The Educator's Experience of PDA
The Educator's Experience of PDA
I realized EVERYTHING I was doing was wrong. I needed to learn. I needed to change.
During Laura Kerbey's time teaching autistic children, she had a sudden realization that those with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) are children like no other!
None of her tried and tested autism strategies would work to help them focus or learn and most of her time was spent wondering, what am I doing wrong?
If you feel the same, this short, easy-to-read guide is here to teach you everything you need to know from one educator to another.
With an introduction to what PDA is followed by PDA tailored advice on how to connect with your student and create an autonomous, spontaneous environment that is personalized for you both, this guide is here to ensure that you and your PDA student thrive!
Illustrated by the popular Eliza Fricker and packed with entertaining anecdotes (including one about Jabba the Hut's poo), this go-to-guide contains everything you need to start implementing PDA friendly learning to help you connect with your student and help them make the most of their learning experience.
Laura Kerbey is the co- founder of NEST (Neurodivergent Education Support and Training), Kite Therapeutic Learning and Healthy Happy Me. She has been working with autistic children and young people for over 20 years and provides training to ensure that the needs of autistic and PDA learners are fully met. Eliza Fricker is an illustrator and a designer based in Brighton, UK. She has a child with PDA.
Table of Contents-
Introduction Chapter One - What is PDA?
Chapter Two: Making Connections
Chapter Three: The Antidote to Anxiety is Trust
Chapter Four: The Importance of Humour
Chapter Five: Non-Verbal Language
Chapter Six: The Power of Choices
Chapter Seven: Wondering, learning together and sharing demands
Chapter Eight: Weaving in Interests and Learning from Each Other
Chapter Nine: Praise and Rewards
Chapter Ten: Reducing Pressure and Picking your Battles
Chapter Eleven: Be Flexible enough to Bend so that Neither of you Break
Chapter Twelve: Blame the Government!
Chapter Thirteen: Using Empathy
Chapter Fourteen: Choose your words carefully
Chapter Fifteen : The Importance of Self Care
Chapter Sixteen: The Importance of Collaboration