Found 290 listings
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 [...]
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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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‘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 [...]
Pathological Demand Avoidance Explained
Pathological Demand Avoidance Explained. Available in paperback and as a Kindle/E-Book.
What is PDA? What does it feel like? What does it involve?
PDA stands for 'pathological demand avoidance'. It describes a neurotype (type of brain) which is classed as part of the autism spectrum. There's more to PDA than avoiding things. This book describes what [...]
What is PDA? booklet
This booklet is designed to be an introductory guide to the Pathological Demand Avoidance profile of autism for individuals, families and professionals.
The booklet covers an overview of PDA, how PDA can feel, an insight into what demands are and how they’re avoided, info about identifying PDA, helpful approaches and [...]
Translations into Swedish
This Instagram account and Facebook group includes translations of PDA information into Swedish including our hierarchy of demands triangle and PANDA approaches images.
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Please note: the PDA Society is not able to verify the accuracy of translations listed on our website.
What is PDA? booklet in Norwegian
The PDA Society has been contacted by Torill Fjæran-Granum at SPISS who has kindly translated our What is PDA? booklet into Norwegian. We’re sharing the translated booklet here in case it helps others (please note this isn't an official translations and the PDA Society is not able to [...]
Recognising and regulating emotions – helpful books for children
Recognising and regulating emotions is something most of our children find very difficult. Whilst our children are young, the adults around them will need to be very vigilant in spotting the signs that anxiety is escalating. As our children grow older and their emotional intelligence develops, they may be [...]
Underdogs: Tooth and Nail
Different battles need different ways of thinking.
Book 2 in the Underdogs series. Autism. Dyslexia. Anxiety. A million cloned enemies. The Underdogs have returned.
A dystopian novel with a neurodiverse teenage character set, including a lead character Ewan who has a diagnosis of a PDA profile of autism.
Three weeks have passed [...]
Coronavirus support
We've collated and created specific resources to support the PDA community during the Coronavirus pandemic. They are spread across 5 pages:
Links and tips for the PDA community during the Coronavirus pandemic
Helpful approaches with PDA during the coronavirus outbreak
Accessible information (social stories etc.)
Information about mental health
UK [...]
Understand Me
Understand Me: An inspiring journey of a boy with PDA
9 year old Spencer recalls his struggles at mainstream school and takes us on a journey of his experiences whilst going through diagnosis and the EHCP process to a successful specialist placement. Spencer’s feelings of isolation and sadness, and his [...]
PDA North America
PDA North America was established as a result of the March 2020 Chicago PDA workshop. At this first PDA event in America, there was overwhelming enthusiasm and support for an ongoing effort in the US and Canada by the parents and professionals who attended. Diane Gould hosted the workshop [...]
Parenting strategies in ASD
Parenting Strategies Used by Parents of Children with ASD: Differential Links with Child Problem Behaviour
In this paper, Liz O'Nions explores a new scale which is designed to measure strategies for problem behaviour in ASD. The results are especially interesting as more than half of those involved in the study [...]
Role of Intolerance of Uncertainty and Anxiety
Intolerance of uncertainty and anxiety as explanatory frameworks for extreme demand avoidance in children and adolescents
This research was conducted by researchers at the Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorder Service and South Tyneside Community Team, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, and School of Psychology, Newcastle University.
The abstract concludes:
"This study represents one [...]
CAMH Journal discussions
In 2019, a paper from Lisa Stuart, Victoria Grahame and others at Newcastle University described how intolerance of uncertainty and anxiety may have a role in the demand avoidant behaviour of those identified as having a PDA profile.
The May 2020 edition of the journal Child and Adolescent Mental Health [...]
Autism, PDA presentations and Theory of Mind
The Relationship between Theory of Mind and Traits Associated with Autism Spectrum Condition and Pathological Demand Avoidance Presentations
UCL Doctorate Thesis in Clinical Psychology by Ellie Bishop
Extracts from the Impact Statement:
The overall aim of this thesis was to contribute to an understanding of the relationship between theory of mind [...]
Emotion Regulation and Executive Function
Emotion Regulation and Executive Function in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Pathological Demand Avoidance Traits
UCL Doctorate Thesis in Clinical Psychology by Anna Goodson
Extracts from impact Statement
The overarching aim of this research was to contribute to current understanding of cognitive processes and behaviours relevant to young people [...]
Progressing the research
Research Meeting Report
PDA is currently widely understood as being part of the autism spectrum. However, this area of research is in its infancy, with a range of perspectives currently evident. High quality, robust research is urgently needed to increase our understanding of autism as a whole, and demand avoidance [...]