Found 329 listings
Helpful approaches for parents/carers
This 2 page information sheet provides a summary of PDA helpful approaches for parents and carers.
Autism and the PDA profile are ‘dimensional’ – meaning they vary a lot from one person to another and at different times or with different people – so parents/carers need a ‘toolkit’ of helpful [...]
Jim’s story
Jim is a 33 year old PDAer and has worked at Waitrose for 7 years. He likes to raise awareness of PDA and share his story so that parents know that things can turn out well for their child despite how challenging circumstances may be along the way. Jim [...]
Strategies and support for school (letter template)
Shared with us by US-based bloggers pdaparents.com, this letter template can be used to share important strategies and support information with school, in addition to the required documents that are part of the IEP process.
It is important to read through and decide which parts apply to your child, and [...]
Dundee & Angus advice & activities groups
Autism/ADHD Advice Group Dundee & Angus Facebook group (includes families with PDA children).
I’ve started this group as I feel that myself and the other members have a lot of experience, knowledge and hints/tips that we can share. It’s also just good to know that there’s someone else who understands [...]
PDA & school avoidance podcast with James
15 year old James shares his thoughts on why school is difficult for young people with a PDA profile. He openly talks about his experience of school and the daily challenges around demands, masking, sensory difficulties, school avoidance, friendships and transitions. He also offers some possible solutions and advice [...]
Information sheet for teaching professionals
This 2 page resource gives education professionals bitesize information about PDA, including how PDA may look in school, good practice and helpful approaches plus where to find further information.
Published by: PDA Society, August 2021 and updated October 2021
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Pathological demand avoidance in children and adolescents: A systematic review
Pathological demand avoidance in children and adolescents: A systematic review
There has been a lack of funding of research into PDA to date and so this timely paper is particularly useful for giving an overview of the research history and looking to the future and what is needed.
With any newly [...]
Individual differences, ADHD, Adult Pathological Demand Avoidance and delinquency
Individual differences, ADHD, Adult Pathological Demand Avoidance and delinquency
In this paper, Egan et al looked at a range of different characteristics of a group of adults to analyse how PDA might fit with other described conditions. They used the EDA-Q developed in their previous work as a self-report tool [...]
Surrey PDA support group (Zoom)
National Autistic Society Surrey branch parent support group.
We run a Zoom support group specifically for parents of children and young people with PDA who live in the Surrey County Council area.
Please email strumansurrey@gmail.com for further information.
Being Julia
A Personal Account of Living with Pathological Demand Avoidance.
Diagnosed with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) at aged 12 and writing this memoir at age 37, Julia Daunt depicts the ins and out of PDA and its symptoms, while maintaining a positive outlook on what is possible to achieve. Co-written with [...]
The F Word – Pandarama Group for PDA Young People
Group for young people under 18 years old who have been or are in the process of being diagnosed with Autism with a Pathological Demand Avoidance Profile.
Facebook group which will encourage healthy friendships and peer support in a safe environment with two admins who are both experienced with the [...]
The Amazing Autistic Brain Cards
150 Cards with Strengths and Challenges for Positive Autism Discussions.
This deck of cards is a resource to help professionals, parents and anyone working with autistic young people to have discussions about an Autism diagnosis in a personalised, positive and meaningful way.
The beautifully designed cards each show a strength - [...]
Alternative perspectives on PDA
Alternative perspectives on PDA
The PDA Society’s current position, based on research, clinical evidence and lived experience, is that PDA is best understood as a profile on the autism spectrum.
However it’s important to acknowledge the alternative perspectives on PDA that are currently evident.
These relate to the usefulness of the construct, [...]
Declarative Language Handbook
Declarative Language Handbook: Using a Thoughtful Language Style to Help Kids with Social Learning Challenges Feel Competent, Connected, and Understood.
This book was written to teach you how making small shifts in your language and speaking style will produce important results. You will stop telling kids what to do and [...]
PDA & masking with James
In this video 14 year old James kindly shares information about his experience of PDA and masking.
