Working with & supporting PDA children - Education, health and social care
CPD accredited training for health, social care and education professionals
PDA Society training - rooted in research and lived experience
This introductory course is aimed at improving the knowledge of education, health, and social care professionals working with PDA children and young people aged 5–16 years. While it is primarily aimed at mainstream, SEN, or autism-specific school staff, it will also benefit any professionals working with autistic young people.
- Our training is delivered by experienced facilitators who combine lived experience of PDA with professional knowledge and expertise – including PDAers, professionals, parents, carers who live and breathe this work every day.
- Core content is tailored to your setting.
- All delegates receive a CPD certificate on completion.
- Flexible delivery – live online (Zoom/Teams), in-person or e-learning.
- Standard duration is 2 hours.
Course content
- What is PDA?
- What are demands?
- The effects
- Helpful approaches
- PDA & Education
- Resources and signposting
Course aims and objectives
Aim:
- Increase participants’ understanding of Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) which is a less well-known profile on the autism spectrum that requires very different support to other autism profiles
CPD objectives:
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
- Explain what Pathological Demand avoidance is and how it fits into the Autism spectrum.
- Be aware of what demand avoidance may look like.
- Appreciate the effects that PDA can have on the person and how this can make the person feel.
- Understand the importance of trust and how it can be built.
- Appreciate what constitutes a demand from a PDA autistic person’s point of view.
- Identify how to adapt their own practice to better accommodate the needs of a PDA person and what reasonable adjustments may be required.
- Understand the importance of phraseology and language when supporting PDA learners.
- Be aware of the approaches which can prevent escalation and support distressed behaviours.
- Understand why traditional methods of support can be ineffective for a PDA child.
- Find resources and know where to go for further information on the topics covered.
Delivery options
Live Training
- Available online via Zoom/Teams or in-person at your location (subject to trainer availability)
- Scheduled date and time agreed with your organisation
- Core content tailored to reflect your service needs and processes
- Q&A included at the end of the session
- Optional session recording available
E-Learning
- A flexible, on-demand option for teams who prefer to learn at their own pace
- Standard course content accessible via our Training Hub
- Self-paced, with the flexibility to start and stop as needed
- 14-day access period
- Please note: course terminology reflects the English healthcare/education system
Standard fees
These are our standard flat rate fees for up to 25 attendees. Additional places can be added at a per-person rate, with discounts available for groups of 40 or more. Please contact us for a quote.
Recording live session – £300
Organisations booking live training can request a recording for staff unable to attend live.
- Ready within 5 – 7 working days of the session
- Available via our on-demand Training Hub for 14 days
- Access is based on remaining places — e.g. if you book 25 places and 14 attend live, 11 places can access the recording
Further information
Professional training hub subscription (Online CPD)
For organisations who want to provide ongoing training for wider teams, the PDA Society also offers access to our Professional Training Hub.
Many organisations choose to combine live training with a subscription, allowing staff to revisit key topics and support ongoing professional development.
The training hub is often used after live training to support new staff and reinforce learning across teams.
The subscription provides:
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12 months access to the PDA Society Training Hub
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25 professional licences
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access to self-paced learning modules and resources
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up to 10 hours of CPD training for educators and professionals
£1,800 per year for up to 25 licences.
Discounted rates may be available for larger organisations.
Full details of our professional subscription can be found here.
Payment terms
- An invoice will be submitted by the PDA Society 6 weeks before the session and payment terms are then 30 days from date of invoice.
- For late bookings i.e. within 30 days of the event taking place, payment terms will be stated as two days prior to the date of event.
- In certain circumstances where procurement restrictions are in place to avoid advance payment it may be possible to secure training through a deposit payment. Please contact us to discuss eligibility
Frequently asked questions
Ready to book or need further information?
To make a booking or request further information, please complete our enquiry form.
