What is RDI ?
RDI stands for Relationship Development Intervention, rooted in the ‘Model of Typical Development.’ This approach offers children with autism an opportunity to reframe their developmental journey, aligning it closely with their peers who don’t have autism.
We know that autism is a developmental disorder. That means kids have missed out on key communication and thinking milestones in the early stages of their development. We know what some of these milestones are (they have fancy names like ‘referencing’, ‘joint attention’, and ‘theory of mind’) and we know that if children don’t master these milestones, they become rigid thinkers who find it difficult to cope with uncertainty and change.
This is why children with autism have high levels of anxiety and are prone to ‘meltdowns’ – they are constantly coming up against uncertainty and change and are unable to cope with it.
So what RDI does is, it takes parents back to the beginning of development with their child so that they can help their child master those important developmental milestones that they missed. RDI enables children with autism to overcome their rigidity and to improve their ability to regulate themselves emotionally.
Here is a link to some research that demonstrates this: http://imfar.confex.com/imfar/2011/webprogram/Paper8196.html
ABOUT ME
At 38, I’m driven by an ardent commitment to effect change through my work. My journey
into the world of autism began 8 years ago when it touched my family directly. This personal encounter fueled my immersion in this field, exposing me to the transformative impact of the RDI approach. Learning directly from Dr. Rachelle Sheely, the co-founder of RDI, profoundly influenced my approach.
I have previously worked and volunteered with esteemed organizations and NGO’s such as Playstreet Educare Trust, the Spastics Society of Karnataka, Snehadhara Foundation, Sai Krishna Charitable Trust, and Bal Vikas Bhavan, learning significantly from these experiences.
My commitment is deeply rooted in not just professional excellence but also in contributing positively to the lives of individuals and families affected by autism, with that in mind I’ve created 50+ videos on my YouTube channel aimed at supporting and guiding parents in navigating the complexities of autism. These resources are designed to assist as many parents as possible.
SERVICES OFFERED
I work as a consultant to parents both online & offline and walk with them in their Journey as they guide the child to embrace the world with enthusiasm.
I help parents pay attention to developing the core deficits of autism like, child’s initiative, motivation, flexible thinking, shared attention and dynamic Intelligence which not only helps with addressing various behaviour issues, speech and language issues but also helps in negating autism.
- Holistic Approach: Beyond focusing solely on the child, I guide families by assessing strengths, obstacles , and creating personalised plans involving parents significantly in their child’s progress.
- RDI Program Focus: A year-long program targeting core deficits like flexible thinking, adaptability, problem-solving, and communication.
- Comprehensive Involvement: Engaging in various aspects of family life including schedules, activities of daily living (ADL’s), and therapies, ensuring a balanced approach without overwhelming the child.
- Parent Commitment: Essential to the RDI Program is the commitment of parents and caregivers to provide regular feedback and video footage to their RDI Consultant.