Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Advocacy for Pathological Demand Avoidance with Dr. Destiny Huff | Ep. 167

About this episode

Dr. Destiny Huff discusses strategies for parents of children with Pathological Demand Avoidance navigating the school system.

If you are a parent who cannot unschool or homeschool your PDA child, or who needs practical support navigating the school system, this episode is for you. I am joined by Dr. Destiny Huff, a licensed professional counselor, non-attorney special education advocate, and neuro-affirming trainer who is also late-diagnosed autistic and ADHD and a mother of neurodivergent children. Dr. Huff shares the most common patterns she sees as PDA families navigate schools, how she frames the nervous system lens in IEP meetings, the specific accommodations she advocates for most consistently, her approach to functional behavioral assessments, and practical steps parents can take right now. Key Takeaways Two Patterns Dr. Huff Sees Advocating for PDA Families | 00:05:06 The first is families who have learned about PDA but are still defaulting to the demand avoidance frame when explaining it to schools, which makes it easy for administrators to push back by saying the child just needs to deal with demands. The second is schools latching onto the term PDA itself, either saying they do not recognize it or using it superficially, without understanding the nervous system mechanisms underneath it. Dr…

People in this episode

Host: Casey

Guest: Dr. Destiny Huff

Topics covered

• school advocacy
• Pathological Demand Avoidance
• IEP meetings
• neurodivergent children
• parenting support

Keywords

• PDA
• special education
• accommodations
• functional behavioral assessments
• nervous system

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• One Year Later: Justin's Story of Progress With His PDA Son | Ep. 177 · August 25, 2026 · 49 min
• Basic Needs and Pathological Demand Avoidance: Toileting, Sleep, Hygiene, Eating, and Safety | Ep. 176 · August 18, 2026 · 18 min
• Throwback: Is Pathological Demand Avoidance the Same as Autism, ADHD, or Anxiety? | Ep. 175 · August 11, 2026 · 23 min
• Why You're Walking On Eggshells: Cumulative Nervous System Activation And Your PDA Child Or Teen | Ep. 174 · August 4, 2026 · 18 min