Its a PanDA thing - A visit to my world of Pathological Demand Avoidance: 3 (The Thing)

A follow on in the journey through Autism and Aspergers - this, the third book in Rachel's series - enters a new diagnostic space as she learns about and begins to understand Pathological Demand Avoidance - a new flavour of ASD still disputed, debated and under researched.

With a foreword from Harry Thompson (The PDA Paradox) and recommendations and backing from the PDA Society, this is a wonderful resource aimed at building open dialogues between parent/carer and child about the nature of their condition - but it is also a wonderful way to open discusion in classrooms and with peer groups who may be struggling to understand PDA in others.

“When I was invited to review ‘It’s a PanDA thing’, I felt honoured and delighted and accepted wholeheartedly. It always fills my heart with joy whenever a new title is added to the ever-growing list of PDA literature - if there is one thing PDA is currently in dire need of, it’s more recognition.

I often tell my own clients that the key to approaching, supporting and living with PDA lies not within a specific set of prescribed methods - but rather with building a deeper understanding of each individual PDAer’s world such that your approach to their specific experience becomes second nature.

Although the story is written for children, it offers readers of all ages the first steps towards building that deeper understanding of Pathological Demand Avoidance – a very puzzling and little-understood part of the autism spectrum. With clear, delicate and fun use of language and charming and evocative illustrations, Rachel and Zeke have represented the multidimensional and at times harrowing nature of PDA as well as the many challenges the young PDA child faces - whilst still managing, with great finesse and a strong, unmissable overtone of optimism , to capture the more endearing sides of the condition - concluding on a positive note and delivering a brighter outlook to the reader.

As a PDAer myself I find that much of the time when I reflect on my childhood, I do so with unease. Each memory transports me back to a time when confusion, sadness and loneliness were, for the most part, all that I knew. Reading this story has helped me to reflect on my own journey – and I realise now that I have a choice as to how I view it: I can see it as an excruciating struggle...or as more of a ‘scenic route’, fraught with challenges to learn from that would also steer me towards the rich and fulfilling life I find myself in today.

Not only has Rachel’s story offered the PDA child a clearer understanding of their own condition...but it also grants the adult PDAer like myself an opportunity to revisit their past with a new-found confidence and strength, thus rendering them more accepting of the turbulent past which constitutes who they are today.”

Harry Thompson - author of The PDA Paradox

This book offers an accessible, appealing insight into the much misunderstood PDA profile of autism, featuring our panda ambassador and a PANDA mnemonic for the approaches which are most helpful with PDA.

Vikki Threlfall - PDA Society