Found 304 listings
James’ story
James is 14 and kindly shared this extract he wrote about his experience of PDA. His insightful and honest account covers how PDA can be misunderstood; masking; school; the need to have ‘demand free’ time; the importance of trust in relationships; the impact of the Covid pandemic and what [...]
Autistic and PDA parent support group Cardiff
We are a very helpful online community of experienced parents and carers and also professionals. We are available to help assist, advise and support each other.
Happy to welcome anyone who is on the journey and finding things challenging.
I am an experienced parent of 4 myself. Two of my children [...]
Pets and PDA
For some people, owning a pet greatly improves both their mental and physical wellbeing - research shows interacting with animals reduces blood pressure, lessens anxiety and improves social interactions.
Many autistic individuals and their families find pet ownership particularly beneficial. A study by Lincoln University, for instance, found that autistic [...]
Max’s story – Why Is He Still Here? book extracts
“Why Is He Still Here?” is a memoir written by Max, a young autistic adult with a PDA profile. It’s a powerful insight into his experiences of the education system and gaming world.
We’re grateful to Max for allowing us to share some extracts from his book to help [...]
Local position statements on PDA
Some local areas have found it helpful to state their position on the use of terminology around PDA.
Two examples are Surrey and Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust. Both position statements clearly illustrate how it is possible for local authorities, and supporting organisations, to acknowledge and flag up the [...]
The Great Minds Podcast: PDA Society
PDA Society trustees Paula Webb & Vikki Threlfall chat with Emma and Meg from Great Minds Together about lots of topics including terminology around PDA, helpful approaches, differences between ODD & PDA, EHCPs, working with professionals and more.
.fusion-button.button-4 {border-radius:2px;}Listen to the podcast
COAST Autism – South Lanarkshire
Champions Of Autism Spectrum Together (COAST Autism) provide support to parents and carers of ASD children, including those with a PDA profile, in South Lanarkshire.
Location: Autism Resource Coordination Hub (ARCH Centre), Reid Street, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, ML3 0RQ
Parent/carer support group on a Monday 10am-12pm in ARCH Centre.
Evening parent/carer [...]
Helen’s story – PDA in families and deciding to home educate
Helen self-identifies with a PDA profile and sees the same traits in other family members including her daughter and her Mum, with mutual understanding across the generations having led to an instinctively collaborative and compassionate approach to both parenting and education. Passionately believing that our education system is not [...]
Early Intervention – Aberdeen
Early Intervention Aberdeen provides support and guidance to parents/carers of young children with suspected nuerodiverse conditions, including PDA.
Please visit our website www.earlyintervention.org.uk for resources and more information about our forthcoming events.
In addition, we would love to hear directly from you via FB messenger or you can email Amanda or [...]
PDA in the Therapy Room
PDA in the Therapy Room: A Clinician's Guide to Working with Children with Pathological Demand Avoidance.
This guide sets out the most effective strategies for clinicians to provide the best care for children with PDA, adapting conventional modes of therapy to suit their needs. Methods include indirect techniques such as [...]
What is PDA? booklet in Dutch
The PDA Society has been contacted by group members from PDA Nederland & Belgie who have kindly translated our What is PDA? booklet into Dutch. We’re sharing the translated booklet here in case it helps others.
Please note: the PDA Society is not able to verify the accuracy of translations [...]
Sources of further understanding
In addition to the information signposted throughout our website, we’d like to draw your attention to these additional sources of information, topics or fields of study which we feel are helpful in furthering understanding about PDA. This is a living list which we'll add to over time - if [...]
Introduction to PDA (2021)
An introductory video about PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance).
This video is just over 20 minutes long and covers lots of information, including:
What is demand avoidance?
PDA & Autism
Key features of a PDA profile
Research & clinical themes
Why identify PDA?
How PDA can feel
What are demands?
Demand [...]
South Lanarkshire parent & carer support group
Private Facebook group. This group is a South Lanarkshire support network for Parents & Carers of Autism. As a community we can learn so much from each other. Confidentiality is key, anything said within the group must remain within the group. Some sensitive issues are discussed and we all [...]
Translations into Dutch
PDA Nederland & België translates information about PDA into Dutch, including our What is PDA booklet, for use in Holland and Belgium.
They have a Facebook group and a website where they share translations.
