Pathological demand avoidance (PDA) or Extreme Demand Avoidance is a profile that describes those whose main characteristic is to avoid everyday demands and expectations to an extreme extent.

For people who have this profile on the Autism Spectrum, many of the same strategies that would normally help an Autistic person, will not support an Autistic person with the PDA profile.

In this short workshop you will

• Develop an understanding of what PDA/EDA is

• Demonstrate an awareness of the common characteristics of PDA

• Enhance your ability to develop strategies to support an individual with PDA

• Be able to put yourself in the shoes of a person with PDA

• Understand what will work in an educational setting to support a child with PDA

• Listen to the voices of people with PDA while they explain living with PDA

Looking at PDA from a strengths-based framework will help the learner to become more aware of ability rather than deficit when supporting people with this complex profile.