Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is an autistic profile characterised by an extreme avoidance of everyday demands and expectations, driven by anxiety and a heightened sensitivity to loss of autonomy. PDA isn’t about defiance. It’s about threat perception. When a demand feels like loss of control, even neutral language can land as pressure. Sometimes it isn’t the task that escalates things — it’s the wording. A small shift in language can be the difference between cooperation and crisis. The g

Does your child have ADHD or Pathological Demand Avoidance? Or both? Sometimes we don’t know for sure until we engage in some trial and error with different approaches and parenting strategies. If you are using behavioral strategies or “executive functioning” supports for your ADHD child that consistently aren’t working or are making things worse, it may be an opportunity to look through the nervous system lens! 🩷 Not sure if your child is PDA? Our free 6-minute survey can help you figure it ou