Category: PDA

Parental Blame and the PDA Profile of Autism – NEW RESEARCH

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“Parent blaming is destabilising … it makes you a worse parent … the harm it does is long-term … it has ruined my relationship with my child.” We know that parent-carers are often blamed for their disabled children’s presentations, particularly when children have hidden disabilities such as autism. Research has already been undertaken on this … Continue reading Parental Blame and the PDA Profile of Autism – NEW RESEARCH

Weather – sensory processing and being autistic. 7 great ways to combat sensory distress.

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As the temperature over the weekend plummeted to minus 3 degrees here in the UK, my sensory distress rose simultaneously. When it gets cold, my skin prickles. I am aware that I am cold but cannot abide long sleeves or itchy fabrics. I've always had acute intolerance of clothing, it was one of the markers … Continue reading Weather – sensory processing and being autistic. 7 great ways to combat sensory distress.

Please don’t use therapeutic activities as rewards.

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My eldest autistic son lives with daily and debilitating levels of anxiety, most probably on account of engaging with an intolerable and inflexible neurotypical world which bombards him endlessly with noise and communication that is not easy for him to decipher. Leaving his immediate cocoon of safety requires immense acts of bravery upon his part. … Continue reading Please don’t use therapeutic activities as rewards.

When parents refuse to accept that their child is autistic.

~ The-Aut-Vocate ~ 1 Comment

Is parental acceptance of a child's autism required for the quality of that child's life? I've read several sensationalised reports recently regarding a father who had his parental rights removed, in part for referring to his autistic son using hate language - clearly harmful and abusive. More detailed reports taken from case law material (Bailii.com … Continue reading When parents refuse to accept that their child is autistic.

Autistic Parents and Meeting Etiquette.

~ The-Aut-Vocate ~ 2 Comments

It is now generally accepted among the medical and clinical community that there is a genetic component to autism. Families with an autistic child are often spectacularly neurodivergent and there are many parents of diagnosed autistic children who are autistic themselves - with or without diagnosis, with or without self recognition. If you are a … Continue reading Autistic Parents and Meeting Etiquette.

Autism and Institutional Mistrust of Mothers.

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Autism and Institutional Mistrust of Mothers I come across this regularly in my battle to advocate for my son's special educational needs. And my encounter with our Local Authority today has provided me with yet another example of how insidious Mother-Misogyny is. Approximately two hours, into a three hour meeting-a-thon, we began to discuss the … Continue reading Autism and Institutional Mistrust of Mothers.

To be PDA or not to be PDA? (Pathological Demand Avoidance)

~ The-Aut-Vocate ~ 3 Comments

My son is autistic and has been described by Camhs (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) as having "entrenched demand avoidance". In a local authority that does not recognise the autism presentation Pathological Demand Avoidance I felt very excited to have met a professional who seemingly understood my child. Her analysis continued along the lines … Continue reading To be PDA or not to be PDA? (Pathological Demand Avoidance)