Brightening the lives of people with autism.

The Center for Spectrum Services (CSS, formerly The Children’s Annex) in Kingston has received a grant for partial funding to train parents in Relationship Development Intervention (RDI), a research-based method that has been shown to improve flexibility, social competence, and spontaneity in relationship for children with autism.

“People with autism tend to be rigid, to want things to be the same,” explained CSS psychologist Juliet Weissberg. “If a child has a special interest that’s well-developed, they get very good at it but tend to be narrow-minded in that respect.” In a social situation, a child with autism may limit conversation to that one topic, often alienating other people. “It’s a difficulty they all have, from lower- to higher-functioning Asperger’s kids. They feel uncomfortable in social situations, not sure what to do or how to behave. In some programs, they have been given scripts to tell them what to say to somebody, but in a social situation, they may not know whether to use the script or not, and they tend to become very anxious.”

RDI, a new technique developed by Dr. Steven Gutstein of the Connection Center in Houston, addresses the problem at its roots, says Weissberg. “Kids with autism have never learned how to attend to what people are doing and to nonverbal communication — gesturing, facial expression, tone of voice. We do a lot of activities where we don’t use language, so in order to stay engaged, the child has to look at their partner. We do a lot of pausing, doing things slowly. Usually, if a child doesn’t do something, the teacher or parent prompts the child what to do, and the child never learns to look for an answer.”

Weissberg attended three four-day trainings in Houston to get certified in the technique, which distinguishes between experience-sharing language — making statements about things, voicing opinions and feelings — and instrumental language, which involves giving commands and asking questions. “In typical conversation, about 80 percent of what we say is experience-sharing, and about 20 percent is instrumental language. When we relate to children with autism, it tends to be other way around. With RDI, we find that just by making statements and waiting, leaving a space, gradually the child will start coming up with their own comments about things.”

To encourage an eventual response, parents are helped to set up situations that provide children with internal motivation, rather than external rewards, says Weissberg. “We look for experience sharing and emotion sharing, doing something together, like when you play a game with a young child and then tickle them. The child is motivated because it’s fun to do something with someone else.” Other joint activities might include household chores where the emphasis is more on engaging the child than on getting the house clean. Through review of videotaped interactions between parents and children, Weissberg coaches families on how to apply RDI principles.

The RDI program lasts six months, with groups that meet twice monthly in Kingston, individual family sessions once a month, access to online assistance, and a free initial consultation. The cost is $100 per month, with the remainder of the fee paid by a grant from the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disability (OMRDD), Taconic Region. The program is available to families in Ulster, Dutchess, Greene, Columbia, and Putnam Counties. Families must have a child with autism and be eligible for assistance from OMRDD. The program is suitable for children of any age and any level of functioning. Weissberg is currently recruiting for the next program, scheduled to begin in January. She may be reached at 845-336-2616, extension 169 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it