MICHIGAN AUTISM CONSULTANT EARNS CERTIFICATION IN RELATIONSHIP
DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTION® PROGRAM
AUBURN
HILLS, MICH., Oct. 5, 2005 – An Auburn Hills
autism consultant has earned certification in the Relationship
Development Intervention (RDI®) autism treatment program.
Thomas Brown, executive director of the Autism Support Center,
has earned certification from Connections Center of Houston,
Texas, which developed the RDI program.
A rigorous process,
the Certification Program typically takes 18 months to complete.
Consultants are trained to administer the RDA™ (Relationship
Development Assessment™) and provide ongoing support
to parents.
The RDI program is a
cognitive model designed to work with children who have
Autism Spectrum Disorders by providing consultation to families
to address the core deficits, which include flexible thinking,
communication, development of self and social/emotional
relationships.
“We consider the
role of Certified RDI Consultants such as Thomas to be nurturing
the primary relationship between parent and child by raising
the parents’ level of competence and confidence,”
said Dr. Rachelle Sheely, who developed the RDI program
with Dr. Steven Gutstein in 2001 and oversees the RDI Certification
Program. “Most parents run into challenges from time
to time, so having an ongoing relationship with a Consultant
who knows their family can make a big difference.”
The prevalence of autism
and associated disorders has sharply risen in recent years,
with some education and medical professionals describing
the rise as an epidemic. According to the most recent Michigan
Public Schools Autism Prevalence Report compiled by Fighting
Autism, 7,259 Michigan children between ages three and 22
had been diagnosed with autism in 2003, up 54 percent from
just 4,706 cases reported in 2000. Some, including Gutstein,
believe the rise is at least partly due to a loosening of
the criteria used to diagnose autism as well as misclassification
of autistic children as mentally retarded in the past.
Brown, a limited licensed
psychologist, has a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology
and is nationally certified by the Professional Psychologist
Certification Board. He founded the Autism Support Center,
which is a non-profit affiliate of the Macomb Oakland Regional
Center. The Center serves individuals of all ages with autism
and other developmental disabilities. He can be reached
at:
Thomas Brown, M.A., L.L.P.
Autism Support Center
1270 Doris Road Auburn Hills, MI 48326
Phone: 248.276.8086
Email: thomas.brown@morcinc.org
Website: http://www.autismsupportcenter.org
Editor’s Note: A downloadable
high-resolution photo of Thomas Brown is available at http://www.keeneypr.com/attachments/filesfiles/27/Thomas
Brown.jpg
About Connections Center
Established in 1995, the Connections Center for Family and
Personal Development, based in Houston, is a multi-disciplinary
program to develop innovative evaluation and intervention
programs for people with relationship disorders. Led by
Dr. Steve Gutstein and Dr. Rachelle K. Sheely, the Connections
Center staff provides a full range of evaluation and treatment
services, including the RDI program. They provide education
and training to families and professionals worldwide. More
information is available at www.rdiconnect.com.
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