PDA, Neurodivergence & the Perpetually Determined Advocate
By Cassandre
PDA, Neurodivergence & the Perpetually Determined AdvocateJul 18, 2023
Females and ND
Chatting with Declan
Welcome Back & Resources
In this "happy to be back" episode, I wanted to provide a list of places to look for more information whether you're simply looking to learn more about PDA in general, a parent of a PDAer looking for support or resources, or a PDAer yourself looking for community. Below is a list of the resources mentioned in today's episode.
https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/
https://dragonriko.wordpress.com/
https://www.kristyforbes.com.au/
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pda-parents/id1552127203
https://www.kristyforbes.com.au/podcast
https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/resources/resource-category/support-facebook-groups/
October break
Back to school wins and woes
Psychiatric care concerns
School Marshall and Guardian programs
Neurodivergence and sport
Talking with Elle about being a PDAer raising a PDAer
Big thanks to our guest Elle for talking to us about her experience of being neurodivergent and raising a child that is also neurodivergent. We discussed balancing parental triggers with a child's triggers, what happens when those two don't mesh and how Elle manages caring for her own needs and those of her daughter. This episode gave a lot of great insight and there are some references to information that helped Elle. I listed them below for those who want more information.
Divergent Mind: Thriving in a World that Wasn't Designed for You Jenara Nerenberg
My Daughter is not Naughty Jane Sherwin
Samantha Craft's Autistic Traits Checklist
Two Sides of the Spectrum podcast
Summer Vacation
Summer vacation and the change in schedule can be problematic for kids on the spectrum. In this episode, I share what's happening in my house, and some things I am trying to help ease that struggle for my little guy, and I hope some of it helps you all as well.
But what does it look like?
Sibling Dynamics
Undiagnosed adult ADHD
This episode talks about the way ADHD can present in adults differently than children, the impacts undiagnosed ADHD can have, and why it's important to seek a diagnosis.
This website has a treasure trove of information about ADHD.
Instagram is up! @perpetuallydeterminedadvocate
School induced trauma
This episode is something of a rant against the willful ignorance present in school systems and how it negatively impacts the neurodivergent kids stuck in these emotionally abusive situations. More information on how emotional trauma causes damage to the parts of the brain can be found at the following link.
Gender Gap in Diagnosis
Vacationing with a PDAer
Residential Care
Stress and anxiety of navigating PDA
What is StranDx?
I read an article from Spectrum News that talked about a new diagnostic device for autism, called StranDx. This would use hair to test for certain markers that could indicate autism. Read the article here. The other article mentioned that reviewed the research on testing baby teeth can be found here.
Unschooling
https://outschool.com/#abkyvtq4yh– interactive online classes
daynamartin.com/ - courses on unschooling
www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/grown-unschoolers/ - unschooling mom and coach
hslda.org/legal/international- homeschool guidelines internationally
Podcasts:
The Unschooling Life
Unschooling Podcast
Unschooling Conversations
Unschooling to University
A little patience
Imposter Syndrome
A condition that sometimes appears with PDA is Imposter Syndrome and I wanted to explore that topic in this episode. Imposter Syndrome, like PDA, has decades of research by mental health professionals, but is not listed in the DSM-5. There are some ways to combat the various types of IS, but enlisting the help of a mental health professional is one of the best. If you have dealt with Imposter Syndrome and would like to come on the show and talk about your experience, please contact me. I am always willing to give my platform to those who can provide firsthand perspectives.
Mentioned in this episode:
Selective Mutism & Masking
This episode we talk with Dr. Jennifer Corie from Iceberg Therapy Services in Baton Rouge. She gives us information on Selective Mutism and Masking, which are highly misunderstood, and anxiety driven components of autism, PDA and other neurodivergent conditions. Dr. Corie explains that these are not strategies, but responses to external stimuli and the result of anxiety.
You can find more information about Dr. Corie and her services at: https://www.icebergts.com/
Parenting together
This episode I am joined by my kiddos' dad, Shane, to talk about working together as parents and how to get on the same page. We also talk about keeping continuity in parenting from two households.
Explaining PDA to others
We all experience the unsolicited advice from those who think they can give us pointers on parenting. It can be really irritating, but sometimes it can be a teachable moment. How do you explain PDA to people in those moments?
Mentioned in this episode:
PDA Society Awareness cards https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/shop/product/pda-awareness-cards/
The Explosive Child Dr. Ross Greene
Calling 911
This episode looks at what happens in the event that you have to call for emergency assistance during one of your PDAer's meltdowns. I recently sat down with a police officer to get some insight on how to handle the process, and what can be done to help lessen the misunderstandings that can sometimes accompany a meltdown. Below are a list of links mentioned in the episode:
PDA brochure: https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/resources/what-is-pda-information-sheet/
Coming soon!
Episode 10: Burnout
This episode looks at the burnout that parents feel and ways to combat that. It also stresses the idea that feeling burnout does not make you weak or any less of a parent. As parents to neurodivergent kiddos, sometimes we feel like we aren’t supposed to feel these things. That it is somehow seen as weak or inappropriate to feel the weight of our lives. We have to remember that we are human, and humans experience burnout. The other thing to remember is that even parents to neurotypical children experience burnout, so there is absolutely no shame in having a normal human reaction to something that is happening in your life.
