PDA_Booklet

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A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome (PDA) Some facts about PDA PDA is a neurodevelopmental disorder which is increasingly being recognised as being part of the autism spectrum but requires very different management. It is a lifelong disability characterised by an obsessively resisting the everyday demands of life. They often spend longer working to avoid the demand than they would have done by just accepting it! Extreme mood swings are a common feature and they are often described as a Jekyll and Hyde character. When they feel in control they are often enigmatic and charming, but when they feel they are not in control, they experience high anxiety levels which often leads to extreme and challenging behaviour. PDA children often appear to have better social, interaction and communication skills than other autistics but lack depth in their understanding and are led by their need to control. PDA children can have highly developed role play and social mimicry. They may adopt different personas and often use this as a strategy to avoid demands. In order In order to to gain gain a better a better understanding of PDA, of PDA, a general a general information leaflet leaflet can can be be obtained obtained from from the the National National Autistic Autistic Society Society website: website: www.nas.org.uk More More comprehensive education and and handling handling guidelines are are available, available, which which can can help help you you better better understand and and manage manage a PDA a PDA child child in the in the classroom environment. Visit Visit the the PDA PDA contact contact forum forum to to download a copy: a copy: http://www.pdacontact.org.uk/ The The Elizabeth Elizabeth Newson Newson centre centre (NORSACA) provides provides a range a range of of conferences and and events events for for both both professionals and and parents. parents. It also It also has has a a publications list list that that has has a number a number of of papers papers on on PDA. PDA. Details Details of these of these are are available available via via their their website: website: www.sutherlandhouse.org.uk The The centre centre can can also also provide provide training training for for schools schools and and other other organisations across across the the UK. UK. Fiona Fiona Speirs Speirs is the is the former former Assistant Assistant Head Head teacher teacher of Rosehill of Rosehill School School (a (a school school which which caters caters for for Autism Autism Spectrum Disorders in Nottingham) in Nottingham) and and is experienced is experienced in working in working with with and and handling handling children children with with PDA PDA in the in the classroom environment. She She offers offers a a training training package package entitled: entitled: “Understanding and and working working with with learners learners with with PDA.” PDA.” More More details details can can be be found found at her at her website: website: www.fionaspeirs.co.uk PDA children can show obsessive behaviour which may be focussed on a person eg another child or on objects. Language delay is often another feature of the child with PDA but most children suddenly ‘catch up’. They have more fluent use of eye contact and better conversational timing than other children on the spectrum. Things to remember These children are not naughty or overtly malicious although they are manipulative in the way they avoid demands. It is important to remember that underneath their robust exterior lies a very fragile and vulnerable ego. Pushing a PDA child to obey demands will likely lead to high anxiety and ‘meltdown’ behaviour best seen as a panic attack. At this stage the child needs REASSURANCE and not blame or be made to feel ashamed as the child cannot help this behaviour. PDA children may be compliant and tolerant at school then behave much worse at home. It is important for teachers and parents to realise that this is not due to less competent handling, but simply because they have reached their tolerance limits and need to ‘let their hair down’. It is important to communicate well with parents. Is there Is there a child a child in your in your class class / school / school who who has has recently recently been been diagnosed with with PDA? PDA? Do Do you you need need information and and handling handling guidelines to to help help with with managing managing a PDA a PDA child child in the in the school school environment? The The PDA PDA Contact Contact Group Group website website and and forum forum are are a source a source of help, of help, support support and and information. There There is an is an area area of the of the PDA PDA support support group group which which is specifically is specifically for for professionals and and is not is not accessable to to parents. parents. We We encourage all professionals all professionals to to use use this this resource resource to to share share ideas, ideas, thoughts thoughts and and tips tips about about PDA. PDA. PDA PDA contact Group Group website and and forum forum www.pdacontact.org.uk Margaret Duncan 0114 0114 2589670 margoduncan@googlemail.com Tips for Managing in Class A classroom is filled with DEMANDS which often leads to high ANXIETY levels in the PDA child. Instructions should be given in a NON CONFRONTATIONAL style and you may need to practice ‘asking without asking’ eg “I wonder if someone might be able to help me do this.......” Try to present CHOICES, so the child feels in control of the situation. Use a neutral tone and body language, sometimes standing behind the child. Have a SAFE space with nothing in it and have staff trained in proper restraint techniques if necessary to support the child there. When a child ‘melts down’ use quiet tones, give lots of REASSURANCE even if they are swearing obscenities at you and lashing out. Try to think of it as a PANIC ATTACK. PDA children will have poor spells when demands must be decreased accordingly and VICE VERSA. Some PDA children avoid by using more subtle techniques and if not recognised will be an obstacle to their learning.
ASPERGER’S or PDA WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? The Autism Umbrella is a term used for many Pervasive Developmental Disorders and sometimes referred to as the ‘autism spectrum’. Many children with PDA may have previously been given a diagnosis of Atypical Autism, Pervasive Development Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD NOS) or Asperger’s Syndrome. What are the features that distinguish a child with PDA from a child with Asperger’s? AUTISM RETTS PDD NOS SYNDROME ASPERGER’S PDA “Hi, welcome to the family, you’re a bit like me but we do have our differences” “Hi, I’m new here!” ‘Behavioural techniques that work so well for children with Asperger’s do not work for children with PDA. A correct diagnosis as early as possible is essential.’
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Page 7 and 8: 4. Comfortable (sometimes to an ext
Page 9 and 10: What is a diagnosis? A diagnosis is
Page 11 and 12: A MANUAL FOR PARENTS, TEACHERS, SOC
Page 13 and 14: HANDLING AT SCHOOL AND AT HOME The
Page 15 and 16: Home-school liaison Teachers need c
Page 17: . You may wish to get support from
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Page 25 and 26: Sensory Processing Disorders TACTIL
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Page 31 and 32: Life with a Child with PDA and our
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Page 37 and 38: November 2011 On May 13th 2011 Moll
Page 39: USEFUL WEBSITES NAS Autism Helpline

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