112 | a parent’s path to supporting her PDA teen with Steph Curtis

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇

Dr. Tay and Steph Curtis discuss:

  1. the nuances of raising a child with pathological demand avoidance (PDA), emphasizing early detection, adapting parenting techniques, and understanding unique needs.
  2. the journey to find the right educational setting for a child with PDA, dealing with societal pressures, and the critical role of flexibility and individualized approaches.
  3. leveraging community support and personal growth through blogging and writing, highlighting the value of connecting with community and the intersection of PDA with conditions like ADHD and anxiety.

RESOURCES

⚡️ resources referenced in today’s episode

Steph’s Blog

PDA in the Family: Life After the Lightbulb Moment

Sasha’s Animation About her School Experiences

⚡️ connect with Steph Curtis, mom to two autistic daughters, writer, and PDA pioneer

Instagram @stephstwogirls

YouTube @stephstwogirls 

Facebook @stephstwogirls

X @stephstwogirls

⚡️ want to learn more about Dr. Tay’s Whole Family Approach and current services offered? visit drtaylorday.com

⚡️ join the Evolve Facebook community to participate in the episode Q+As >> facebook.com/groups/evolveautism

⚡️ learn from me and submit your questions [could be featured on a future episode] >>

Instagram @the.dr.tay

TikTok @the.dr.tay

LinkedIn @the-dr-tay

*please note: in this episode, many terminologies and phrases are used to describe autism. Dr. Tay honors what each child and family prefers, and intentionally chooses to use affirming and identity-first language after listening to autistic adults and their preferences. various guests on the podcast are likely to use the language that they have been exposed to the most.

**also PDA is a theorized profile of autism and not a clinical diagnosis. however, it has been a helpful conceptualization for many parents to learn about how their child’s brain is wired. our knowledge of PDA is currently unfolding and I will do my best to share up-to-date, balanced information. To learn more about PDA, please listen to episode 110