Episode 9: Quarantine and PDA
We are a bit late posting this episode due to Covid making a stop by our house. Still, I took it as a learning moment (like any good teacher), and decided to talk a bit about the snags of navigating quarantine with a PDAer.
As always, a transcript of the episode can be provided. Simply email perpetuallydeterminedadvocate@gmail.com
Episode 8 - School Refusal
This episode looks at school refusal, some of the potential triggers and some things that parents can do to help ease the anxiety that can cause refusal. I'm also including some links to great resources I found about school refusal below.
https://schoolrefuserfamilies.files.wordpress.com/2018/01/nfis-parents-guide-v-2-april-2018.pdf
https://itmustbemum.wordpress.com/2017/04/11/what-to-record-and-how-to-store-it/#more-4009
Episode 7 - Parenting PDA
The episode we discuss different parts of parenting a child with PDA. This episode was made possible with the help of my awesome PDA group, and I am grateful to them for their input and suggestion of so many great topics. We talk about things like flexible schedules, impulsive behavior, Plan B parenting, shutdowns, and not forcing PDAers to comply with demands. Mentioned in this episode is Dr. Ross Greene's website, which can be found at https://livesinthebalance.org/.
Episode 6: Talking PDA with Dr. Jessica Myszak from the Help and Healing Center
In this episode we talk to Dr. Jessica Myszak from the Help and Healing Center in Glenview, Illinois. She shares with us some of the classic signs of PDA, and how to go about the assessment and diagnosis process as well as how to work toward getting accommodations for individuals with PDA in schools. For more information, or to contact Dr. Myszak, visit www.helpandhealingcenter.com. Also mentioned in today's podcast was PDA North America. For more information on them, visit www.pdanorthamerica.com.
As always, a transcript of the episode can be provided. Simply email perpetuallydeterminedadvocate@gmail.com
Episode 5 - Books!
This time I wanted to combine the podcast with a love of mine, books. The books presented in this episode look at PDA from varied persepctives, and are also aimed at a variety of audiences. So, whether you are looking for a way to see PDA through the lens of a PDAer, understand it as a parent or teacher, or provide understanding of PDA to a child, I have something for you. I would like to point out that I am not affiliated with any of the authors, and am not receiving any commissions from promoting their work. I merely list them here because I found them to be useful and insightful. As always, a transcript of the episode can be provided. Simply email me at perpetuallydeterminedadvocate@gmail.com. The books discussed in this episode are:
PDA Paradox by Harry Thompson
PDA by PDAers compiled by Sally Cat
My Daughter is not Naughty by Jane Alison Sherwin
It's a PanDA thing! - A Visit to my world of Pathological Demand Avoidance by Rachel Jackson
The Teacher's Introduction to Pathological Demand Avoidance: Essential Strategies for the Classroom by Clare Truman
Can I Tell You About Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome? by Ruth Fidler and Phil Christie
Pretty Darn Awesome: Divergent not Deficient: Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance on the Autism Spectrum by Lauren O'Grady
Me and My PDA: A Guide to Pathological Demand Avoidance for Young People by Glòria Durà-Vilà and Tamar Levi.
Episode 4: Neurodivergence and PTSD with special guest Adreanna
This week, we are joined by Adreanna, a former educator and future superhero for kids as she opens up about her childhood trauma and mental health journey that led her to consider a diagnosis of ADHD, and the overlap of neurodivergence and PTSD. Adreanna plans to begin a master's program in psychology and eventually get her PsyD to be able to help children who have experienced trauma and help them begin the healing process.
A transcript of the episode can be obtained by emailing at perpetuallydeterminedadvocate@gmail.com
The Spectrum
Episode 2: How do I Recognize PDA?
In this episode, we will look at the main signposts of PDA used in diagnosing, as well as talk about some of the ways that PDA can be misdiagnosed. We will also talk about sources for more information about PDA. The sources mentioned in today's episode can be found at the following links:
PDA Society: https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/what-is-pda-menu/identifying-pda/
PDA North America: https://www.pdanorthamerica.com/resources
Aucademy: https://aucademy.co.uk/
Fight & Fawn podcast: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/fight-fawn-kristy-forbes-fan-GoYby3Mc9Wa/
Harry Thompson - PDA Extraordinaire: https://www.harryjackthompson.com/
Episode 1: What is PDA?
This first episode explains what Pathological Demand Avoidance is in a broad sense. Discussed in this episode are PDA Paradox by Harry Thompson, also the link to the PDA Society's website www.pdasociety.org.uk and PDA North America www.pdanorthamerica.com. These websites provide excellent information as well as articles that you can read to gain insight into the origins of identifying PDA as a separate part of the spectrum and discoveries since then.
The transcript for the podcast can be provided free of charge upon request at perpetuallydeterminedadvocate@gmail.com