| Author | |
Taffy
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 05 2005
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1567
|
| Posted: April 27 2007 at 3:13pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
Has anyone looked into RDI or is anyone currently using it? We've been looking into this seriously as an intervention for our very language delayed 10 year old son with PDD (autism) and I'm looking for some opinions.
__________________
Susan
Mom to 5 on earth and 1 in heaven
Susan's Soliloquy
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Willa
Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 28 2005
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3881
|
| Posted: April 28 2007 at 1:11pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Susan,
It's funny you should ask because I just got a book from the library on social skills called Relationship Development Intervention for young Children and the method really intrigued me. It seems to make a lot of sense. I have it on my list of things to find out more about during the summer.
Tammy G at Aut2BHome in Carolina is using RDI with her autistic daughter and blogs about it quite frequently. You probably already have encountered this blog but I thought I would mention it because she has a lot of solid, interesting information and is also a longtime CM-er.
__________________
AMDG
Willa
hsing boys ages 11, 14, almost 18 (+ 4 homeschool grads ages 20 to 27)
Take Up and Read
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Angel
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 22 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2293
|
| Posted: April 28 2007 at 6:43pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I had never heard of it until now... but it does look interesting and I think I will look into that book Willa suggested. My 10 yo ds doesn't have a formal diagnosis because it's really hard to untangle all those strands from the sensory integration and ADHD problems that often accompany Tourette Syndrome unless Asperger's is totally obvious. But he is probably somewhere "on the spectrum". Certainly social skills/relationships are what we work hardest on around here.
--Angela
Three Plus Two
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
albeto
Forum Pro
Joined: March 03 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 105
|
| Posted: May 02 2007 at 10:57am | IP Logged
|
|
|
We did RDI a few years ago for almost a year. I would like to get back to it. I found it very helpful. The idea is to set up fun stuff for mom and kid to do together (sometimes with RDI therapist involved). Then intentionally mom or therapist stops the fun - there is a break in the fun and the child figures out what the break is. Usually, the break is when child looks away and looses eye contact or does something by himself rather than as a pair. The purpose is to get the child to figure out himself when fun stops being fun and decides to get back to it. It's one thing to hand m&m's every time mom says "Johnny, look at my eyes." But if mom and Johnny are laughing and having a grand old time and then suddenly stop, that's usually a bigger reinforcer for Johnny to remember to keep a watch on mom's face, after all, that's where the information is.
Our favorite game was called "Sleeping Giant." The therapist would have all her bean bags (so many - what kid doesn't like a room full of bean bags!) under her and pretend to fall asleep. My ds would wait until it was "safe" and then quietly sneak one bean bag. He would giggle and giggle every time he thought he tricked her. The pupose of this game was, when he had them all, he pretended to be the giant and had to let go of his prize (bean bags) to let the therapist "steal" them in a most sneaky way. Mr. control freak doesn't like to give up any prize but when the game was no fun his way, he learned that sometimes it's worth it to give up control for the bigger value of shared enjoyment.
That was something my own ds was working on - giving up control for the purpose of having more fun with someone than being bored but doing everything his way. For others, the focus is eye contact (the game comes to a screaching halt when eye contact is broken) or following non-verbal directions. The assessment will be very comprehensive in evaluating which skills your dc lacks, which skills are there but not consistant ("emerging") and which are mastered already.
I would suggest looking into it. It can be quite expensive but more effective for kids who are beyond "touch red" ABA therapy and want to have social interaction but just don't "get it" socially.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Taffy
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 05 2005
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1567
|
| Posted: May 02 2007 at 11:40am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thank you, albeto, this was very helpful! I'm going to get dh to read your post as he's been on the fence about this. We've made contact with a consultant and have viewed the latest RDI DVD together. He's worried about $$ (we may have to move this summer, he may need to find a new job and we are expecting a new baby in September - why is he worried about money  ).
Did you find that it helped with speech at all? That's also a BIG concern for us as our son is 10 and still has very rudimentary conversation and language skills.
__________________
Susan
Mom to 5 on earth and 1 in heaven
Susan's Soliloquy
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
albeto
Forum Pro
Joined: March 03 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 105
|
| Posted: May 03 2007 at 6:11pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Susan, I don't know that RDI really addresses speech much - I don't recall it helping ds much, but speech is not his weakness. However, talk it out with the local RDI therapist because it may have benefits in this area. Have you looked into nathhan.com for home based speech therapy? The second option on this page (http://www.nathhan.com/straight.htm) is pragmatic language therapy.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Taffy
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 05 2005
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1567
|
| Posted: May 04 2007 at 8:51am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks albeto,
I've been really struggling with the language issue for a while now. It has NOT been developing and I'm increasingly saddened by how much farther behind we are getting because LB (LoboBoy) is so delayed in his abilities to use and comprehend language. He is verbal and can make requests and answer "workbook" style questions. He loves to read but, due to his inability to express his thoughts well (beyond making simple requests), it is very difficult to gauge his comprehension levels.
I recently restarted with the Associative Method - something we'd done before but required a LOT of teacher prep time. He's actively reading his special book quite a bit on his own in order to gain understanding in use of syntax, etc. I think he struggles a bit with aphasia - he has difficulty remembering what word to use for what situation.
I've been looking into Verbal Behaviour as well but it's going to take me a while to learn it and implement it.
I have thought about the "Straight Talk" program offered through nathhan.com but can find no real opinions on its effectiveness or a very good description on how it works. Have you used it?
Maybe I should take another look at my copy of Teach Me Language?
__________________
Susan
Mom to 5 on earth and 1 in heaven
Susan's Soliloquy
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
albeto
Forum Pro
Joined: March 03 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 105
|
| Posted: May 04 2007 at 12:38pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Wow, I had no idea it had a name (aphasia)! Thank you for the links that help with this. We need it, too. One thing that has helped us is visually mapping out ideas. I do this with history. I read something first (Story of the World, perhaps), then as we talk about it I write on a whiteboard that I have. I put the ideas in some organized fashion (web-diagram or venn diagram or old fashioned outline). As we talk, I write the important ideas. Then when we're done, ds "teaches" me, using the whiteboard notes as his notes. It works fabulously - the ideas are fresh and the notes remind him what to mention without going off on some tangent. It gives him practice to get to the point and remember all the points. This might be useful with stories, recalling events in the day or week or some other thing that we tend to organize our thoughts quickly for, but our kids need it mapped out visually. I haven't used the natthan program but desperately need to with dd who (like mom) just can't seem to get the words out of our heads (even though the info is there, the words just stop at the skull). I'll be looking into the info you provided. Thanks for sharing!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Taffy
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 05 2005
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1567
|
| Posted: May 04 2007 at 9:43pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Wow, I REALLY like this visual mapping idea! I know I've heard of it before but, honestly, I never realized how to get LB to use it before! I'm a slow learner.  We'll be starting this ASAP!
Thanks Albeto! Your posts have been so educational for me! 
__________________
Susan
Mom to 5 on earth and 1 in heaven
Susan's Soliloquy
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
4Real Forums : Special Blessings
Topic: Relationship Development Intervention
