A Practical Parent's Guide to PDA and Autism: Reduce Meltdowns, Navigate Diagnosis & Access School, Insurance and Financial Resources to Transform Your Life Now - Hardcover

Davis, Michelle

Hardcover

ISBN 13: 9798992703320

Publisher: BrightPath Publishing, 2025

Synopsis

Transform Meltdowns into Breakthroughs: Your Complete Guide to Parenting Children with PDA and Autism

Are you exhausted from parenting a child who seems different, but you're not sure why? Whether you're struggling to get a diagnosis, already know your child has PDA, autism, or both, or are simply tired of advice that doesn't work, this guide offers real solutions.

Do you recognize these daily struggles?

- You suspect PDA or autism but don't know how to start the diagnostic process
- Your child's extreme demand avoidance makes even simple requests impossible
- Sensory overload triggers intense meltdowns that leave everyone exhausted
- You're overwhelmed trying to choose between different therapies
- Traditional autism strategies aren't working because PDA requires a different approach
- School administrators don't understand PDA's unique needs, making advocacy a constant battle

You're not alone - no matter where in the world you are. The challenges of raising a child with PDA and autism aren't limited by borders, and neither are the solutions. Your purchase includes access to international support directories covering over 18 countries, ensuring families worldwide can access local support. From Australia to the UK, Canada to New Zealand, you'll gain access to curated, country-specific support groups, services, and resources tailored to your location.

This book provides the roadmap you've been searching for, combining practical strategies with step-by-step guidance.


Written by Michelle Davis, a healthcare policy expert and mother of a child with autism and PDA, this isn't another clinical manual—it's your practical guide to creating real change, whether you're in Boston or Brisbane.

Inside, you'll discover:

✔ Complete Diagnostic Guide:

- Understanding the signs of PDA and autism
- Navigating the evaluation process
- Documentation and assessments needed
- Finding the right healthcare providers

✔ Essential Financial Resource Access:

- Securing Medicaid and SSI benefits and support
- Insurance coverage for therapies
- Accessing grants and financial assistance
- Understanding special needs planning

✔ Education & Family Solutions:

- Winning school accommodations (IEPs & 504 Plans)
- Strategies for homeschooling and charter schools
- Supporting siblings and maintaining family balance
- Managing public spaces and social situations

✔ Therapy Solutions:

- Understanding different therapy options (OT, Speech, CBT, and more)
- Choosing therapeutic approaches
- Making therapy work with PDA
- Affordable therapy alternatives

✔ PDA Management Toolbox:

- Proven strategies for managing demand avoidance
- Step-by-step techniques for preventing meltdowns
- Methods for reducing anxiety that actually work
- Ways to build independence while respecting PDA needs

Whether you're just starting the diagnostic journey or seeking fresh strategies, you'll learn how to:

- Navigate medical and educational systems confidently
- Transform daily battles into peaceful interactions
- Create a supportive environment that reduces anxiety
- Build independence while honoring PDA needs
- Access the support and resources your family deserves

This book is for parents who need solutions—not theory. For families seeking hope, not judgment. For every caregiver who knows their child is unique, valuable, and worthy of success but needs the right support to thrive.

Transform your life today.

About this title

About the Author

Michelle Davis, author of "A Practical Parent's Guide to PDA and Autism" and "Autism Diagnosis, Now What?", brings a unique perspective as both a healthcare policy expert and mother of a child with autism, PDA, and ADHD. While her professional life focuses on healthcare policy and government affairs, her most profound education has come from parenting a neurodivergent child.Living daily with meltdowns, anxiety, and sensory challenges has taught her what no textbook could. She understands the overwhelming feelings parents experience when facing an autism diagnosis, navigating PDA behaviors, or managing ADHD symptoms. Through sleepless nights, challenging days, and countless adaptations, she's developed practical strategies that actually work in real homes with real families.Her books offer parents the support she wished she'd had, combining hard-won personal experience with actionable solutions for managing autism, PDA, ADHD, anxiety, and depression. Michelle's mission is to help other parents feel less alone and more empowered as they navigate their own journey with neurodivergent children, turning her family's challenges into hope for others.

Edition details

• Publisher: BrightPath Publishing
• Publication date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 13: 9798992703320
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 266