Understanding Your Role in Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and Autism Support As a parent of a daughter with PDA and autism, I know firsthand the complex journey of raising a child with these conditions. But today, I want to speak to the grandparents. Your role is crucial yet often overlooked in the conversation about supporting […]

Understanding Sensory Processing Difficulties in Our Uniquely Wired Kids As I watched my daughter struggle with trying on what seemed like a million outfits this morning, I was reminded yet again how differently her brain processes everyday sensations. What feels like a minor inconvenience to many of us can be genuinely distressing for children with […]

Recognizing the Signs of Masking with Autism in Our Daughters When my daughter was first diagnosed with autism, I remember feeling like I had entered a whole new world of terms, therapies, and challenges. One concept that took me the longest to understand—but ended up being the most important—was masking. Maybe you’ve heard this term […]

Recognizing and Recovering from Autistic Burnout in Children with PDA Have you ever noticed your child with autism or PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) suddenly seeming more overwhelmed than usual? Maybe skills they once had seem to disappear, or behaviors you thought were improving suddenly get worse? If this sounds familiar, your child might be experiencing […]

Navigating Intense Social Attachments in Children With PDA Hey there, fellow PDA parent! Can we talk about something that’s been on my mind lately? You know that moment when your kiddo becomes absolutely captivated by someone in their life? Maybe it’s their teacher, a neighbor, or even a relative they don’t see that often. Suddenly, […]

What to Do When Professionals Misunderstand Your Child’s PDA and Question Your Parenting Approach The Words That Hurt “You just need to be firmer with him.” “She’s manipulating you because you’re too soft.” “If you had more consistent consequences, this behavior wouldn’t happen.” “You need to follow through no matter what.” I know exactly how […]

Understanding the Overlap Between Autism, ADHD, and PDA in Verbally Fluent Children As a parent who has walked this path, not as a clinician or medical professional, I want to share what I’ve learned about the complex overlap between neurodevelopmental conditions. My journey has taught me that parent-to-parent wisdom can sometimes be the most valuable […]

Transform Challenging Behaviors into Connection: Evidence-Based Strategies for Parents of Children with PDA and Autism Empowering Families with Strategies to Transform Challenging Behaviors into Moments of Connection I still remember the first time my daughter hit her baby sister. We had just brought our newborn home, and my three-year-old with PDA and autism seemed unable […]

Recognizing PDA in Autism: Early Signs, Processes, and What Parents Need to Know Does your heart sink when you ask your child to put on their shoes, knowing it might trigger an hour-long meltdown? Have you noticed your little one developing increasingly creative ways to avoid even the simplest requests? If you’re nodding your head […]