{"id":10072,"date":"2025-04-24T14:08:41","date_gmt":"2025-04-24T13:08:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pdasociety.org.uk\/?page_id=10072"},"modified":"2025-06-19T17:05:58","modified_gmt":"2025-06-19T16:05:58","slug":"in-our-words","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.pdasociety.org.uk\/pda2025staging\/research-professional-practice\/in-our-words\/","title":{"rendered":"In our words"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”gcid-9868c831-dc08-4be7-96b8-e0cb537cb9dc” custom_padding_tablet=”80px||80px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-9868c831-dc08-4be7-96b8-e0cb537cb9dc%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_css_main_element=”margin: auto;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”PDA in our words” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”–et_global_heading_font|800|||||||” title_font_size=”48px” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||24px||false|false” title_font_size_tablet=”44px” title_font_size_phone=”26px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||16px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”32px||15px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”15px||||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Nearly 1000 people responded to our 2023 survey. Four PDAers Riko, Leila, Hannah and Jennifer worked with us to analyse the results and set them in the context of their lived experience. ‘In our words’ is the result, a report that has both statistics and stories about what life is like right now for PDAers and their families.<\/p>\n

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[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/The-Full-Story.pdf” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Read the full report here” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||16px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.pdasociety.org.uk\/pda2025staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/4.-Research-and-professional-practice-landing-page-1.png” title_text=”4. Research and professional practice landing page 1″ align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”||||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii=”on|24px|24px|24px|24px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”gcid-d4d84b5e-d061-48e7-894c-a52b4e3d47de” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding_tablet=”64px||64px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-d4d84b5e-d061-48e7-894c-a52b4e3d47de%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}”][et_pb_row make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||32px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Riko\u2019s introduction” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h2″ title_font=”–et_global_heading_font|800|||||||” title_font_size=”48px” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” title_font_size_tablet=”44px” title_font_size_phone=”26px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”24px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Reading this report was hard but important. It highlights things that are going wrong for people, and how knowing about PDA and having people put in the right accommodations helps. It shows the difference that getting it right can make. The case studies in this report show us that life doesn\u2019t have to be as awful as some of the stats suggest just because you\u2019re PDA. Plus, I can tell you myself that I am really happy.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”24px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”0px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

I noticed in all the sections the authors say how important listening is. For me that means listening to what people are actually saying \u2013 not what you think they are saying. So, if somebody tells you they need flexible working hours, take that at face value. We really aren\u2019t saying we don\u2019t want to work at all. When we talked about this report, we agreed that there were some things everyone could try and do that would make life easier for PDAers and our families. We hope once you\u2019ve read the report you will be willing to try them.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”gcid-9868c831-dc08-4be7-96b8-e0cb537cb9dc” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding_tablet=”64px||64px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-9868c831-dc08-4be7-96b8-e0cb537cb9dc%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Leila wrote – the story for PDA children and young people” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ title_font=”–et_global_heading_font|800|||||||” title_font_size=”48px” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||16px||false|false” title_font_size_tablet=”44px” title_font_size_phone=”26px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”24px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”10px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”||16px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

This section talks about what children are experiencing, what diagnosis is like, school and education as well as their relationships and health.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/The-story-for-PDA-children-and-young-people.pdf” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Learn what life is like for PDA children” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.pdasociety.org.uk\/pda2025staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/leila-stars-icons.png” title_text=”leila-stars-icons” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”80%” border_radii=”on|24px|24px|24px|24px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”gcid-d4d84b5e-d061-48e7-894c-a52b4e3d47de” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding_tablet=”64px||64px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-d4d84b5e-d061-48e7-894c-a52b4e3d47de%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” pac_drh_enable_stacking=”pac_drh_stack_row pac_drh_stack_tab_mob” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” pac_drh_add_staking_order_tab=”pac_drh_order_tab_two” pac_drh_add_staking_order_mob=”pac_drh_order_mob_two” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.pdasociety.org.uk\/pda2025staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/hannah-squiggle-icon.png” title_text=”hannah-squiggle-icon” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”80%” border_radii=”on|24px|24px|24px|24px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” pac_drh_add_staking_order_tab=”pac_drh_order_tab_one” pac_drh_add_staking_order_mob=”pac_drh_order_mob_one” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Hannah wrote – the story for PDA adults” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ title_font=”–et_global_heading_font|800|||||||” title_font_size=”48px” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||24px||false|false” title_font_size_tablet=”44px” title_font_size_phone=”26px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”24px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”10px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”||16px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Hannah writes about what the survey results told us about daily life for adult PDAers, their work, health, money and relationships.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/The-Story-for-PDA-Adults.pdf” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Read about adult PDAers and their experiences” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”gcid-9868c831-dc08-4be7-96b8-e0cb537cb9dc” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding_tablet=”64px||64px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-9868c831-dc08-4be7-96b8-e0cb537cb9dc%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Jennifer wrote – the story for parents and carers of PDA children and young people” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ title_font=”–et_global_heading_font|800|||||||” title_font_size=”48px” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||24px||false|false” title_font_size_tablet=”44px” title_font_size_phone=”26px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”24px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”10px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”||16px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

