Relationship Development Intervention (RDI)

Preliminary research  indicates that a Relationship Development Intervention (RDI(tm)) program may help children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) achieve improvements on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), a standardized protocol for observation of social and communicative behavior associated with autism.

The RDI program is a parent-based clinical treatment that addresses the core problems faced by all individuals with ASD, such as learning friendship, empathy and a love of sharing their world with others. The RDI program is based on extensive research in typical development and translates research findings into a systematic clinical approach.
Dr. Steven Gutstein, author of the study, called the findings encouraging.
RDI is a relatively new treatment program for ASD. Dr. Steven Gutstein, who has written several books on the subject, created it. It is based on the idea that autism is primarily a social disorder that affects other skills within the autistic’s life. Gutstein believes that autistics are as capable of developing real and meaningful relationships as non-autistics if they are introduced to them in a slow, purposeful manner. They must be taught to want to willingly share their ideas and experiences with others as well as wanting to learn about those people surrounding them.



RDI is effective for autistics of all ages, but, like most treatments, works best when implemented early. It also helps children improve regardless of their position on the autism spectrum.

RDI is a parent-based program in which parents are taught the necessary skills and given the appropriate tools to work with their children. The emphasis throughout the program is on the emotional benefits the autistic and his or her family will receive through learning to connect with one another and the world around them. Parents and children participate in activities that encourage communication and working together.

An example of one of the “games” participants might play involves the use of a tray and a glass of water. The object of the game is for a parent and the autistic child to move across the room without speaking or spilling the water. While this might be relatively easy for a non-autistic child who is able to pick up on nonverbal cues such as body posture, an autistic child often has difficulty reading non-verbal cues. The idea is for the child to interact with the parent by observing facial expressions, body posture, and other forms of non-verbal communication. This helps the child to be more aware of other people and assists them in learning non-verbal communication.

Published studies on RDI state that of 17 children ages 2 to 10 on an RDI program, 70% of the children achieved a better diagnostic category using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS). In addition, the percentage of children in the study who were successful in a regular classroom setting increased from 12% to 82%.

Relationship Development Intervention
Most common autism treatments
Autism Checklist
Autism Guide: The Essential Guide To Autism