1. RDI & ABA
Linking Developmental & Behavioral
Approaches to Teaching Social Skills

2. Overview
• Developmental Model
• Book Two
• Six Levels:
– Novice, Apprentice, Challenger, Voyager, Explorer,
Partner
• Appendices
• Baseline Assessment & Research Permissions

3. Key Concepts
• Reinforce Competence
• Matching Peers
• “We-go”
• Spotlighting
• Fun: Space, Balancing
enjoyment/responsibility
• “Zone of Proximal Development” & “Joyful
Collaboration”

4. Introduction
• Level 1: Core Relationship between Novice &
Coach.
– Faces, Gestures
– Non-Verbal Communication
– Fun, fast-paced practice
– Exaggerated spotlighting

5. Stage 1: Attend
• Simplify and amplify the communication
environment (attending to new SD)
• Emphasize excitement and fun (pairing
learning activities with R+)
• “Curiosity and a desire to share enjoyment will
hopefully replace verbal prompting and
external reinforcement as the major reason
why the person pays attention to you.”

6. Stage 1: Critical Tips
• Limit verbal communication & spotlight facial
communication
• Verbal communication only when Novice is
watching face
• “Indirect” cues when not attending
• Emphasize fun over demand for interaction
• Gauge length & pace

7. Stage 1: Critical Tips
• Determine objects that interfere with social
attention
• Remain clearly in control of activities
• Introduce unpredictability in your actions so
the Novice is motivated to continue
monitoring your actions and whereabouts
• Frequent Breaks

8. Level 1: Activities
• My Words are Important (1:1:1)
– Deliberate Speech
– Balancing
– Spotlighting
• I Lost my Voice (1:1:2)
– Act as if you lost your voice
– Explain the game (if he’ll understand)
– Child can be the voiceless one too!

9. Level 1: Activities
• Unexpected Sounds and Actions (1:1:3)
– Decide on unexpected action
– When attention flags, stop talking and present
unexpected action
– Dramatic, not startling
– Examples: meaningless words, grab head, shoe on
head, fall down

10. Level 1: Activities
• Fast-Paced Activities (1:1:4)
– 1 or 2 novices
– Exchange, Switch Objects, Overload
• Beanbag Medley (1:1:5)
– 8 beanbag chairs, 12 soft balls
– Not Competitive

11. Stage 2: Reference
• Other people must be perceived as important
to the Novice, even when they are not
entertaining them.
• Monitoring others help predict and anticipate
• Rapid attention shifting
• Actively reference others

12. Stage 2: Critical Tips
• Learn difference between facial expressions
and eye contact
• Limit verbal communication, increase facial
referencing
• Exaggerate facial expressions
• Not competitive

13. Stage 2: Activities
• Sneaky Pete (1:2:6)
– Moderate reinforcing activity
– Try to sneak up, eye contact “freezes” you and
sends you back. Otherwise, sneaky trick
• Follow my Eyes to the Prize (1:2:7)
– Hide prize with Novice out of the room; use eyes
(only eyes) to guide.
– Variation: follow my face to the prize (smile-
frown)

14. Stage 2: Activities
• Locked Box (1:2:8)
– Treasure Hunt
– Smile/Frown (hot/cold)
• Was it Right or Wrong? (1:2:9)
– Based on Wisconsin Card Sorting
– Color, Shape, Size (3 each) 9-27 cards
– Pattern Chart on pg 59
– Smile/Frown (hot/cold)