PDA Irish Style

Training for National Education Psychological Service (NEPS) professionals about the Autism Spectrum Condition Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) from a parent Parenting By the time I met with NEPS professionals, I was highly anxious and stressed. I had also learnt how to operate in a low key, non confrontational way with my son to help him to do things. With PDA, it is a mistake to look at the parenting style and simply deduce that the child's behaviour is a result of this, when the reality is the parents' learned coping behaviour is a survival response to their child's difficulties. My child with PDA lives with high anxiety, an essential need to control his world on his terms, and avoidance as a default position. Avoidance as a default: the ultimate avoidance is not to go. For school, this means getting to the building the next time will be affected by the handling once in the building this time. PDA strategies at home will only continue to work i