Define Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and distinguish it from related diagnostic labels.
Compare and contrast alternative frameworks—EDA, RDA, and PDA2—to interpret demand avoidance in autistic individuals.
Analyze case scenarios to differentiate stress-driven, cognitive load–driven, and autonomy-driven avoidance.
Apply neurodiversity-affirming strategies to reduce power struggles and support autonomy in clinical, educational, or caregiving contexts.
Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) has emerged as a means for individuals and families to frame “refusal” and “noncompliance” as a response driven by anxiety and/or need for control. We engage wth autism self-advocate and professor Stephen Shore, EdD and autism family member and clinical psychologist Robert Naseef, PhD as they challenge PDA as an unnecessary new diagnosis that is both unnecessary and dehumanizing.
This course centers on a Neurodiversity Affirming Supports (NAS) approach to understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), exploring alternative terms such as Extreme Demand Avoidance (EDA) and Rational Demand Avoidance (RDA), and highlighting the preferred concept of Pervasive Drive for Autonomy. Participants will examine how demand-related stress can affect the mental and physical health of autistic individuals and learn evidence-informed, ethical strategies to reduce pressure while promoting autonomy. Through first-hand accounts, individuals with autism, alongside renowned experts, will share lived experiences, case examples, and practical guidance, equipping clinicians, educators, and caregivers with tools to implement NAS principles effectively in everyday interactions.
Robert Naseef, Ph.D. is a psychologist, author, and father of an adult son with autism. He is internationally recognized for his work supporting families and training professionals in autism treatment and inclusion. Alongside Stephen Shore, Ed.D., he serves as a lead consultant to the Arc of Philadelphia and SAP’s Autism at Work program.
Dr. Naseef is the author of Autism in the Family: Caring and Coping Together (2013) and Special Children, Challenged Parents (1996), and co-editor of Voices from the Spectrum (2006). He has spoken nationally and internationally, given a TEDx talk, and received the 2008 Variety Children’s Charity award for his contributions to the autism community. His work highlights the psychology of men, fatherhood, and the lived experience of families raising children with disabilities.
Dr. Shore is a professor of special education at Adelphi University, where he teaches and researches issues related to the autism spectrum. He co-developed Adelphi’s autism certificate program and teaches a variety of courses in special education. His mission is to make fulfilling and productive lives for autistic people the rule rather than the exception.
Through teaching, research, writing, workshops, and presentations, he shares evidence-based strategies and lived perspectives to support autistic individuals, their families, and the professionals who work with them. In addition, he integrates his passion for music by offering lessons that foster creativity and personal growth.
He regularly presents for organizations on autism, education, and inclusion, and welcomes opportunities to collaborate with groups seeking to advance understanding and support for the autistic community.
Patricia is the Co-Founder and CEO of Spectra Support Services, LLC and the CE Program Administrator for the Moringa Institute. Through these organizations, she develops and oversees specialty care programs, behavioral health services, and professional training opportunities across diverse community settings, including hospitals, schools, residential programs, and shelters.
A Licensed Professional Counselor and Board-Certified Music Therapist, Patricia holds a Master’s in Music Therapy from Temple University and a Bachelor’s from Duquesne University. She is also a Certified MARI® Teacher, NADD Certified Clinician, CPI Trainer, and an Approved Trainer in Mindfulness-Based Play Therapy.
Her expertise spans dual diagnosis, trauma-informed care, creative arts therapies, crisis prevention, mindfulness, and integrative therapeutic approaches. Patricia is active in state and national advocacy, serving on committees with the Pennsylvania Counseling Association and NADD. She continues to promote quality behavioral health programming through clinical supervision, education, and community partnerships.
Maleita Olson, LCSW, co-founder and co-owner of Spectra Support Services & Moringa Institute, has over 30 years of experience in community, institutional, government, and medical settings, specializing in supporting individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. She holds an MSW from Boston College and is a certified clinician with the National Association for the Dually Diagnosed (NADD).
A frequent presenter at local, state, and national conferences, Maleita speaks on autism, transition to adulthood, and family impacts of disability. She has served as president of ASCEND: The Asperger and Autism Alliance for Greater Philadelphia and is active in NASW, the Arc of Delaware County, AAIDD, and the Autism Society of America.
The Moringa Institute has not received any commercial support for this program or its contents and will not receive any commerical support prior to or during this program.