Hi, I'm James and I'm 14 years old. I was diagnosed with PDA at the age of 12 and would like to share some information about masking. A lot of people with PDA [...]
The Teacher’s Introduction to Pathological Demand Avoidance
Essential Strategies for the Classroom.
This essential guide for working with PDA pupils outlines effective and practical ways that teachers and school staff can support these pupils, by endorsing a child-led approach to learning and assessment.
Beginning with an introduction to PDA and how it can affect the education experience, it [...]
Ways to Be Me
From the bestselling author duo behind Can You See Me? comes this exceptional portrayal of autism diagnosis, with diary entries by 12-year-old autistic author Libby Scott based on her own experiences of autism with a demand avoidant profile.
Taking place before Can You See Me? and Do You Know Me? [...]
Online gaming with Max Toper
Max Toper, author of “Why Is He Still Here?” and a young autistic adult with a PDA profile has kindly recorded a three-part series of videos about online gaming for our home education “hub”. He shares insight into his experiences of the gaming world to help parents and carers of [...]
Zoom Support Group for Families of Children with a PDA Profile
This lovely little monthly support circle, has a maximum of 10 attendees and is a great way to meet with like-minded people who understand.
Who is running the session?
Tracy, Founder of the Child Therapy Service - parent of a child with a PDA profile and educational consultant will be your [...]
Blogs & videos by partners of PDAers
PDA from a partner's perspective (Facebook video) - Paul Fiddian
Diary of a PDAer's Wife (blog) - Pim Jansson
The educational experiences of autistic children
The educational experiences of autistic children with and without extreme demand avoidance behaviours
Shining a light on the types of difficulties that all autistic children can experience in school and how it can vary individually. Parent’s views on the key causes of problems provides an insight into what can help [...]
What is PDA? booklet in Spanish
The PDA Society has been contacted by the parents of a PDA child who have kindly translated our What is PDA? booklet into Spanish. 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 [...]
What is PDA? information sheet
This information sheet contains some essential information about PDA and what helps, in an easily shareable format... it can be downloaded & emailed or printed & shared with others (when Covid restrictions allow!).
Published by: PDA Society, May 2021
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Also available in this series are our What is PDA? booklet and What [...]
Winning a Blue Peter competition – Naomi’s story
Hi, I’m Naomi (age 12), I have PDA and I recently won a Blue Peter (BP) competition!
The whole filming experience was pretty overwhelming but also gave me some amazing and life-long memories. I think PDAers find it really difficult to experience and try new things as we usually try to [...]
All Wales Pandarama ASD/PDA Parent/Carers support group
A support Group for parents, carers and families throughout Wales to come together for support around the Pathological Demand Avoidance profile.
Hello welcome to the All Wales Pandarama support page for Parents/carers of children and young people with a profile of Pathological Demand Avoidance, over the past three years I [...]
Letter to professionals
Sharing information with the professionals you’re in contact with is a great way to raise awareness and increase understanding of PDA. For PDA Day 2021 we created this new one page letter with some essential information about PDA that’s easy to share … it can be downloaded & emailed [...]
PDA best practice – the professional voice
PDA best practice - what the professionals would like you to know
24 professionals from a range of backgrounds explain why they feel it's important to identify PDA and share their tips for best practice.
This is one of two videos created for PDA Day 2021 that share best practice about [...]
PDA best practice – the PDA community’s voice
PDA best practice - what the PDA community would like professionals to know
This is one of two videos created for PDA Day 2021 that share best practice about PDA for professionals from all sectors – including healthcare, education, social care, the law, therapists, counsellors, advocates and policy makers.
This video [...]
Beth’s story
Beth’s Dad Jeremy tells the devastating and disturbing story (trigger warning: this case study includes details of self-harm, restraint and abuse) of how Beth was ‘failed by the system’. Jeremy covers Beth’s early years, her 19 placements in 6 years, her first section aged 11 and her fateful move [...]
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 [...]