Valuing Adult PDA Voices: One day conference

Feb 11, 2020 at 09:45 — 16:30 (GMT)
Holiday Inn Hotel, Bond Street, Bristol, BS1 3LE
Organiser: SPECTRUM Savvy
Contact Organiser

Introduction:

We are excited to present to you, our Pathological Demand Avoidance Conference: a day of six informative speakers, including two adult PDAers who will be sharing their invaluable personal experiences and perspectives.

The event is coordinated by Spectrum Savvy, a neurotypical passionate about neurodiversity.

Our conference takes place on Tuesday, 11th February, 2020 at Bristol’s Holiday Inn Hotel, Bond Street, Bristol, BS1 3LE.

The Importance of diverse Adult PDAer Voices

There has been a recent surge in publications of PDA adult voices via blog; Facebook pages; and printed books. Enabling and encouraging these adult PDA voices to be heard is vital for the understanding of PDA. Until very recently, almost zero adult PDA voices had a platform from which to be heard, leading some to assume no one wants or values the PDA label. Information that was available about PDA has focused on so called “nightmare” children. This narrow focus is both damaging and misleading as PDA encompasses a much broader spectrum, via age range and introversion or extroversion. 

While textbook accounts of PDA can be hard to digest, PDA adults are articulate and animated; literally able to bring the theory to life allowing more people to grasp what PDA is. PDA adults are able to explain the workings of PDA “from the inside” clarifying, and sometimes stretching the theoretical definition of the condition. By listening to PDA adults, we can better understand PDA children.

The Speakers

Julia Daunt: PDA-er, author, blogger, public speaker and founder of the world's first adult PDA support group.

Sally Cat: PDA-er, meme artist, blogger, public speaker and author of PDA by PDA-ers (the first book about adult PDA).

Grace Trundle: Doctoral student at the Centre of Forensic and Family Psychology, University of Nottingham, specialising in PDA.

Libby Hill: Speech & Language therapist with SmallTalk. She was featured on Channel 4's groundbreaking 'Born Naughty?' series.

Dr Judy Eaton: World Leader in PDA theory & adult PDA diagnosis.

Vikki Threlfall: PDA Society Trustee.

Event Programme:

Time   Details
9.45-10:30am   Arrival & registration (Tea, coffee, danish pastries & fruit provided)
10:30 - 10:40am   Welcome, briefing & introductions from Julia Daunt
10.40 - 11:10am   Julia Daunt presents an Introduction to Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome
11:10-11:30am   Break (Tea, coffee, biscuits & fruit provided)
11:30am - 12:10pm   Sally Cat explains the importance of adult voices & demonstrates the differences between PDA & non-PDA autism
12:10 - 12.50pm   Grace Trundle: From the outside looking in: the challenges of a researcher, the benefits of working with adult PDA-ers, & a look at what's going on in other areas of psychology & medicine. 
12:50-1:30pm   Lunch (Buffet of Sandwich platters, salads, chips & dessert)
1:30-2:00pm   Libby Hill, of Small Talk speech & language therapy, communicates details of her project, looking at the dynamic assessment of the impact of social anxiety on social thinking in children with PDA.
2:00-2:30pm   Dr Judy Eaton: (Video) What we have learnt so far about adult autism and PDA, and the kind of issues that adults, with and without a diagnosis, face.
2:30-3:00pm   Julia Daunt provides her personal account of PDA: 'PDA & me'.
3:00-3:20pm   Break (Tea, coffee & refreshments provided)
3:20-4:00pm   Sally Cat & Julia Daunt: Question & answer session
4:00-4:30pm   Sally Russell (Originally Vikki Threlfall), PDA Society Trustee: Closing remarks


Ticket Prices:

Tickets are now just £49.50, plus booking fee. This includes your buffet, refreshments and your parking too.

From 7/1/2020 to 7/2/2020 you an buy your second ticket for just £35. (Terms and conditions apply)
 

FAQs:

How accessible is the event and venue?

If you have a question about accessibility, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the venue directly or by clicking on the 'contact the organiser' link and we will seek to meet your individual needs.

'AccessAble' also provides information about accessibility here: Venue Accessibility

Where can I park?

Parking is situated next door to the Hotel in an NCP Car Park (St James Barton). The Car Park has 300 spaces and is on a first come first serve basis. Take a ticket from the Car Park barrier on entering. If here for a Day Conference the Car Parking is complimentary from 08:30-17:30 and the ticket will be validated by the Hotel reception when leaving. If staying overnight the Hotel reception will charge £17.50 when checking out and once paid the ticket will be validated.

What if I can't attend?

Full refunds will be given for cancellations up 30 days before the event. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide refunds after this date and we cannot refund the Helm Tickets booking fee.

If you are unable to attend, please consider offering your ticket to another person in your place. Contact us via the Helm Tickets 'Contact Organiser' link to keep us informed.

Could the event be cancelled?

Due to the event being run by a group of dedicated individuals, rather than a business, we have to plan for the event that we do not sell enough tickets to cover expenses. If we do not sell sufficient tickets to cover venue hire, food, travel, equipment, insurance etc, we will have to cancel the event and issue full refunds, excluding the booking fee.

Can I bring my children?

We ask that delegates make alternative childcare arrangements to help ensure the smooth running of the event.

Should I bring my ticket?

Yes please. Either print it off or be ready to show details of purchase on your mobile phone.

Who is Spectrum Savvy? 

Nicola Beldham found autism as her vocation in 1994 and ever since, has always strived for better understanding of the condition and for meaningful and valuable inclusion. She has a degree in Human Communication, a Post Graduate Certificate in Education and a masters in Autism with distinction. She led a specialist Further Education team to be finalists for a National Autistic Society award for innovative practice. Nicola is neurotypical version of an autism specialist in a Further Education college, but under the name 'Spectrum savvy', Nicola also embraces neurodiversity and inclusive practice through social media and bespoke autism related training. 

Read More

Ticket sales for this event are temporarily unavailable. To purchase tickets, please contact the organiser or check back here again later.