us (her asd daughter, my nt daughter, she and I) to get together....every couple weeks we have not seen one another, she calls to make sure I don't think I did something bad to make her mad at me, or, that I don't think she doesn't like me anymore so is purposely not returning my calls....now that tells me she really sure knows me! Cause that IS exactly how my mind thinks, but, because I trust her to be truthful with me, I don't ever think she secretly is mad at me or doesn't like me...cause I believe she would TELL ME. And I just would love if all people were like that, but, that's not the nt way, and not nt wiring, so I can't take it personal or deem someone dishonest cause of their 'cooth' wiring. I really had the hopes when younger, that the world would change for me, I would change it one person at a time. I'm not sure if that's errogant or crazy or what, but, I was never the type when younger, that had the thought, "Maybe I'm the one that needs to change". Well, how I want the world to be is not how it is and it will never be the idealic place I think it ought to be....but....

Well, since I've now moved onto talking about pooping in public restrooms, and wanting a more idealistic world, I'm guessing this is officially 'babbling' and maybe I better go to bed!

Jasper, do you want to email each other about RDI stuff, to help one another grasp it better? If so, let me know! I figure the worst case scenario we exchange emails, both procrastinate and never correspond :o Maybe we could get some fun ideas from one another. Kudos on the 4 day seminar too! I don't even want to try that yet, cause I feel like I haven't yet digested the info I already have been given.

Mili

[peglem]

...kind of like if you took the whitest person and blackest person in the world, then, put shades of people inbetween the two faces you would see a path...does that make sense I hope?

Mili


I picture shades graduating from one extreme to the other, but how is that the same as a path to understanding my child? You're so good at anologies. Got another?

[milivica]

Let's think of a 'behavior' that is on the same path, but seems different. And connect them like the faces I used for an example.

Let's take PAYING ATTENTION.

Example:
You can sit in a classroom and pay attention. Your child cannot.

Ongoing appraisal would be the 'same path'....aka an apples to apples comparison.

You have ongoing appraisal, which consists of (but is not limited to) being able to pick out what is important in the classroom. You see and hear the teacher talking, at the same time the lights are buzzing but due to your neurology your brain automatically blocks that out with no effort on your part...there is a great storm going on outside, it does catch your attention but because you have good ongoing appraisal you are able to (with or without mental effort) prioritize the teacher speaking as being the thing to attend to. You notice the flickering light, storm, someones b.o., the parsley speck in your teacher's teeth...you become occasionally distracted, but do manage to stay on track and attend to the teachers words. You pay attention not because you are attentive by choice as much as neurologically you have good ongoing appraisal. So, let's say you are the white face in my example.

Your autistic child does not have ongoing appraisal. She hears and sees the teacher speaking, sees the parsley in his teeth, hears and sees the fluorescent lights, sees and hears the storm, smells the person with b.o. - she hears and sees (and smells) everything JUST LIKE YOU. She has no seeing, hearing, smelling autism superpowers. So let's say, she is the black face in my example.

Now, here are the colors in between. Your autistic daughter prioritized not only the teacher talking, but EVERYTHING she sees, hears, smells. They all have the same priority, her neurology does not automatically block 'insignificant' details, but assigns them all equal status. Now, if you add to your daughter the ability to 'appraise' her environment, to neurologically do that with no effort....she is brown, not black. If you add to that ability to appraise, the ability to prioritize what she appraises, she now is light brown.

So, I guess when I gave the white face black face example, I was thinking 'neurologically' white to 'neurologically' black. Black, being the absense of some neurological ability...cause I think sometimes people on the spectrum are perceived as having MORE abilities in an area, when the truth is they have LESS....nt's and asd's alike can take in information, but, nt's have learned to block out so much, which, socially is an advantage - however I'd rather get lost in a jungle with an aspie than an nt I think. However, I'd rather get lost in New York Times square with an nt.

I'll try to think of a better example, but basically what I'm saying, is there is nothing an autistic person does, that cannot be connected to a behavior on the same path as an nt. So, you can, see a rocking seemingly inattentive person in class that has autism, exactly the same as you see the seemingly attentive nt person....as long as you look at one with 'ongoing appraisal' and all having it entails, and look at the other (with autism) as missing ongoing appraisal, and you can see, that is at that moment, the only difference between them. The difference is not that great, however, the effects on the life of a person without ongoing appraisal is dramatic, and is one of the things I am working on with my son. I can't imagine, how amazingly improved his life would be if he were able to assess what is and is not important or relevant in situations. Once he can do that, I believe it won't take much for him to be able to prioritize that info....reminds me a lot of ADD too.

Ok, better really really go get to bed.

Mili

[peglem]

Thanks, I get it now! The path is from complete deficit of trait to functional and competent in that trait.

[jasper]

Jasper, do you want to email each other about RDI stuff, to help one another grasp it better? If so, let me know! I figure the worst case scenario we exchange emails, both procrastinate and never correspond :o Maybe we could get some fun ideas from one another.


I would love to! I'll PM you. Thanks!

...Jasper

[milivica]

Thanks, I get it now! The path is from complete deficit of trait to functional and competent in that trait.
Yeah that's all I meant. I was pretty tired so hope it was a decent example. The way I wrote it sounds like "oh it's so simple" and on paper it is, but in life, not so simple to go from deficient to competent in any area.

Jasper - great! I'll pm too :D :D :D

[Isabelle]

Any other mom as experienced RDI?Isabelle?What about you?

sorry, i missed this one.

trying to understand rdi, i thought i could get a worker trained in rdi to work with my son and i 'd learn from her in vivo, but no! ... one have to buy expensive staff, go to the consultant discuss approaches receive training and if you fail to follow the instructions and make a success of your son.....aaah! i had gone through that with other techniques and i am afraid i 'd feel bad and at the moment i don't need nothing that could put me under stress or depress me .... and, thinning my skinny wallet :D :rolleyes:

i emailed my local rdi consultant, luckily she didn't answer it :p

but if you are a young person eager to learn this technique like mili and others...and have deep pockets, go for it.....

[jasper]

Hey Isabelle, I think you're already doing so much to help Danny! And everybody has to follow their own path.

(Just as an fyi, I found out that in Ontario the tab for RDI is covered by SSAH (Special Services At Home). I'm about to fill in the forms. Wish me luck! If this works out it would be a Godsend.)

Hugs ... Jasper

[Isabelle]

today in the star, a promise if they get elected, the progressive conservative party leader john tory promises investing $75M annually !!!! to reduce waiting lists for intensive autism treatment.

at the end, it says, "if elected, tory plans to use the additional funding to give parents more flexibility and choice in their treatments options, including bankrolling accredited outside providers".

how far away could we get 'outside providers'?

jasper, my danny and i understood each other perfectly. i was never scared of him until risperdal. then doing research finding out that tranquilizers, of any kind, can make anybody, susceptible enough, aggressive and sib

in 1999, apparently in state funded group homes, there were no choices in treatments. so we asked the ministry for it, with serious consequences (more forced drugs and abuse). which is going to take danny a very long time to get over it...if ever

[jasper]

jasper, my danny and i understood each other perfectly.

That's really the key to success isn't? And building trust. (I wonder if the PC's will deliver if they get elected.)