Description:

PDA (i.e., Pathological Demand Avoidance) is a pattern of behavior that leads to an individual in avoiding or resisting even the seemingly simplest of “demands” such as getting dressed or feeding oneself and causes immense stress in educational settings. Our list of tools is ever-growing, but what if we were missing part of the story? This presentation will explore how something called PRAXIS contributes to PDA behavior patterns and how we can help our children feel seen/felt/understood WHILE ALSO continuing to inspire growth and change.

Presenter:

Cassie Wilcox is an occupational therapist specializing in sensory integration therapy and integrative health practices. She works with children and their caregivers, particularly parents and teachers, to support optimal quality of life in the home and community environments. She uses play-based techniques and caregiver education to help reshape an overtaxed nervous system so that one may meaningfully engage in self-care, learning, motor, or social activities. She takes a strong family-systems approach to her work and believes that an empowered parent leads to a regulated child.

Learning Objectives:

Identify at least two reasons that a person who fits the PDA profile may have a stronger need for autonomy compared to the average individual.

Identify at least two underlying areas that may need to be addressed in a child who has challenges with praxis skills.

Identify at least two strategies or activities that can be executed in the home or learning environments to support a child with praxis challenges.