Pick battles

Anxiety management
Negotiation & collaboration
Anxiety
Pick battles Disguise & manage demands
management
- Minimise rules Adaptation
Helpful - Enable some - Use low arousal
approach

P
approaches for choice & control

A
- Reduce uncertainty
- Explain reasons
a PDA profile - Accept that some - Recognise underlying
of autism things can't be done anxiety & social/
Ex sensory challenges
n pl
Conventional support
rso or - Think ahead
strategies, including those
e pe e
in - Treat distressed
often recommended for autism, Adaptation et
h te
re

A
Se st behaviours as panic
are often ineffective and - Try humour, s attacks: support
counter-productive with a PDA distraction,

N
throughout & move on
profile. In place of structure, novelty &
routine, firm boundaries, praise, roleplay
Engage positively Negotiation &
rewards/consequences, is a - Be flexible collaboration

D
person-centred approach based
- Have a Plan B
on negotiation, collaboration
- Allow plenty of time - Keep calm
and flexibility. - Proactively collaborate
- Try to balance the
The PDA PANDA
amount of “give and take” & negotiate to solve
symbolises the need challenges
to tailor the - Fairness & trust
Disguise & manage demands
environment to meet needs and are central
our P A N D A mnemonic is a - Phrase any requests indirectly
simple reminder of helpful
- Constantly monitor tolerance for demands &
approaches. match demands accordingly
- Doing things together helps
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www.pdasociety.org.uk