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Neurodiversity

Join us as we continue learning how to be loving and inclusive of all God's children. Each month, we will focus our attention on a key term and explore possible actions that we can take. This month, we consider "Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)".

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Children and adults who identify as Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) or Pervasive Drive for Autonomy “avoid everyday demands using ‘social strategies’ as a way to avoid tasks or demands and who possess a strong need for autonomy and control, require unique supports, and are socially oriented. PDA is not recognized as a distinct diagnosis in the DSM-5 or ICD-11 so many professionals do not have a clear understanding of it.” Among the traits associated with PDA are:

  • High anxiety and a fundamental need for control

  • Resisting and avoiding the everyday demands of life like eating, drinking, or sleeping

  • Using social strategies as part of everyday avoidance (“My legs don’t work!”)

  • Lower thresholds of tolerance for everyday tasks/activities

  • Appearing sociable but lacking some understanding or skills in navigating situations

  • Difficulty complying with requests of others

  • Enjoying pretending and role play

  • Enjoy spontaneity but dislike most routine

  • For more traits (and things to consider), visit https://pdanorthamerica.org/what-is-pda/

What can I/we do specifically?  Respect and connection are everything!​

  • Build trust by offering autonomy when possible

  • Focus on a genuine relationship

  • Choose priorities

  • Use indirect language including thinking aloud

  • Be spontaneous

  • Use humor

  • Listen to understand

  • Collaborate and share tasks

  • Realize that stress is cumulative and so there’s likely no direct antecedent causing the behavior you are seeing.

  • For more information and additional resources, view Understanding & Supporting PDA, Pathological Demand Avoidance 

Resources

You can view more about PDA on the PBS World of Difference episode here.

Liturgical Library

We recognize that our brains and bodies all have different needs when it comes to focusing, learning, listening, and worshiping. Based on what we have learned through our recent nurture study on neurodiversity, we are currently creating a “liturgical library” of resources and materials.

 

Our liturgical library, located in the main hallway near the mailboxes, makes space for a variety of materials to engage people of all ages during worship. The items included allow people to more fully connect with and engage in worship by regulating sensory inputs.

 

Our library includes:

  • Fidgets and sensory aids: stress balls, infinity cubes, nee doh, thinking putty

  • Creation Station with markers, pens, colored pencils, and crayons; clipboards and paper, wikki stix and pipe cleaners

  • Engaging Resources: Moses’s tablets, lacing cards, labyrinths

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How do you use the liturgical library?​

Grab a bag and add items that you’d like to use to engage in worship. After worship, return your bag to the basket at the base of the library (keep any paper/creations you’ve made but return other materials with the bag). Following use during worship, we will clean and sort the materials to be ready for the following week.

Spaces for Worship

First Floor

  • Sanctuary with Prayground. You are invited to gather materials at the Liturgical Library to bring with you into worship. The prayground is home to puzzles, books, and stuffed animals appropriate for our youngest disciples.

  • Commons: Includes stations for young disciples, nursery, and the streamed worship service. Materials available include Legos, kinetic sand/Mad Matter, Thinking Putty, art materials, tangrams and fidgets. This space tends to be a little noisier but is used by fewer people.

  • Yoke Room: This is a beautiful quiet space with no access to the streamed worship service.

 

Second Floor

  • Centering Space Room 1: Includes stations for young disciples and the streamed worship service. There is comfortable seating available and quiet materials to support self-regulation.

  • Centering Space Room 2: Includes more active stations for young disciples who need room to move.

  • Harbor Room: This quiet space has comfortable seating, a small kitchen and bathroom. The service is not accessible in this space, but there are a variety of contemplative materials available.

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