Jane Appel found her way to RDI® through a series of fortunate events. A career change from public administration to teaching found her taking education courses and substituting in local schools.  She was asked to substitute in the district’s first class for children with autism until a permanent teacher could be hired.  She stayed eight years and left only to continue working with individuals with autism in and out of the school system.  On the way she found both greater challenges and satisfaction than she had expected to find in her once-intended path of secondary social studies.

There were frustrations, too.  The school district relied heavily on Applied Behavior Analysis which seemed manipulative and unnatural.  Parents often were at a loss as to how to help their children and looked to experts (behavior analysts, therapists, care assistants) to tell them what to do. 

Steve Gutstein spoke about his Relationship Development Intervention® program at a state-wide Center for Autism and Related Disabilities Conference and demonstrated that RDI® was a natural and effective treatment program that respected and valued individuals. 

Ms. Appel is delighted to have become a certified RDI® consultant and is pleased to be able to offer the program to both local and distance families.

Contact Me

Jane Appel

2101 River Hammock Lane

Fort Pierce, FL 34981

(772) 979-4450

JaneAppel@welcomechangeconsulting.com