My Story
My “autism story” began on November 28, 1998, Jake was two and my daughter Grace was 6 months old. That day will forever stand out to me, it was the day my life changed forever: the diagnosis, the darkness, the despair, the not knowing.
Fast forward to July 19, 2005, our first Relationship Development Intervention, RDI session, the RDA. The beginning of hope, but tempered with lingering despair, shell shocked from six years of autism. And the unknowing remained.
(In this clip I was told not to initiate but I could interact with Jake if Jake initiated with me.)
Finding RDI and glimpsing hope opened old wounds, for even among the ruins and havoc the autism created I was beginning to, dare I say, accept it.
Accept the isolation, accept the walking on egg shells, accept the tantrums, accept the imaginary prison walls the rigid routines had built around our family.
Accept that my now beautiful seven year old daughter would forever have to put up with her screaming brother and his insistence on sameness.
Accept the isolation, accept the walking on egg shells, accept the tantrums, accept the imaginary prison walls the rigid routines had built around our family.
Accept that my now beautiful seven year old daughter would forever have to put up with her screaming brother and his insistence on sameness.
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A particular picture stands out in my memory, of dressing four year old Jake for an OT appointment, or should I say, holding Jake down while attempting to dress him, only to turn around, sweating and out of breath as Jake runs away to undress himself again, and see Grace staring at us wondering what is going on.
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Thankfully, RDI changed all of that for our family. RDI not only gave us our son back but gave us our family back.
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Jake becoming a good apprentice!
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Fast forward to June 8, 2012, my birthday and the day I received my Certification as a RDI Consultant along with a delicious birthday cake, under the supervision of Dr. Sheely. My story continued, now privileged to work with other families and join the Dynamic Intelligence Work Group. Fortunate to get to work closely with an amazing group of Consultants and, my hero, Dr. Gutstein.
With the DI Curriculum and Dr. Gutstein’s guidance Jake soared to new heights, achieving a greater sense of self, improved ability to regulate his teenage emotions and the greatest gift of all - being able to learn from his own experiences, to not only survive but thrive in his life!
Jake with WHS Band in Walt Disney World
Fast forward to today, seventeen years after that fateful diagnosis and I am proud and beyond thankful to announce that I will be hosting Dr. Gutstein for a RDI 2 Day Event at Kean University, the school that Jake attended for one year when he was 6 year old in their autism program, Kean Campus School.
Redefining Autism
at Kean University in NJ, May 15 and May 16, 2016
Ten days before my daughter Grace’s 18th birthday, to share with other families what RDI has to offer. Blessed to be able to provide the life altering information to families like my own!
at Kean University in NJ, May 15 and May 16, 2016
Ten days before my daughter Grace’s 18th birthday, to share with other families what RDI has to offer. Blessed to be able to provide the life altering information to families like my own!
Thank you Dr. Gutstein! Thank you Dr. Sheely! Thank you RDI!
Hope To See You There!!
Hope To See You There!!
