PDA in the Family
In this honest and open account of life with her PDA daughter, Sasha, Steph Curtis reveals the everyday struggles and explores the milestones of raising a child diagnosed with Pathological Demand Avoidance. This book guides you through the Curtis family’s “lightbulb moment' of recognising Sasha’s PDA profile following her autism diagnosis at the age of two, their experiences of various education settings and attempts to access support, everyday life at home and relationships with family and friends.
Bursting with practical takeaways and advice from creating personal profiles for your child to help them transition through schools and other settings to the reasonable adjustments you can actually ask for to help make life easier for your PDA child.
With unique insights from Sasha’s father, sister, and Sasha herself, this book offers insider knowledge, understanding and advice from one family to another. It would also be helpful for those in education, healthcare or other settings to gain a better understanding of Pathological Demand Avoidance.
Steph’s personal account of parenting her daughter is a triumph. This honest, reflective and positive book will be both informative and supportive to so many families and professionals. I can’t recommend it enough for anyone whose life is touched by a young PDAer.
This detailed and positive account will resonate with other families and those involved with a child with a PDA profile. Full of practical advice and insightful reflections, Steph vividly illustrates her daughter’s development and the influence this has on family life and relationships. She also describes the complexities in navigating the diagnostic and educational pathways, which will be shared by many parents.
Steph Curtis is the UK-based mother of two girls, the youngest, Sasha, has PDA. Steph has been writing a blog called Steph’s Two Girls for 14 years, highlighting the family’s experiences since Sasha was first diagnosed with autism at age 2.
