A Parent’s Guide to Recognizing Depression, Autistic Burnout, and Pathological Demand Avoidance in Children with Autism Important Disclaimer: This blog post is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals for diagnosis, treatment, and medical guidance specific to your child’s needs. You’re watching your […]

Mother’s Day is upon us again. The stores are filled with cheerful cards, brunches are being booked, and social media is ready to burst with smiling family photos. But for many mothers raising children with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and autism, and other complex needs—including developmental disabilities, rare conditions, chronic illness, and mental health challenges—this […]

Understanding the Connection Between Inflexibility and Friendship Desires As a parent of a child with PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance, also known by the more positive lens of Persistent Drive for Autonomy) and autism, I’ve seen firsthand the challenging paradox many of our children face. When your child is inflexible but deeply desires friendship, it creates […]

Navigating the healthcare system as a parent of a child with autism and Pathological Demand Avoidance (also known as Persistent Drive for Autonomy) can feel overwhelming. As a mom who’s been there, I want to share some wisdom that might make your next doctor’s visit more productive. Why Asking the Right Questions Matters I’ll never […]

Finding Your Way When Others Don’t See the Full Picture As a parent raising a child with autism and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) also known from the more positive lens of, Persistent Drive for Autonomy, I’ve walked the path of explaining my daughter’s needs to people who just don’t get it. If you’ve ever felt […]

“I’m boooored.” Those two words can strike dread into any parent’s heart. But when your child with autism and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), also known as Persistent Drive for Autonomy, utters them, it can feel especially challenging. Why? Because suggesting activities might trigger demand avoidance, while doing nothing might lead to escalating behaviors. It’s a […]

Supporting Children’s Need for Autonomy While Keeping Them Safe As a parent of a child with autism and PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance, also known from the more positive lens as Persistent Drive for Autonomy), I understand the daily challenges we face. Among these challenges, two behaviors that can be particularly concerning are elopement (wandering off) […]

When Anyone Else’s Idea Is a Demand: Navigating Life with a Child Who Has Autism and PDA “I’m bored.” Those words echo through the house at least a dozen times daily. As parents of children with autism and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), also known as Persistent Drive for Autonomy, we hear this phrase so often […]

The Deep Need for Control: Navigating Competition and Impulsivity in PDA Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a meltdown because your child didn’t get to be first in line? Or perhaps you’ve experienced the aftermath of an impulsive decision that seemed to come out of nowhere? If you’re nodding your head, you’re […]

When Justice is Non-Negotiable: The Complex Reality of Fairness in Children with Autism and PDA Have you ever wondered why your child seems to have such an intense reaction when things don’t seem fair? Maybe they refuse to participate in activities that seem arbitrary to them, or they become incredibly upset when rules aren’t applied […]

Understanding the Subtle Ways Your Child with Autism and PDA May Show Love As parents of children with autism and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), also known as Persistent Drive for Autonomy, we often find ourselves searching for connection. While typical expressions of affection might be challenging for our children, they absolutely feel and show love—just […]

When “No” Feels Like the End of the World: Navigating Rejection Sensitivity (RSD), PDA, and Autism I remember the first time I truly recognized what was happening with my daughter. We were at the grocery store, and I had just told her we couldn’t buy the candy she wanted. What followed wasn’t just a typical […]