Our Approach

Our treatment approach is based on the Relationship Development Intervention (RDI®) model. A wealth of information about RDI® is available at the Connections Center web site. This is a parent-centered approach to remediating autism spectrum disorders. With this realistic approach we empower the parents by giving them the knowledge and coaching needed to work with their child. First we develop your child’s motivations to reference your actions and to coordinate activities. Once the motivations are in place, the necessary skills are developed for competence and fulfillment in our complex and rapidly changing world. RDI® is a systematic approach that only targets the motivations and skills that are appropriate for the developmental level of your child. Accordingly periodic assessments are required to measures your child’s capabilities and refine the intervention. The developmental path we follow is based on typical development. In this way we ensure that foundational motivations and skills are in place before working on the next developmental steps. The result is true neurological growth - we find that the results are lasting and generalize to new situations and environments.

We Can help with Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment

Autism Screening and Diagnosis

Autism is being described as an epidemic with one in 150 children having an autism spectrum disorder. The American Academy of Pediatrics is currently recommending that EVERY child be screened for autism spectrum disorders at an age of 18 months and 24 months. Our professional staff are able to identify the warning signs at these young ages. Early screening and diagnosis allows for early intervention to begin. We also work with older children to screen for previously undiagnosed autism spectrum disorders.

If you have questions about your child’s social-emotional and cognitive development, please feel free to contact us. We offer autism screenings to interested families. The screening only takes about 30 minutes. During a follow up meeting we review our findings and make recommendations. We will also send a report to your pediatrician to help you coordinate your child’s care.

If the screening indicates your child may have an autism spectrum disorder, we would then help you identify a professional to make a complete diagnosis. 

Call us at 352-376-0690 or e-mail at
info@florida-autism.com to schedule a screening.

Treatment Based on the RDI® Program

Our primary intervention is the Relationship Development Intervention (RDI®). We work closely with your family to implement this highly effective treatment approach:

• Initial training is provided in a series of interactive training sessions. This gives you the background knowledge and skills you need to start making progress.
   
• A comprehensive Relationship Development Assessment (RDA) is performed. This takes place at our offices in Gainesville, FL with the parents being active participants in the process. The RDA is repeated every six months to track progress and update the treatment plan. In addition to the RDA, we also administer the ADOS/ADIR and other assessment tools as needed to track progress and assist in treatment planning.
   
• We then provide regular coaching to the parents. This is done through a combination of office visits and assignments we make to the family.
   
• For each family we provide access to the RDI® Operation System (RDIos). The RDIos is a revolutionary treatment planning and progress tracking tool. Through the RDIos web based interface you will have access to the world-wide community of families implementing RDI®. This includes life webinars with professionals, chat rooms with parents of children at similar developmental stages, e-learning resources, and interactive communication with your RDI® consultant.

RDI® Lifestyle Immersion Program

We now offer an RDI® lifestyle immersion program to enhance a family’s ability to implement the RDI® program. The RDI® lifestyle immersion program is held in a two bedroom house in a quiet residential neighborhood. You will spend several hours each day working with RDI® program certified consultants to refine your skills and improve your understanding of RDI® principles. The lifestyle program is customized to the individual needs of each family. Click here for more info on the Lifestyle Immersion Program.