Supporting and Accommodating PDA

Drawing on literature, lived experience, and practice wisdom, Jessica will help attendees to better understand how to support and accommodate children and youth who experience pathological demand avoidance (PDA) [or persistent drive for autonomy] common among those who are neurodivergent.

Jessica Mertins, LICSW, has a masters of social work from the University of St. Thomas/Saint Catherine University and is currently an outpatient therapist, licensure supervisor, and Neurodiversity Specialist at Fernbrook Family Center. She trains from a perspective that blends her lived experience as a neurodivergent person, her professional experience, and her research and learning from other lived experience educators.