Training Opportunities: Solving the Relationship Puzzle: Opening Doors to Friendship for People on the Autism Spectrum

As featured in his three internationally acclaimed books, Dr. Steve Gutstein dramatically illustrates the Relationship Development Intervention Program (RDI) via audience participation and hours of video taken from actual intervention sessions. As he guides you through a new way of thinking, you will discover a path for how people on the autism spectrum can develop friendships, empathy and the love ofsharing their world with others. Language comes alive when integrated with real emotion.

People with Autism, Aspergers, and NLD can learn not only to tolerate, but to enjoy change, transition, and to go with the flow. The goal of RDI is for each person to be excited about expanding their world, rather than to be afraid of it.

Find out what motivates people on the autistic spectrum to develop relationships. Understand the contrasts between RDI and social skills programs that emphasize socially acceptable behaviors but fail to develop the functions, the desire or reasons, essential to the formation of relationships.

RDI is rich in "nonsocial" objectives, including: flexible thinking, rapid attention shifting, executive functioning, and emotional regulation. These objectives are easily translated into specific IEP objectives.

Who Should Attend?

If you are... a family member, any professional who works with people on the autism spectrum, a researcher or educator, you can gain new insight from attending this two-day workshop.

What will the workshop cover?

• Basic elements of Relationship Development
• The developmental sequence of RDI
• The 10 principles of Relationship
• Development Intervention (RDI)
• The difference between Instrumental and
• Experience Sharing
• Practical strategies and activities to use
• immediately
• How RDI works in a home based program
• How RDI works in the school

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
• Enjoying variation and adapting easily transitions
• Referencing and responding to a friend's interest level
• How and when RDI transforms into Peer Partners (Dyads)

About Dr. Steven Gutstein

Dr. Gutstein is currently the co-director of Connections Center and is on the clinical staff at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, TX. He is the author of Autism Aspergers: Solving the Relationship Puzzle. He is coauthor, with Dr. Rachelle Sheely, of two volumes: Relationship Development Intervention with Young Children: Social and Emotional Development Activities for Asperger Syndrome, Autism, PDD and NLD and Relationship Development Intervention with Children Adolescents and Adults: Social and Emotional Development Activities for Asperger Syndrome, Autism, PDD and NLD. Dr. Gutstein is known internationally for his books, video, and website http://www.connectionscenter.com and has presented this seminar and others nationwide.