Declarative Language Made Easy

Declarative Language Made Easy

A PDA Society podcast episode with Steve Keightley.

In this episode, Rachel talks to parent Steve Keightley about the surprising impact that language can have when parenting a PDA child. After discovering that traditional ways of communicating were creating friction and anxiety at home, Steve and his family found that using declarative language transformed everyday interactions – from getting dressed and brushing teeth to navigating the many hidden demands of daily life.

Steve shares his family’s PDA journey, the challenges of unlearning ingrained parenting habits, and why a small shift in wording can make such a big difference. He also explains how his own struggles inspired him to create Ask Gentle, a free tool that helps parents, carers and professionals turn direct demands into gentler, more collaborative language.

Whether you’re new to declarative language, curious about reducing demand-related anxiety, or simply looking for practical strategies that make family life easier, this episode is packed with relatable experiences, honest reflections and useful takeaways.

Guest link

Ask Gentle: https://ask-gentle.com/

Further sources of support & information

Declarative Language Handbook:  https://www.declarativelanguage.com/about-declarative-language-handbook

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.