PDA USA: Pathological Demand Avoidance

09/29/2026

Join Amy and Brook in a casual conversation with therapist Rachel Stern 💞

08/26/2026

Book Study enrollment open now!

Mondays Sept. 9 - Sept. 28th

About the book:

Navigating PDA in America by Diane Gould and Ruth Fidler provides a framework for understanding and supporting autistic individuals with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) in the U.S., focusing on their anxiety and demand avoidance.

The book explains the PDA profile, addresses challenges in American education and healthcare, and offers practical, neurodiversity-affirming strategies for caregivers, educators, and clinicians, emphasizing flexibility, collaboration, and a shift from traditional behavioral approaches.

https://pda-usa.org/pages/book-study

08/25/2026

Brook and Amy go LIVE in an hour, talking about who-knows-what (but probably our newest school experiences with our kids!)

Live will stream from our pages, hope to see you there!

08/20/2026

08/15/2026

Great distinction

08/06/2026

New blog!

The following is part of the testimony of an anonymous 🇺🇸PDA USA: member who is in the process of rebuilding with her 42-year-old adult PDA son:

"He somehow convinced himself that it was not safe to shower (he lives in his own apartment) because of his own health issues, so he had not showered in over a year. He eventually responded to my overtures, and we have been talking and spending some time together, and today he took a shower at my house, so I could help him if he felt light headed.

"I have been using all the ideas suggested in this group for getting a PDA child to do self care, and it worked. I am so happy that he showered, and have no one to share it with. And then I remembered all of you..."

Read the entire story here: https://pda-usa.org/supporters/posts/255992

Become a PDA USA Parent Partner and receive blogs, updates, and discounts on PDA USA offerings!

Join: https://pda-usa.org/supporters/pricing

07/27/2026

New blog!

Collaboration Myth: False Choices with contributions from PDA Parent Coaching, LLC

Excerpts:

“Offering choices and having them rejected is not a failed accomodation, it’s a failed attempt at collaboration. In a sense, you’re trying to trick them in to agreeing to pre-set solutions dictated by you. This failure happens because PDA’ers tend to realize many choices are false, and reject them outright. (A choice between two things we don’t want to do isn’t really a choice.) False choices are typically answered with a flat "no", like "you can’t manipulate me into choosing between these two things." It’s also not an accommodation if the person doesn’t want it, or doesn’t find it helpful…

“The foundation upon which collaboration rests is connection and support, along with "I want to find a way to make this work for you in a way that also works for me." If we are focusing on control, which looks more like "how do I get you to do what I want you to do", then it’s likely we’re going to end up frustrated.”

Link: https://pda-usa.org/supporters/posts/253224

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