Neurodiversity Podcast

Is It PDA? Demand Avoidance in the Context of Autism


Listen Later

On episode 270, Emily Kircher-Morris welcomes Dr. Taylor Day, a licensed psychologist who specializes in neuro-affirming care for autistic children and their families. They discuss the complexities of Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) in children, and the importance of understanding neurodiversity and the need for family-centered care. They cover the challenges of identifying PDA, the risks of misdiagnosis, and the necessity of adapting parenting and therapeutic strategies to better support children with this profile. They also validate parents' experiences and intuition, and endorse a holistic approach to autism care that considers the needs of the entire family.

TAKEAWAYS

  • PDA is a conceptualization rather than a formal diagnosis.

  • Validating lived experiences is crucial for families.

  • Research on PDA is progressing slowly.

  • Parents often face dismissal in the medical community.

  • PDA behaviors may resemble defiance or oppositionality.

  • Affirming approaches can prevent family burnout.

  • Quality of services is more important than quantity.

  • Parents are the experts on their children.

  • Therapy can take many forms beyond traditional methods.

The Neurodiversity University Therapist Hub registration window is closed for now, but will open again soon, and you can get on the list to be notified! If you're a mental health professional we want you in our group of like-minded peers, in a vibrant community where learning and sharing are front and center.

Meantime, we'll be opening our Educator Hub to new members in the next couple of weeks! If you're an educator or have a student in your life, we would love for you to be part of it. We can notify you as soon as it opens, so get on the list here!

Dr. Taylor Day is a licensed psychologist specializing in neuro-affirming care for autistic children and their families, with a focus on early diagnosis and intervention. She is the CEO and founder of Dr. Tay Concierge Clinical Care, where she developed The Whole Family Approach, an evidence-informed model designed to address gaps in autism care by supporting both children and their families.

Dr. Day holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is dedicated to advancing early childhood autism support through personalized, family-centered interventions. Her passion for child psychology and autism advocacy is deeply rooted in her personal experience growing up with a brother diagnosed at 23 months of age.

BACKGROUND READING

Dr Day’s website, Instagram, EVOLVE with Dr. Tay: The Podcast of Parents of Autistic Kids (Spotify)

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Neurodiversity PodcastBy Emily Kircher-Morris

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

392 ratings


More shows like Neurodiversity Podcast

View all
ADHD Experts Podcast by ADDitude

ADHD Experts Podcast

1,322 Listeners

Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children by Debbie Reber

Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children

961 Listeners

Beautifully Complex by Penny Williams

Beautifully Complex

349 Listeners

All Things Sensory by Harkla by Rachel Harrington, COTA/L, AC & Jessica Hill, COTA/L

All Things Sensory by Harkla

427 Listeners

My Friend Autism by Orion Kelly

My Friend Autism

65 Listeners

THE AUTISM ADHD PODCAST by Holly Blanc Moses

THE AUTISM ADHD PODCAST

619 Listeners

Uniquely Human: The Podcast by ART19    Uniquely Human

Uniquely Human: The Podcast

415 Listeners

The Baffling Behavior Show {Parenting after Trauma} by Robyn Gobbel

The Baffling Behavior Show {Parenting after Trauma}

244 Listeners

Meet My Autistic Brain by The Autistic Woman™

Meet My Autistic Brain

294 Listeners

The Neurodivergent Woman by Michelle Livock and Monique Mitchelson

The Neurodivergent Woman

138 Listeners

Autistic Culture | Where autism meets identity! by Angela Kingdon | Your #ActuallyAutistic Host

Autistic Culture | Where autism meets identity!

177 Listeners

At Peace Parents Podcast by Casey

At Peace Parents Podcast

337 Listeners

The Autism Little Learners Podcast by Tara Phillips

The Autism Little Learners Podcast

105 Listeners

AuDHD Flourishing by Mattia Mauree

AuDHD Flourishing

91 Listeners