Relationship Development Intervention

Relationship Development Intervention (RDI), created by Dr. Steven Gutstein, is a series of techniques and strategies built upon the typical developmental processes of social competence.

The goal of RDI is to increase motivation and interest in social relationships and interactions in individuals with autism and to provide activities and coaching to help them enjoy and become competent in social relationships. Programming is individualized and based on the Relationship Development Assessment. Once a child's relationship level is determined, an individualized program is prepared, and coaches are trained to implement the program and support the acquisition of skills.

RDI has been reported to offer benefits to children with autism, especially those who have 'higher functioning' cognitive skills. The program also raises questions about partner interactions with a strong emphasis on the use of declaratives or statements. However, these claims have not been tested using well-designed, controlled, independent research studies.

In a preliminary evaluation, Dr. Gutstein compared the outcomes of 17 children who received RDI with 14 children who received other programs. The participants who received RDI were reported to have demonstrated greater improvement in ADOS scores and independent classroom functioning than the participants who received other programs. However, the methodological problems and limitations of the study were extensive and precluded any confidence being placed in the findings. Given that more comprehensively evaluated programs exist for the treatment of autism, RDI should be considered an adjunct to other interventions which have been shown to be effective.