Information, support and training for PDA
PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) is widely understood to be a profile on the autism spectrum, involving the avoidance of everyday demands and the use of ‘social’ strategies as part of this avoidance. PDA individuals share autistic characteristics and also have many of the ‘key features’ of a PDA profile.
This short video is a brief introduction to PDA and the approaches that help. More details can be found throughout our website.
Find out more
The wide range of information on our website can be explored through the following sections …
PDA research priorities consultation survey
Promoting high quality research, informed by what matters most to the PDA community, is one of our 5-year goals and identifying the top unanswered questions is the first step. To do this we’ve launched a consultation survey to ask what questions you have about PDA. The results of the survey will help define the top PDA research priorities, informing a national call to action for more high quality PDA research.
The survey is anonymous and open to anyone with an interest in PDA research. To have a say, please submit your questions before midnight on 14th June 2022.
Practice Guidance
NEW practice guidance on identifying and assessing a PDA profile, collating the professional practice and experience of a multidisciplinary group of professionals, has been produced by the PDA Society and is FREE to download now.
The goal of this document is to aid assessment of a PDA profile, to distinguish PDA from other presentations of marked demand avoidance, and to signpost appropriate support and guidance for individuals and families.
Our Strategy 2022-2027
We’re delighted to share our new strategy which has 6 goals that explain what we hope to achieve from 2022 to 2027.
This 5-year plan was produced using feedback from the PDA community (with surveys run in 2018 and 2021), feedback from professionals and our own experience. From our surveys we heard that PDA individuals are still struggling to:
- Access a diagnosis identifying a PDA profile, with lack of research given as a reason for this.
- Have their individual needs as PDA individuals understood.
- Access the personalised strategies needed to help.
Our 5-year plan aims to tackle these challenges and improve the quality of life for PDA individuals and those who support them.
Q&A Live events
The PDA Society is hosting monthly online Q&A Live events via Zoom with guest speakers answering questions on specific topics based on feedback from our recent training survey. The Q&As will also be recorded and available for pre-booked ticket holders to watch for 30 days after the event.
Featured training
PDA Society cources are delivered by training facilitators with valuable first-hand experiences of living and working with PDA.
About us
The PDA Society is led and run by a small team, all of whom have a direct connection with PDA. We provide information, support and training about PDA for individuals, families and professionals. We aim to increase acceptance and understanding of a PDA profile and to improve outcomes for individuals and families by focusing everyone involved on ‘what helps’. These aims are underpinned by our 5 year strategy. The PDA panda is our ambassador because, just like giant pandas, PDA individuals need specific support in order to thrive.