What happens when RDI® expands beyond parent coaching and begins to include siblings, grandparents, and extended family? In this episode of Autism, A New Perspective, Kat Lee talks with Andreja Stefulj, an RDI® Consultant based in London who leads RDI® professional training across the UK and Europe. Andreja shares her journey from working in schools and studying ABA to finding RDI® as a relationship-based approach that helped her feel more connected, more empowered, and more focused on what truly generalizes: confident, resilient thinking. You’ll hear practical strategies for helping relatives engage without pressure, including how to model short moments of shared play, build a child’s confidence first, and invite others in gradually. If you’ve ever felt alone in supporting your child, or unsure how to help family members connect, this conversation will give you a clear and compassionate starting point. Subscribe for more episodes that help you understand what is going on in the mind of your child and remind you that growth is possible.

In this episode of Autism, A New Perspective, Kat Lee sits down with Dr. Steven Gutstein to name a question the autism field still struggles to answer clearly: What is autism, underneath the checklist of symptoms? Dr. Gutstein explores why so much of the current conversation stays focused on surface behaviors, and why families often get routed into “services” that do not address long-term development. Dr. Gutstein explains the RDI® lens: autism can involve many individualized differences and co-occurring challenges, but there is also a core developmental issue that must be addressed if a person is going to thrive in a complex, dynamic world. He describes this in terms of dynamic intelligence and the formation of the experience-guiding relationship, and why RDI® centers parents as the primary guides for growth. Together, they discuss what they hope to see in 2026: clearer communication to families and professionals, stronger advocacy in local communities, and a renewed commitment to research, including practical, real-world ways consultants and families can gather meaningful outcomes over time. Subscribe for more conversations that help you understand development, guiding relationships, and what real-life progress can look like for your child.

Parenting an autistic child in 2026 can feel like living under a constant wave of information. Therapies, programs, social media advice, online groups, conferences, and experts all seem to say “do more,” “start earlier,” and “never stop.” Many parents end up exhausted, overwhelmed, and unsure which choices actually matter for their child’s long-term future. In this episode of Autism: A New Perspective, host Kat Lee talks with RDI® consultant and parent Lisa Palasti about what it is like to be an autism parent today and why putting parents back in the driver’s seat is so important. Lisa shares: - How the “massive amount of information” about autism can paralyze parents - What happened when she tried to juggle multiple therapies at once - The moment she realized she needed permission to do less, not more - How discovering Relationship Development Intervention (RDI®) helped her move out of crisis - Why parents are the true experts in their children, not just passive recipients of services - How neuroplasticity and lifelong brain growth offer hope for parents of older teens and adults Kat and Lisa also discuss the voices that quietly tell parents they are “just the parent” and should leave the real decisions to professionals. They contrast that message with the RDI® belief that parents can become confident guides and architects of their children’s learning experiences in everyday life. Whether you are parenting a two-year-old or a twenty-two-year-old, this conversation will encourage you that: You are allowed to slow down and reflect before making decisions You can choose approaches that align with your deepest hopes for your child’s future. Growth is possible at every age, for your child and for you 🔊 Listen to the full episode and reflect on your own journey as a parent in 2026. Subscribe to Autism: A New Perspective for more conversations that help you understand what is going on in the mind of your child and remind you that growth for your child is possible. #autism #RDI #AutismANewPerspective

For many parents, “assessment” has become a painful word. Long lists of deficits. Standardized scores. Professionals evaluating your child while you wait outside. In this episode of Autism: A New Perspective, host Kat Lee talks with Claudia Andreessen, Professional Director at RDIconnect® and trainer of RDI® consultants, about the Relationship Development Assessment (RDA) and why it feels so different from traditional testing. The RDA focuses on the guiding relationship between parent and child. Instead of asking what your child cannot do, it starts with the assumption that every child, teen, and adult has the potential for growth. Through simple, play-based activities, consultants observe how you and your child interact, co-regulate, and connect. The goal is to find your child’s edge of competence and a personalized starting point for meaningful growth. In this episode, you will hear about: - What the Relationship Development Assessment (RDA) is - Why RDI® uses a dynamic assessment instead of fixed scores - How the RDA focuses on the guiding relationship, not just the child - What parents can expect during RDA 1 and RDA 2 - Why parents are partners in the process, not subjects being judged - How the RDA supports truly individualized RDI® programs for children and adults Whether your child is two or thirty-two, this conversation will encourage you that growth is possible and that assessment can be a supportive, hopeful experience. Go to our website to find full episodes of our podcast.

In this episode of Autism, A New Perspective, host Kat Lee talks with Dr. Steven Gutstein, developer of RDI®, about why parents are the primary guides in their child’s development and how to structure support so families can actually guide. Dr. Gutstein explains how RDI® helps parents start small, build momentum, and create growth-oriented experiences at home. What you will learn - Why replacing parents with helpers misses the point - How to use support to protect your capacity to guide - Why autism requires a different guiding approach - How RDI® consultants help families begin with achievable steps - Practical ways to build co-regulation and shared experience Resources - Find a Certified RDI® Consultant: https://www.rdiconnect.com/find-a-consultant - About RDI®: https://www.rdiconnect.com/about-rdi - Moving into Adulthood with RDI®: https://www.rdiconnect.com/moving-into-adulthood-with-rdi If this episode helped, please like and subscribe. Share it with another parent who needs a hopeful, practical path forward.

Teens, Adults and Autism, Dr. Sheely and Kat Lee Dr. Rachelle Sheely, co-founder of RDIconnect, talking about the tendency to shy away from talking about teens, adults and autism.