PDA Communication: Staying Connected When Demands Are Necessary

You've tried indirect language. You've offered choices. You've reduced demands wherever possible. And yet the same approach that worked yesterday completely backfires today. Sound familiar?

Most advice on communicating with demand avoidant children focuses on what to say: use indirect language, offer choices, try these scripts. And those things can help. But PDA children and young people aren't just listening to your words; they're reading your energy, your tension, your frustration. The same sentence lands completely differently depending on what's underneath it.

This 60-minute live webinar builds on the familiar strategies to explore what actually makes communication land, and how to stay connected even when demands are unavoidable.

What you'll learn:

• Why the usual advice sometimes fails (and what's actually missing)
• How your nervous system speaks before your words do
• Reading capacity in real time: knowing what they can handle right now
• Practical approaches for when you still need things to happen
• Building felt safety through consistent communication over time

Who this is for:

Parents, carers, teachers, SENCOs, therapists, and anyone supporting a child or young person with a PDA profile. Whether you're navigating mornings, mealtimes, schoolwork, or daily life, this session will give you strategies you can use immediately.

Details:

• Date: Thursday 22nd January 2025, 7pm GMT
• Duration: 60 minutes (including Q&A)
• Platform: Live online via Zoom
• Recording: All registered attendees will receive the recording after the event

About Dr Pooky Knightsmith:

Pooky is an autistic speaker, writer, and educator with a PhD in Psychological Medicine. She's also a parent to neurodivergent children, bringing both professional expertise and lived experience to her work. Known for her straight-talking style and practical strategies, Pooky specialises in making complex ideas immediately usable.