Recently we have been asked by a number of parents if we can assess and diagnose Pathological Demand Avoidance or PDA.  We thought, given the clear rise in the attention it is receiving we should explain what it is and how it can be assessed and diagnosed.

PECS stands for Picture Exchange Communication System and was developed specifically as a communication tool for non verbal children with Autism Spectrum Conditions.  So how does it work?

When we diagnose a child or adult with autism spectrum disorder we try to focus on the positive and talk with clients about moving forward giving them options to choose from.  There is 'no cure' for ASD, and the reason we prefer to think of it as a condition rather than a disorder is because in most cases autism does not prevent a person from being successful in life.

The issue of education for individuals with Autism Spectrum Conditions is a complex one. Some people with ASC’s have gone on to achieve the very highest standards within the education system, whereas some are so profoundly affected by their condition that education in the academic sense is not an option. 

There has long been a debate about autism and other conditions that, when diagnosed, result in children being categorised as having special educational needs (SEN) and offered various forms of supported learning at school.  How easy is it to recieve a diagnosis? 

There has long been a debate about autism and other conditions that, when diagnosed, result in children being categorised as having special educational needs (SEN) and offered various forms of supported learning at school.