Resources for Parents & Professionals

 

Books

Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome in Children: A guide for parents, teachers and other professionals

This book provides a thorough introduction to PDA, and offers helpful strategies for supporting children with PDA at school and at home.

The Explosive Child: A new approach for understanding and parenting easily frustrated, chronically inflexible children

While not referring specifically to PDA, many parents and professionals report finding these strategies helpful for children with PDA.

Leaflets

A teacher’s guide to understanding PDA

Videos

Practical youtube videos produced by a parent about the features of PDA, and how to support children at school and at home

Professor Francesca Happé, of the Institute of Psychiatry, talks about the need for research into PDA

A Senior Educational Psychologist in Surrey talks about the need for strategies for supporting children with PDA

Blogs

http://advocate4pda.wordpress.com/

Blog by a parent aiming to further awareness and understanding of PDA

http://alexcparsons.wordpress.com/

Blog by a parent about life with his 8 year old son with PDA

Research papers

Newson, E., Le Marechal, K., & David, C. (2003). Pathological demand avoidance syndrome: a necessary distinction within the pervasive developmental disorders. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 88, 595-600.

Christie, P. (2007). The distinctive clinical and educational needs of children with Pathological Demand Avoidance syndrome: guidelines for good practice. Good Practice in Autism, 8, 3-11.

Further conference papers and posters can be found at the NORSACA site: http://www.norsaca.org.uk/

Conferences

The National Autistic Society periodically runs conferences focusing on PDA

Other research into PDA

Elizabeth O’Nions and Francesca Happé are undertaking fascinating research into the behavioural and cognitive profiles of children with PDA. You can find more about this research, and how to take part, here:

http://www.iop.kcl.ac.uk/staff/profile/?go=12616