PDA North America

Support & Resources for Pathological Demand Avoidance /
Pervasive Drive for Autonomy (PDA)
Created for Families, Professionals and PDA Individuals

Understanding & Supporting PDA

PDA is an acronym that stands for Pathological Demand Avoidance, or as many prefer, Pervasive Drive for Autonomy. PDA was identified in the UK in the 1980s by Elizabeth Newson and has recently received more attention in the US and Canada since PDA North America was established in March 2020. Many (including us) view it as a profile of autism, with some recent studies linking it to ADHD as well as other neurodevelopmental conditions. We are hopeful for more high quality, peer-reviewed, unbiased research to better understand PDA.

PDA individuals avoid everyday demands using ‘social strategies’ as part of the avoidance, have a strong need for autonomy and control, require unique supports and are socially oriented. These highly stress-prone individuals are often not recognized as autistic, are deeply misunderstood and in need of support.

At PDA North America, we view PDA as a nervous system difference.

Many families, educators, and therapists are unfamiliar with PDA, and it is often misunderstood or misdiagnosed. Since PDA is not recognized as a distinct diagnosis in the DSM-5 or the ICD-11, many professionals lack awareness or a clear understanding of it. Our organization aims to provide deep insights into PDA and offer practical strategies for supporting and accommodating individuals who experience it.

At PDA North America, we are a non-profit, 501(c)3, that offers a number of resources, trainings and supports to the PDA community & professionals that support them, while focusing on spreading awareness.

We are still in the infancy of this mission as there is so much work to be done. We hope that you will find information and belonging. We are a small but mighty, non-profit community and we have only just started.

Welcome to the PDA movement. It's an exciting place to be.

RESOURCES

OUR MISSION & VALUES

Our mission is to support PDA individuals and their families by creating resources, education, advocacy, and community.

Our Vision is bold. We envision a world where PDAers are understood, respected, affirmed, and supported to live authentically, with equitable access to informed communities, responsive systems, and the resources they need to thrive.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The PDA North America community and resources are open to all who identify as PDA, as well as those who wish to learn about PDA and support PDAers, regardless of age, background, abilities, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, socio-economic situation, religion. We value the richness diverse experiences bring to our community and wish to create a welcoming space for all our employees, contractors, and those who seek out our services.

We recognize that we are still learning and growing in this area, and are committed to education for our staff and board to examine our own practices and culture with the goals of working to eliminate bias and have our work, resources, and program reflect diverse experiences within the PDA community.

Our work centers the lived experiences of PDAers. Appreciating that access to evaluation, formal diagnosis, and support services is not universally accessible to all who need them due to systemic barriers disproportionately impacting people belonging to marginalized communities, we welcome all who identify as PDA in our spaces, including those who have self-identified or may be exploring their relationship to PDA outside of a formal diagnosis.

With your support and donations, we will continue to grow and offer more support services and programming for the PDA community and professionals that support them. Since our inception, no one has ever been turned away from any of our virtual offerings due to inability to pay. If you’d like to get involved in the PDA Movement in North America, don’t hesitate to reach out!

PDA North America is a non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status. All donations are tax-deductible.