Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome in Children

Margaret Duncan is a GP and is a parent to a child with PDA. She coordinates the PDA Contact Group (part of Contact-A-Family), an internet based group providing information and support for parents and professionals. Ruth Fidler is Assistant Head Teacher at Sutherland House School where she has worked for 18 years. Zara Healy is a parent of a child with PDA. She trained as a journalist and worked for the BBC for nearly a decade as a radio and television reporter. Ruth Fidler is Assistant Head Teacher at Sutherland House School run by the autism charity NORSACA. She works throughout the school (aged 3-19) developing whole school approaches to working interactively with children across the autism spectrum, with a particular focus on social and emotional well being. Phil Christie is Director of Sutherland House Children's Services, run by autism charity NORSACA (www.norsaca.org.uk), and leads a team of Consultant Child Psychologists at the Elizabeth Newson Centre. The centre carries out training and research activities and has particular expertise in PDA. He is also Associate Editor of 'Good Autism Practice', and became Chair of the Advisory Council of the Autism Education Trust in 2009.

Acknowledgements. Introduction. 1. What is PDA? 2. Positive Everyday Strategies. 3. Living with PDA. 4. Providing the Best Education for a Child with PDA. 5. Developing Emotional Well-being and Self-awareness in Children with PDA. 6. Summing Up and Questions for the Future. Appendix 1: Useful Websites and Links. Appendix 2: Book List. References. Index.