Dr. Steven Gutstein To Present "Going to the Heart of Autism" At National Autism Conference

Co-developer of the Relationship Development Intervention® program will discuss advances toward remediation of autism

HOUSTON, Nov. 8, 2005 - Dr. Steven Gutstein is among the featured presenters at the 2005 National Autism Conference, which runs Nov. 10th through Nov. 13th in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Gutstein will present "Going to the Heart of Autism," which focuses on the Relationship Development Intervention (RDI®) program he co-developed.

The RDI program is heavily based on developmental research and theories of social communication. Gutstein’s presentation will introduce participants to the systematic methods through which individuals on the autism spectrum can learn to develop friendships, empathy, flexible thinking, rapid attention shifting, executive functioning, emotional regulation and the motivations for sharing their world with others. It includes theoretical perspectives, then uses video clips of individuals on the autism spectrum to illustrate key points.

"Because there has been a lack of awareness of the deficits that are common in all individuals on the autism spectrum, almost all autism intervention resources are spent in areas other than remediation, which is tragic," said Gutstein. "Speaking to a diverse audience at the National Autism Conference is a great opportunity to show how families can actually increase the flexibility and complexity of neural pathways of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder through focused guided participation in challenging activities."

Coordinated by the National Autism Association, the conference is expected to draw hundreds of family members, medical professionals, educators, therapists and college students.

The National Autism Conference will be held at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. For more information, visit www.nationalautismconference.org. To register, call 877-622-2884.

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.