SKILLUP – ATDRA for autism and special needs – Antonio Rinaldi

ATDRA is an evolutive approach for treating autism and special needs. This method originated from the observation of the creative autistic interactions with water in the swimming pool. Mimicry is the paradigm of ATDRA, a deep concept of empathy at the basis of its philosophy. Mimicry is the ability to morph into someone else, in an autistic individual. In order to really know how the feel we need to have an accurate understanding of the autistic functioning. ATDRA can be used in every setting exploiting the motivation of the child, according to their functioning. Surfing Therapy ATDRA is a powerful tool to connect with kids and to train them to be open in the “here and now”.

A graduate with a combined Bachelor and Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Florence, Dr. Antonio Rinaldi is a clinical psychologist and creator of A.T.D.R.A., an evolutive approach for treating autism and other developmental disorders. Unlike conventional approaches that view autism through external behaviours, A.T.D.R.A. delves into the inner psyche of the autistic being and offers a powerful two-step approach to guide ALL autistic individuals out of the prison of their negative autistic behaviours. In addition, he has pioneered a surf therapy approach— Surfing Voice A.T.D.R.A. —that harnesses the dynamic qualities of water and waves to help both autistic individuals and the carers to manage challenging emotions like fear and anxiety effectively.

Under his organisation, For You A.T.D.R.A., along with its growing network of parent ambassadors and therapists, Dr. RInaldi has been spreading his therapy approach in collaboration with autism organisations throughout Italy and abroad. He has conducted talks, workshops, and ongoing supervisions of his approach, as well as provided consultation services with families and therapists for the past eight years. With his book, Leggere il Silenzio: Lavorare con i Bambini Autistic (trans. Reading the Silence: Working with Autistic Children”), Dr. Rinaldi has set out a description of how to interact with autistic children through unconventional, but loving and empathetic, interaction strategies that include “speaking without words”. His strategies are particularly remarkable for enabling parents to connect with autistic children who seemed to be trapped in their own world due to limited verbal communication skills. It is Dr. Rinaldi’s life mission to transform the world into a community that can properly support and empower autistic individuals to lead meaningful lives of quality.