Solving the Relationship Puzzle (RDI) conference

[Guest guest]

Solving the Relationship Puzzle

Opening Doors to Friendship to People in the Autistic Spectrum

Dr. E. Gutstein

Coming to Northern Virginia

March 21 & 22, 2003 (Friday & Saturday)

Register at: www.autismoutreach.org

Description:

Until recently, parents and professionals had no alternative to the

general expectation that a person with autism would live a life of

loneliness, apart from others. Following years of clinical practice,

teaching and research, Dr. Gutstein was unwilling to accept such

bleak predictions. Through tireless effort and a desire to open the

world of joy and excitement found through authentic relationships,

his work culminated in the Relationship Development Intervention

Program, RDI. Described in his book, " Autism, Aspergers: Solving the

Relationship Puzzle " , the treatment protocol developed by Dr.

Gutstein addresses social emotional deficits in an easily understood,

systematic manner. His creative methods have provided a path for

emotional fulfillment for the thousands of children, adolescents and

adults who might otherwise face an isolated future.

Course Objectives

By the end of the workshop, you will walk away with:

• Practical strategies and activities to use immediately

• How social and emotional objectives tackle deficits in:

Face-to-face sharing of excitement

Using partner's nonverbal expressions

Synchronizing simple actions for mutual enjoyment

Referencing and responding to a friend's interest level

Enjoying variation and adapting easily to transitions

The six levels of relationship development

Instrumental vs. Experience Sharing

Basic elements of the Relationship Development Assessment (RDA)

How RDI works in a home based program

How RDI social objectives easily translate into IEP goals

Tips for facilitating small play groups

Outline of Topics

• What it's like to be an adult in the autism spectrum.

• Why do people even in the high functioning autism spectrum lead

unsatisfying lives.

• Critical deficits that appear early in life: cognitive, emotional

and social skills.

• Two Ways of Thinking: Absolute and relative information processing.

• Two Types of Social Development: Experience sharing interactions

and instrumental interactions.

Video Presentation

• Goals of RDI (Relationship Development Intervention)

• The RDI Model of Relationship Development

• Slides and Video Presentation

• Principles of the RDI

• Building a relationship development intervention program.

• Slides and video presentation of various ages and stages of

development.

March 21, 2003

8:00-9:00 am Registration

9:00-10:30 am Topics Discussed

10:30-10:45 am Break

10:45-12:00 Noon Topics Discussed

12:00-1:00 pm Lunch Break (included)

1:00-3:00 pm Topics Discussed

3:00-3:15 pm Break

3:15-4:00 pm Topics Discussed

March 22, 2003

9:00 am (Same as above, but no registration)

Location:

Dulles Hyatt

2300 Dulles Corner Blvd.

Herndon, Virginia 20171

USA

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Dr. E. Gutstein

Dr. Gutstein received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 1980 from

Case Western Reserve University. From 1980 to 1987 he was on the

faculty of Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Texas

Medical School, where he conducted research, developed innovative

programs and published extensively on ways families can help their

children cope with medical and developmental crises. As well as

conducting his clinical practice, Dr. Gutstein is currently the co-

director, along with his wife le Sheely, of The Connections

Center for Family and Personal Development. He is on the clinical

staff of Texas Children's Hospital. Drs. Gutstein and Sheely have

been married for over 20 years and have two daughters, Hannah and

Esther. Dr. Gutstein is the author of " Autism, Asperger's: Solving

the Relationship Puzzle " as well as coauthor with Dr. Sheely on the

recently published volumes, " Relationship Development Intervention

with Young Children " and " Relationship Development Intervention with

Children, Adolescents and Adults " .