Frequently Asked Questions

This is a quick link guide to the most frequently asked questions our enquiry line service receives about PDA …


Is a PDA profile of autism a good fit for me or my child?

Only an experienced clinician would be able to say whether a PDA profile of autism is a good fit for you or your child, after undertaking a very detailed assessment. There’s a wealth of information on our website which will help give you a good understanding of PDA, these are good starting points:

About Autism & PDA

What is demand avoidance?

Identifying & Assessing PDA

Introduction to PDA webinar

PDA case studies & lived experiences

Adult Life by PDAers

Teen life

Books about PDA

What is PDA? booklet

What is PDA? information sheet

What is PDA? video


​How is PDA assessed/diagnosed?

Please see detailed information on the diagnostic pathway for children and diagnostic pathway for adults.

Identifying & Assessing PDA (Practice Guidance)

PDA Society statement on diagnostic terminology

(How can PDA be diagnosed if it’s not in the diagnostic manuals?)

Whilst PDA is not mentioned in the diagnostic manuals that many clinicians refer to, a PDA profile can be identified as part of an autism assessment and terminology such as “Autistic with a PDA profile” used. This use of ‘specifiers’ to personalise and contextualise a diagnosis and helpful support approaches is encouraged by the European Society for Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and The Lancet Commission on Autism. Further details can be found in the Identifying & Assessing a PDA Profile Practice Guidance.


How do I access support?

PDA Society enquiry line

PDA Society forum

Support groups – local and Facebook

Self-help, coping strategies & therapies for adults

Helpful approaches for parents/carers

Siblings

Support & signposting (parents & carers); Pathway to support (adults); Teen life (teens)

Resource library (support & signposting category)

Share the editable tools in our resource library and other materials from the PDA Society such as:

to help others understand how to support you/your child.


How do I get support at school/work?

Family life – school

Home education “hub”

EHCP guide

Workplace adjustments for PDA

Education support (parents & carers) and Pathway to support (adults) – signposts to many helpful organisations

Editable Tools


What approaches are helpful with PDA?

Self-help, coping strategies & therapies for adults

Helpful approaches – children

Understanding behaviours

Distressed behaviours

Keys to Care

PDA P A N D A

Best practice

Resource library (good practice & insight category)

Sources of further understanding


​Is there training available on PDA?

Yes, we offer a suite of training options, which we deliver both directly and on behalf of other organisations. Please see our training pages for further information.


What information is there for professionals?

Please see our Working with PDA pages and our Resource library


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Please also see our news section