The Teacher’s Introduction to Pathological Demand Avoidance

PDA is a profile of autism that makes demands feel impossible for PDAers to complete and general Autism approaches are rarely effective. So what can you do as a teacher to help?

This essential guide for teachers outlines everything you need to know about working with PDA pupils outlining how to adopt a child-centred approach to learning.

Beginning with an introduction to PDA and how it can affect the education experience, it is then followed by thoughtful, useful strategies school staff can implement to build a collaborative relationship with pupils and help them to thrive in the school environment. The activities presented aim to make children more comfortable and at ease, and therefore better able to learn. It covers key issues for children with PDA, such as sensory issues, preferred language and phrasing of demands, social skills, and recognising distressed behaviour. The chapter summaries and simple activities listed throughout make this a useful tool for busy teaching staff working with PDA pupils.