Children with PDA profiles have unique learning styles. Their profiles are often spiky, making traditional methods and curriculums ineffective. These methods often trigger high levels of anxiety and stress, shown through stress behaviours like resistance, defiance, or aggression.
Instead, they need self-directed education prioritizing nervous system safety, connection, respect, and regulation. Letting go of rigid standards and embracing a flexible, individualized approach is crucial. As Naomi Fisher emphasizes, "These children open up new ways of living and challenge us to do better."
Educators should strive to learn about neurodiversity and the neurodiversity movement, understanding that these children are not defined by deficits but by their unique wiring, which requires a different approach to learning and living.
