Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and alternative explanations: a critical overview (Conference Paper). But that does not make it impossible for us to become aware of these risks, identify the challenges in our own lives, and acknowledging the pain we’ve caused in the past or continue to cause in the present. These people are very independent, often misunderstood, and have extremely variable profiles of functioning.

It made absolutely no sense to me why I would go against what he was clearly communicating that he needed; regardless of the constant comments and advice given to us. Henderson prefers the term “pervasive drive for autonomy,” coined by autistic activist and consultant Tomlin Wilding. if you are unfamiliar with the term PDA flow, please see this Facebook post by the brilliant Harry Thompson who coined the term; https://www.and the reality of what us autistics and PDAers are actually like (characteristics, processing style and speed, impairments, etc. It is accepted in the DAP discourse that DAPers benefit from routines, particularly if it is routines they choose (Dura- Vila and Levi 2019; Fidler and Christie 2019). I understood that violence was not a part of this Autistic individual’s inherent being, rather his meltdown was likely in response to the context and triggers of a culture that doesn’t accommodate social disability in a way that mitigates this reaction. So if you or your family member is on the pathway to diagnosis or even if you believe there are traits and are in the early stages of understanding autism, you are welcome here.

My number one priority as a parent is to ensure that my child is happy, fulfilled, safe and free of anxiety. Autistic persons tend to be adversely affected when others impose a routine unto them, as reflected by negative effects of ABA.d. Anxiety driven behaviours expressed in attempts to maintain or regain autonomy including: avoidance, fawning (agreeing/people pleasing) followed by avoidance, quitting, ‘social manipulation’ such stating untrue information in the attempt to avoid demand, entering into role-play (‘being silly’), distraction, making jokes, ‘disruptive’ behaviours, stating they have sickness/injury with no evidence of this occurring, ‘controlling’/directing the actions of others, doing things in their own way, delaying or procrastinating. He also only slept for 45 minutes at a time with a good few hours in between naps so we were generally awake 24/7. Harry has exploded onto the world speaking stage, speaking in different countries and is off on an Australian and New Zealand tour later in the year. When you are PDA yourself, and you have a PDA child, the fact that you both have an overwhelming need for control, can make life very difficult at times.

I haven’t heard Alison speak before but I am very much looking forward to her presentation as she has vast and valuable experience, insight and advice on supporting autistics. It does not make it impossible for us to take responsibility for how we’ve hurt people, whether accidental or intentional. For this practice is how the PDA parent builds peace, intellectually and spiritually, and supports and accommodates a PDA child who on a daily basis “fights” against demands and the people who embody them. Critical Reflections on the Pathological Demand Avoidance debate: A response to The Practice MK blog and discussion.c. Strong, involuntary emotional threat responses in the context of perceived demands (can be implicit and ever-present, such as attending school and work; or explicit such as a direct request or direction or suggestion) on the person’s autonomy, which may be expressed as; anger, aggression, rage, anxiety, fear, desperation, and at its extreme, meltdown (panic). While the rest of the new-borns on the ward were happy to be laid in the hospital cot (ones that were set up next to your hospital bed) my son screamed blue murder every time anyone tried to take him from me or try to put him in the cot. Many families tell me their child’s teacher says their child can’t possibly be anxious because they’re always laughing and trying to make the other children laugh,” Thompson says, who is an educational consultant with families. I am the last to speak in the morning on female autistic characteristics, how we differ from male autistics and why girls are harder to (therefore less frequently) diagnose.

Unfortunately, the NHS inpatient services and Camhs do not have this understanding, which is why I was adamant that my child could not go to a standard NHS unit and have standard treatment! Many times, the next demand comes before the PDA-er has a chance to calm down from the last one: get ready for school, open your books, go to lunch, please sit still in class.

The term “non-violent” has thus become a compelling invitation to change my own behavior, moving me on a deeper philosophical level than words like “gentle” or “child-led” parenting. a. A extremely strong need for autonomy, either evidenced through observation or self-report; such as stating autonomy is the most important thing, a need to do things “my own way”, “no let’s do it my way”, “I know a better way”. I do see some relation between RSD and PDA; where RSDers tend to turn against themselves, and PDAers turn against the world. E's difficulties around eating were entirely sensory in nature, bar when she feels unable to eat due to feeling overwhelmed.