Gutstein RDI conference Montreal March 23-24

[Guest guest]

The Harriet and Abe Gold Learning Centre

for Autism and Developmental Disability

invites you to a

Conference

on

Going to the Heart of Autism, Asperger's Syndrome & Pervasive Disorder

with Steve E. Gutstein, Ph.D.

Wednesday, March 23 & Thursday, March 24, 2005

9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Hilton Montreal Airport

12505 Côte de Liesse, Dorval (Montreal), Quebec

Parent / Individual with ASD $ 175.

Student $ 175.

Full-time student with valid ID card/proof of status)

Professional $ 350.

For more information, please call (514)345-0210 ext.319 or visit our

website at www.goldlearningcentre.com

Overview:

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 of sharing their world with others. Language comes alive

when integrated with real emotion.

People with Autism, Aspergers and NLD 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 " non-social " objectives, including: flexible thinking, rapid

attention shifting, executive functioning and emotional regulation.

These objectives are easily translated into specific IEP objectives.

What will the workshop cover?

? Research results on the quality of life for people on the

autism spectrum

? The developmental path unique to people on the spectrum:

including the concepts of absolute vs. relative thinking, imperative

vs. declarative communications, and more...

? The basic principles of RDI: Guiding and Pacing, creating an

Experience-Sharing communication environment, capturing episodic

memories, choosing simple settings, teaching Functions before Skills,

determining developmental readiness, and developing competence

? Video clips of 'RDI in action' with parents and children and

clips from the first two years in the life of a child with autism

? The essential elements of a RDI lifestyle

? The importance of frameworks and of the concepts of evolving

and modifying frameworks

? The advantages and the processes of forming dyads and small

groups

? Research on the effectiveness of RDI

? RDI with teenagers

? RDI implementation in school settings

About the Instructor: Steve E. Gutstein, Ph.D.

Dr. Gutstein received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 1980 from

Case Western Reserve University. He interned and conducted post-

doctoral training at Rutgers Medical School. From 1980 to 1987, he

was on the faculty of Baylor College of Medicine and the University

of Texas Medical School where he conducted research, developed

innovative programs and published extensively on ways families can

help their children cope with medical and developmental crisis.

As well as conducting his clinical practice, Dr. Gutstein is

currently the co-director of ConnectionsCenter for Family and

Personal Development. In addition, he sits on the editorial board for

Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, a quarterly

publication. He is also on the clinical staff of Texas Children's

Hospital in Houston, Texas and he has written many articles

pertaining to autism.

He is the author of Autism/Aspergers: Solving The Relationship

Puzzle. He is the co-author of Relationship Development Intervention

with Young Children: Social and Emotional Development Activities for

Asperger Syndrome, Autism, PDD and NLD as well as being the co-author

of Relationship Development Intervention with Children, Adolescents

and Adults: Social and Emotional Development Activities for Asperger

Syndrome, Autism, PDD and NLD

For more information, please call (514)345-0210 ext.319 or visit our

website at www.goldlearningcentre.com