This section talks about what parents are experiencing, their worries and struggles on behalf of their children and experiences of parent blame.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/The-story-for-parents.pdf” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Find out what life is like for parents & carers of young PDAers” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.pdasociety.org.uk\/pda2025staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/jennifer-flash-icons.png” title_text=”jennifer-flash-icons” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”80%” border_radii=”on|24px|24px|24px|24px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”gcid-d4d84b5e-d061-48e7-894c-a52b4e3d47de” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding_tablet=”64px||64px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-d4d84b5e-d061-48e7-894c-a52b4e3d47de%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}”][et_pb_row make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”The authors of the report ask you, will you pledge to treat PDAers as you would a trusted friend by:” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h2″ title_font=”–et_global_heading_font|800|||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”48px” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||32px||false|false” title_font_size_tablet=”44px” title_font_size_phone=”26px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_5,1_5,1_5,1_5,1_5″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_phone=”||0px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Listening” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||24px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0px||40px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”||15px||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”24px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”10px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”||16px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]Be open minded about people\u2019s needs and don\u2019t make assumptions[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Trusting” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||24px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0px||40px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”||15px||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”24px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”10px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”||16px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]When the human being in front of you tells you they are struggling, believe them.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-9868c831-dc08-4be7-96b8-e0cb537cb9dc%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}”][et_pb_heading title=”Adapting” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||24px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0px||40px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”||15px||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”24px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”10px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”||16px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]Respond to what someone tells you works for them and be prepared to try different approaches.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-9868c831-dc08-4be7-96b8-e0cb537cb9dc%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}”][et_pb_heading title=”Accommodating” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||24px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0px||40px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”||15px||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”24px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”10px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”||16px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Assume everyone is doing the best they can right now and make accommodations where you can.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-9868c831-dc08-4be7-96b8-e0cb537cb9dc%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}”][et_pb_heading title=”Respecting” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||24px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0px||40px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”||15px||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”24px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”10px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”||16px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]When PDA people struggle to respond in the way you would expect, they aren\u2019t trying to hurt you, they are just trying to keep themselves safe.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”gcid-9868c831-dc08-4be7-96b8-e0cb537cb9dc” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-9868c831-dc08-4be7-96b8-e0cb537cb9dc%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}” disabled_on=”on|on|on” disabled=”on” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”gcid-d4d84b5e-d061-48e7-894c-a52b4e3d47de” custom_padding=”40px|40px|40px|40px|false|false” border_radii=”on|24px|24px|24px|24px” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-d4d84b5e-d061-48e7-894c-a52b4e3d47de%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Will you help a family today?” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h2″ title_text_align=”center” custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_orientation=”center” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

68% of people who use our support service say it made their life better. And thats important because PDA has a daily impact on PDAers and those who love them.<\/p>\n

We want to keep helping everyone who asks us – but we need your help because more people are coming to us for support than ever before.<\/p>\n

With the support of generous people like you we can respond to everyone who asks for help. Can you make a donation today?<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/pdasociety.org.uk\/?form=FUNQXPDQXNJ” button_text=”Donate” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”gcid-9868c831-dc08-4be7-96b8-e0cb537cb9dc” custom_padding=”80px||80px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”80px||80px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-9868c831-dc08-4be7-96b8-e0cb537cb9dc%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”et_body_layout”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_css_main_element=”margin: auto;” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”et_body_layout”][et_pb_heading title=”Will you help a family today?” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h2″ title_font=”–et_global_heading_font|800|||||||” title_font_size=”44px” custom_margin=”0px|-21px|0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||24px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ title_font_size_tablet=”44px” title_font_size_phone=”26px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”et_body_layout” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||16px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”32px||15px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”15px||||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”et_body_layout” sticky_enabled=”0″]68% of people who use our support service say it made their life better. And thats important because PDA has a daily impact on PDAers and those who love them.<\/p>\n

We want to keep helping everyone who asks us – but we need your help because more people are coming to us for support than ever before.<\/p>\n

With the support of generous people like you we can respond to everyone who asks for help. Can you make a donation today?[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”et_body_layout”][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_orientation=”right” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”et_body_layout”]<\/a>[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”gcid-d4d84b5e-d061-48e7-894c-a52b4e3d47de” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-d4d84b5e-d061-48e7-894c-a52b4e3d47de%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}”][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nearly 1000 people responded to our 2023 survey. Four PDAers Riko, Leila, Hannah and Jennifer worked with us to analyse the results and set them in the context of their lived experience. ‘In our words’ is the result, a report that has both statistics and stories about what life is like right now for PDAers and their families.  Reading this report was hard but important. It highlights things that are going wrong for people, and how knowing about PDA and having people put in the right accommodations helps. It shows the difference that getting it right can make. The case studies in this report show us that life doesn\u2019t have to be as awful as some of the stats suggest just because you\u2019re PDA. Plus, I can tell you myself that I am really happy.I noticed in all the sections the authors say how important listening is. For me that means listening to what people are actually saying \u2013 not what you think they are saying. So, if somebody tells you they need flexible working hours, take that at face value. We really aren\u2019t saying we don\u2019t want to work at all. When we talked about this report, we agreed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":0,"parent":11495,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"course_tag":[],"class_list":["post-10072","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pdasociety.org.uk\/pda2025staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10072","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pdasociety.org.uk\/pda2025staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pdasociety.org.uk\/pda2025staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pdasociety.org.uk\/pda2025staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pdasociety.org.uk\/pda2025staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10072"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.pdasociety.org.uk\/pda2025staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10072\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pdasociety.org.uk\/pda2025staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11495"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pdasociety.org.uk\/pda2025staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10072"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"course_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pdasociety.org.uk\/pda2025staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/course_tag?post=10072"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}