Kristy Forbes, autistic adult with a PDA profile explores the connection between the PDA neurobiology and the sensory systems as they’re experienced inside of Pathological Demand Avoidance. PDA a subtype of autism, is a behavioral profile on the autism spectrum that is often misunderstood. The origin of the behaviors in a PDA profile are very different to those in demand avoidance of an autistic person. Understanding the mechanisms of sensory processing and integration in PDA is critical to appreciating brain-body-behavior connections and supporting this population effectively and respectfully.
The views expressed in the following presentation are those of the presenter and do not necessarily reflect those of STAR Institute.
Level: Introductory
Learning Objectives:
- Explain the sensory systems as experienced by those with Pathological Demand Avoidance
- Discuss the overlapping of ‘demand’ as perceived by the PDA brain and heightened sensory awareness
- Recognize the distinction between demands and sensory perception and overload
Presenter:
Kristy Forbes is an Australian-based autism & neurodiversity support specialist with experience working with clients from all over the world. This includes neurodivergent people and their families, and professionals who wish to support them, such as Educators, Psychologists, Paediatricians, allied health professionals, support workers, and integration aides. Her work is informed by her extensive professional experience as an educator (Early Childhood, Primary and Secondary teaching), as an integration aide to children with social, emotional and behavioural challenges, and as a childhood behavioural and family specialist.
Kristy is autistic herself and diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). She is a Mother to four autistic children, ranging from 5 years to 21 years, all with varying autistic expression including non-speaking and PDA, and Kristy is married to a wonderful autistic man. Kristy has the unique experience and insight of many perspectives: the teacher, the support specialist, the parent, the partner, and the person (including the autistic child she once was!). She understands, accepts and acknowledges the very real challenges neurodivergent people and their families face, and the severely misunderstood and often undermined position they are in. Her own personal journey as an autistic person and the story of her family is often documented throughout her work in her writing, her speaking, her many programs and webinars and in private consultation with others throughout the deeply personal process of empathy and compassion.
Continuing Education Credits:
STAR Institute is an AOTA Approved Provider of continuing education. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.
The views expressed in the following presentation are those of the presenter and do not necessarily reflect those of STAR Institute.