.fusion-button.button-14 {border-radius:2px;}Visit Facebook group
.fusion-button.button-15 {border-radius:2px;}Visit website
Please note: the PDA Society is not able to verify the accuracy [...]
Home education “hub”
Elective home education - helpful approaches & resources for PDA
This resource consists of helpful approaches and resources to support parents who are home educating PDA children and young people. For general guidance and legislation about elective home education (EHE) in the UK please visit the relevant government website for [...]
Transition to adulthood
When we think about transitions we naturally think about the big transitions like leaving school or transferring from primary to secondary school. But transitions of any kind, at any time, may be difficult for PDA individuals. Starting a new club or activity, leaving home in the morning to go [...]
What is PDA? video
This short video gives a quick introduction to PDA and was created to help raise awareness of PDA with the general public and convey some essential information about PDA in a quick and easily shareable format.
Voiced by a wonderful group of PDAers and PDA Society team members.
Published by: PDA [...]
PDA Society 5th anniversary survey report
A report on the main findings of our 5th anniversary survey conducted in Oct/Nov 2020, with statistics and comments from respondents, along with a summary of what the PDA Society is planning during 2021 can be viewed/downloaded here. The main findings are summarised below.
It was very encouraging to know [...]
EHCP guide
Education, Health and Care Plans to support a PDA profile of autism.
An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is a document used in England and Wales to outline a child or young person’s special educational needs (SEN) and the provision that should be made to meet those needs.
Not every [...]
East London PDA Parent/Carers WhatsApp Group
Friendly supportive WhatsApp group for Autistic PDA families. Hackney based but all welcome. Neurodiverse positive, good vibes only.
WhatsApp group link
.fusion-button.button-18 {border-radius:2px;}Join WhatsApp group
SEN parent and carer support group Maidstone
Private Facebook group for parents and carers of children with SEN, specifically Autism and PDA.
I also share about raising my son and want others to be able to share, this group is for support and somewhere to talk in private.
.fusion-button.button-19 {border-radius:2px;}Join Facebook group
An exploration of the PDA profile in children
An exploration of the Pathological (or Extreme) Demand Avoidant profile in children referred for an autism diagnostic assessment using data from ADOS-2 assessments and their developmental histories
This paper represents the first step in analysing and reporting on data gathered between 2015 and 2017 on 351 children referred to Dr [...]
Extreme/‘pathological’ demand avoidance: an overview
Extreme/‘pathological’ demand avoidance: an overview
In this article, Elizabeth O'Nions and Judy Eaton provide an overview of PDA, discuss the clinical presentation of individuals with a PDA profile, and differences compared to children with documented attachment difficulties. They then discuss empirical work describing how anxiety-driven avoidance of routine demands can [...]
PDA Together, Cornwall & Devon
This group has been set up for parents and individuals to support and inform each other within the world of Pathological Demand Avoidance.
Zoom support group and private Facebook group.
Please only ask to join if you live in Cornwall or Devon. Requests from other localities will be declined.
.fusion-button.button-24 {border-radius:2px;}Join Facebook [...]
Pretty Darn Awesome
Pretty Darn Awesome: Divergent not Deficient: Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance on the Autism Spectrum
‘Pretty Darn Awesome’ is a story about a little boy with Pathological Demand Avoidance - a not so well known profile of the autistic spectrum. It looks at his daily struggles but more importantly his amazing [...]
What is PDA? booklet in Persian
The PDA Society has been contacted by Adib Mohareri who has kindly translated our What is PDA? booklet into Persian. We’re sharing the translated booklet here in case it helps others.
Please note: the PDA Society is not able to verify the accuracy of translations listed on our website.
Translated [...]
‘PANDA’ page in Danish
We were contacted by Anette Grandjean who kindly translated our Helpful approaches for a PDA profile of autism infographic into Danish and we’re sharing it here in case it helps others.
Please note: the PDA Society is not able to verify the accuracy of translations listed on our website.
More about our [...]
Spectrum Life Scotland
Additional Support Needs online support group including, ASD, ADHD, ODD, PDA, Dyslexia, SPD, Anxiety...
Many parent carers feel that their children don't fit neatly into that diagnostic criteria! The Spectrum of conditions are so varied, every child is different. Your child may have been diagnosed with a few conditions, or with [...]