Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is not a recognized diagnosis, so as with special education, PDA does not make a child eligible for Regional Center services. However, if your child qualifies under another diagnosis, such as autism, the Regional Center may be able to provide resources that can help with PDA. These include respite care, flexible therapy approaches (alternatives to ABA), and social and life skills coaching.
Although ABA is what Regional Centers most often provide, some Regional Centers will also provide support for alternative therapies. Because PDA is not widely recognized, parents may want to frame their requests in terms of struggles with anxiety, executive functioning, and nervous system regulation, rather than seeking help for PDA.
Sophos advises parents that respite is one of the most valuable things the Regional Center can offer parents of a child with PDA. “I am not going to lie, parenting a child with PDA can be pretty exhausting,” says Sophos. “One of the things I hear from most parents that have children [with] a PDA profile is that it is very hard for them to find babysitters and nannies that will stay, because it's challenging to manage. So respite care is one of the most wonderful things that is offered through the Regional Center.”
For more information, see our full article Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) 101.
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