We just published research on PDA 🎉

This morning, at 8:25am, I received a notification in my inbox that one of our empirical studies with the University of Michigan Medical School on Pathological Demand Avoidance was published in the academic journal, Pediatric Investigation.

(me in my bedroom office 👇)

After I got done jumping around the room, celebrating, and texting our team, I sat down to write all of you to share the news and the study: 

Here's the Study!

Here is why this publication is important for us as parents, for our children, and for your advocacy:

• It is the first empirical study done by a research university in the United States about Pathological Demand Avoidance.
• The findings provide some of the first evidence that a non-behavioral approach can support PDA children and their families. (This is HUGE when ABA dominates the "evidence base" for supporting autistic children). 
• As a pilot study, this is the first step in our ability to conduct a randomized control trial (RCT) to evaluate the impact of non-behavioral approaches to support PDA children and teens. 

I am so grateful to the researchers at the University of Michigan Medical School. Because this was their independent study of our Paradigm Shift Program, my role was quite limited. But their work is an enormous win for all of us! 

Among other things, it means next time someone says that supporting your child's nervous system, lowering demands, and providing more autonomy is not "evidence based" you can send them a published study that shows otherwise!

We will keep you updated on our other studies with the University of Michigan, including one to develop a new measure for recognizing PDA in children and teens and also our qualitative research with PDA adults. 

In the meanwhile, sending you heaps of love this weekend!