Finding Support as a Parent of a PDAer

Finding Support as a Parent of a PDAer

A PDA Society podcast episode featuring Lindsay and Stacie from PDA Devon

Parenting a PDA child can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also feel lonely, overwhelming and isolating. When friends, family members and professionals don’t fully understand PDA, many parents find themselves carrying the emotional weight of their experiences alone.

In this heartfelt and inspiring podcast episode, Sarah from the PDA Society is joined by Lindsay and Stacie, co-founders of the PDA Devon support group and parents of PDA children themselves. Together, they share their personal journeys, the challenges they faced, and how finding a community of people who truly understood transformed their lives.

Through honest conversation, they explore the power of peer support, the importance of building connections with other PDA families, and why no parent should have to navigate the PDA journey alone.

In this episode you’ll discover:

• Why parenting a PDA child can feel uniquely isolating

• The impact of shame, misunderstanding and social judgement on families

• How finding other PDA parents can reduce stress and improve wellbeing

• The benefits of local support groups, online communities and peer networks

• Why sharing both struggles and successes matters

• How practical support, local knowledge and shared experiences can make a difference

• The importance of self-care and maintaining your own identity alongside caring responsibilities

• Simple first steps to finding your own PDA community

Further sources of support & information

More podcasts available on the PDA Society Training Hub:
https://training.pdasociety.org.uk/pda-podcasts/

PDA Society Training:
https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/support-and-training/training/

PDA Society Support Service:
https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/support-and-training/support/

DISCLAIMER

The views and opinions expressed by guest speakers in this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the PDA Society.

While we aim to provide balanced and inclusive discussions, individual experiences and perspectives may vary. The PDA Society is committed to using language and terminology that reflects the preferences of PDA and autistic people, but sometimes our guests may use language and terminology which differs.

Appearance on our podcast is not an endorsement of an individual, and not all of our guests will align with our position on the issues discussed.