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Life-changing content and community for PDAers and our family members. Join our mailing list to allow periodic emails from Rabbi Shoshana to come to you:
Rabbi Shoshana's Blog
Transitions! Transitions! Supporting PDAers through transitions
How can we support PDA people through transitions? How can we best think about this challenge?
Mar 255 min read
What is Oppositional Defiant Disorder & What makes it controversial? By Kaligirwa (@BlackSpectrumScholar)
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is a controversial diagnosis with racialized diagnostic criteria.
Feb 217 min read
How The PDA Safe Circle™ Community Guidelines make our community a safe and regulating online space
The story behind The PDA Safe Circle™ Community Guidelines. Check out our Guidelines!
Feb 57 min read
Am I PDA? Is My Child? A big list of common PDA traits
Written by Rabbi Shoshana Meira Friedman, PDA Coach Kory Andreas, LCSW-C Jenna Goldstein, Psychologist Who wrote this list? We are a PDA...
Jan 2815 min read
6 steps to make doctor appointments more accessible to PDA kids & teens
by Rabbi Shoshana Meira Friedman How can we drop demands & offer autonomy, control, and social equality in a medical setting? How can we...
Nov 23, 20245 min read
4 Lessons from PDA Autism that help me stay grounded in these divided times
by Rabbi Shoshana Meira Friedman #1: Grandiosity is a thing and I can let it go. Before I knew I was Autistic, I felt personally...
Nov 18, 20244 min read
A glimpse into unschooling with me & my 6yo PDA kiddo
Last year in early September as the New England air cooled and yellow leaves started fluttering down, I felt deeply sad. My PDA son had...
Oct 21, 20247 min read
Is therapy helpful for PDA kids & teens?
Is therapy helpful for PDA kids and teens? This post answers the question through an approach called The PDA Safe Circle.
Oct 8, 20245 min read
6 Things I Wish I Knew When My PDA Autistic Son Started Preschool - Early Childhood & PDA Autism
6 Things I Wish I Knew When My PDA Autistic son Started Preschool
Aug 20, 20244 min read
What medications help PDAers & what if taking meds is outside the person's safe circle?
‼️ I am not a doctor & this is not medical advice. ALWAYS talk to YOUR doctor before stopping or starting any medication. I am speaking...
Jul 25, 202411 min read
How Western culture contributes to the PDA threat response
The PDA threat response may not be so disabling in other cultures.
Jul 20, 20246 min read
What are common strengths of Autistic PDAers?
What are common strengths of Autistic PDAers, and how does cultural context help us answer this question?
Jul 14, 20244 min read
How 'high status' roles can help with PDA Autistic social anxiety
Learn how high status social roles can help PDA Autistics participate in social activities.
Jun 30, 20245 min read
Separation Anxiety: 6 steps parents can take to support PDA children
6 steps parents can take to support PDA children with separation anxiety
Jun 19, 20244 min read
How do I talk about mental health with my child or teen? P.S. this framing is helpful for adults, too...
How do I talk about mental health with my child or teen?
Jun 1, 20246 min read
How unlimited screen time works in our home & how I recommend parents approach screens with PDA kids & teens
How unlimited screentime works in our home and how I recommend PDA parents approach screen usage for their kids.
May 18, 20249 min read
9 Core Accommodations for Autistic PDA children & teens
By Rabbi Shoshana Meira Friedman Conventional parenting strategies do not work for PDAers. Without knowing about PDA, families like mine...
May 8, 20247 min read
20 simple ways PDA kids & teens can safely feel in charge of their adult
20 simple ways PDA kids & teens can safely feel in charge of their adult. Healthy equalizing helps PDA kids & teens feel safe.
May 3, 20245 min read
What is PDA? Well, PDA is NOT...
by Rabbi Shoshana Meira Friedman What is PDA? PDA stands for Pathological Demand Avoidance, or Pervasive Drive for Autonomy. In the UK...
Apr 14, 20245 min read
Can PDA Kids Love School? Yes - I did. But the conditions were particular.
My child and I are both Autistic and PDA. PDA stands for Pathological Demand Avoidance, or Pervasive Drive for Autonomy. Understanding of...
Apr 3, 20245 min read
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