PDA, Neurodivergence & the Perpetually Determined Advocate

After reading an article about the large numbers of women seeking assessment and diagnosis for neurodivergent conditions, I wanted to dive into this a bit more than in previous episodes.

Today, I sat down with my own little PDAer, talked to him about some of the things he goes through, and what he wishes others knew about neurodivergent people.

In this "happy to be back" episode, I wanted to provide a list of places to look for more information whether you're simply looking to learn more about PDA in general, a parent of a PDAer looking for support or resources, or a PDAer yourself looking for community. Below is a list of the resources mentioned in today's episode. https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/ https://pdanorthamerica...

Taking the yearly October break to prep for the next run of the pod! Catch you all back here in November!

It's that time of year. As we all struggle with the uncertainty of this time, I thought I would share what our experience has been in another more relatable than informative episode.

Today's episode is equal parts rant and information. I recently discovered some horrifying details about the state of psychiatric inpatient care.

This episode deals with a topic that more so applies to my listeners in the United States. We are talking about the Marshall and Guardian programs being employed at schools across the country in light of continuing school shootings.

Sports can be a great way for children to exercise and get peer interaction. However, for neurodivergent kiddos that can be problematic due to the potential for sensory issues and stressor overwhelm. So, I put together a list of different activities that can provide those positive aspects of sport with the accommodations needed for neurodivergent kiddos.

Big thanks to our guest Elle for talking to us about her experience of being neurodivergent and raising a child that is also neurodivergent. We discussed balancing parental triggers with a child's triggers, what happens when those two don't mesh and how Elle manages caring for her own needs and those of her daughter.  This episode gave a lot of great insight and there are some references to i...

Summer vacation and the change in schedule can be problematic for kids on the spectrum.  In this episode, I share what's happening in my house, and some things I am trying to help ease that struggle for my little guy, and I hope some of it helps you all as well. Lists of activities for Autistic kids Sensory activities for Autistic kids

We hear terms like stimming, obsessive interests, repetitive behaviors, etc. when talking about neurodivergence, but what do they look like? I wanted to provide some examples for those seeking assessment and/or diagnosis so that you have some talking points at the appointment.

This anniversary episode going out on PDA Day talks about the interaction between siblings of PDAers, and I had 2 special guests help me out with this.

This episode talks about the way ADHD can present in adults differently than children, the impacts undiagnosed ADHD can have, and why it's important to seek a diagnosis.   This website has a treasure trove of information about ADHD. Instagram is up!  @perpetuallydeterminedadvocate

This episode is something of a rant against the willful ignorance present in school systems and how it negatively impacts the neurodivergent kids stuck in these emotionally abusive situations. More information on how emotional trauma causes damage to the parts of the brain can be found at the following link . 

Since yesterday was World Autism Day, I wanted to do an awareness topic. A lot of research exists to show how girls are almost 4 times as likely to go undiagnosed for neurodivergent conditions like autism, ADHD and PDA. Some groups are advocating for changes to that. https://autisticgirlsnetwork.org/ is one of those.

This past week the family went to Disney World and I wanted to share my tips on planning a vacation with a PDAer and the things that worked and didn't work for us.

I decided to finally start researching residential care and boy did it set off some internal struggle. I wanted to share what I found with you all. As always, a transcript for the episode can be provided by email.

This episode is more a relatable one than informational. We look at the ways stress and anxiety affect the parent and PDAer.

I read an article from Spectrum News that talked about a new diagnostic device for autism, called StranDx. This would use hair to test for certain markers that could indicate autism. Read the article here .  The other article mentioned that reviewed the research on testing baby teeth can be found here .

This episode explores the concept of unschooling as a form of education.  Unschooling is a type of homeschooling that puts children in charge of directing their learning toward their interests and passions with parents acting as active partners in that learning by providing resources.  Below are some links to a variety of resources that provide more information on the topic: https://outschool.com/...

I finally succumbed to the pandemic, and my voice is struggling. I'll have the episode for today out as soon as I can talk clearer.

A condition that sometimes appears with PDA is Imposter Syndrome and I wanted to explore that topic in this episode.  Imposter Syndrome, like PDA, has decades of research by mental health professionals, but is not listed in the DSM-5.  There are some ways to combat the various types of IS, but enlisting the help of a mental health professional is one of the best.  If you have dealt...

This episode we talk with Dr. Jennifer Corie from Iceberg Therapy Services in Baton Rouge.  She gives us information on Selective Mutism and Masking, which are highly misunderstood, and anxiety driven components of autism, PDA and other neurodivergent conditions.  Dr. Corie explains that these are not strategies, but responses to external stimuli and the result of anxiety. You can find m...

This episode I am joined by my kiddos' dad, Shane, to talk about working together as parents and how to get on the same page.  We also talk about keeping continuity in parenting from two households.  

We all experience the unsolicited advice from those who think they can give us pointers on parenting.  It can be really irritating, but sometimes it can be a teachable moment.  How do you explain PDA to people in those moments?   Mentioned in this episode: PDA Society Awareness cards https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/shop/product/pda-awareness-cards/ The Explosive Child Dr. Ross Greene...