Autism and RDI Program Resources
Connections Center Downloads

The Autism Awareness Series:

These autism articles first appeared in the Connections Center Newsletter for Autism Awareness Month, and were designed to help people learn more about the latest research on the core deficits of autism, and how the RDI Program was designed to address them:

• Test Your Autism IQ: 10 True or False questions based on some of the most recent research which has been published in professional, peer-reviewed journals.


• Is This Autism? A short questionnaire and an explanation about what autism is, based on the latest research.


• Remediating Autism? What relatives, friends, teachers and aides can do to help, including changing the physical and communication environments.


• Third Generation Autism Treatment: Advances in research in the last 5-10 years have finally opened the door to a new generation of treatment for autism, Asperger's Syndrome and PDD-NOS.


• Remediating Autism, AS and PDD through Relationships: A Developmental approach for developmental disabilities.


• A New Direction in Autism Research: The Foundation for Autism Research and Remediation (FARR).

Information and Articles About the RDI Program:

• Introduction to the RDI Program
  This 32-page booklet is a short introduction to the RDI Program and covers autism myths, the core deficits of autism, how the RDI Program works, initial research, etc. It explains why "social skills," behavior modification, language and a normal IQ are not enough to guarantee a high quality of life, and explains the critical importance of flexible thinking and relationship skills.


• Article in Autism Spectrum Quarterly
  An article written by Dr. Gutstein which also includes information about the initial RDI Program research study: Relationship Development Intervention - Developing a Treatment Program to Address the Unique Social and Emotional Address the Unique Social and Emotional Deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorders
  
• New Article in Washington Psychologist
  An article written by Certified Consultant, Carrie Sheppard, M.ED, LMHC: Finding Missing Pieces to the Autism Puzzle.
  
• RDI® Program DVD Release Notes and Index
  Original release notes for the RDI DVD, and the complete, detailed Index of all 50 chapters. (Reprinted from Connections Center newsletters, originally published in January, 2005.)

Autism Research:

• NAS Outcome Study
  This National Autistic Study (NAS) report, called "Ignored or Ineligible? The reality for adults with autism spectrum disorders," was conducted in 2001. This is the largest adult outcome study done to date.

About the Resources:

Click here to see the list of files available for download