This episode explores the Autism Spectrum in early childhood, with a focus on early identification, social attention and communication differences, and sensory processing.

Learn practical strategies to support regulation and connection at home, plus tips for neurodivergent parenting, language variation, and getting referrals.

A note: PDA is discussed as one context among others, but the core focus remains on understanding differences and supporting your child.

Key Takeaways:

• Autism Spectrum in early childhood presents with diverse social attention and communication patterns, including variations in eye contact, joint attention, and language development (spoken, non-speaking, echolalia, hyperlexia).
• Sensory differences drive behavior: textures, sounds, movement, water, and feeding sensitivities—understanding sensory processing leads to practical regulation strategies.
• Autism Meltdowns are signals of overwhelm; focus on co-regulation and predictable routines to reduce escalation and support regulation.
• Early identification and advocacy matter: use strength-based, neurodiversity-affirming language, document signs, and pursue referrals to access appropriate services.

🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Early Autism Identification Guide/Workbook

Explore these topics on your favorite player:

• ⚡ Regulation & Safety: Understand why PDA is a Nervous System Response here.
• 🗣️ PDA Foundations: Master the shift to Declarative Language & Safety here.
• 🏫 Education & Advocacy: Navigating masking and School Refusal here.
• 🧭 New to the Spectrum? Check out our latest episodes on the Autism Spectrum to find your path forward.

Text me and tell me- What do you want to hear for future episodes?

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✨ Raising PDA Community: Join the Waitlist for wraparound support and an exclusive discount to get your started! (We open again in March 2026!)

✨ Join Our Supportive Community PDA Motherhood (for mothers)
If you're a neurodivergent mother, this space is for you. You don’t have to walk this path alone. Come join us in the PDA Motherhood community—a safe, supportive space where you can unmask, reconnect, and rediscover who you truly are, separate from the demands of parenting.
Join us here

✨ Free PDA Language Guide: FREE GUIDE

You are not failing, and your child is not broken. If you're ready to establish deeper foundations around burnout and sustainability, visit chantalhewitt.com for more resources and 1:1 support.

About the Show: Chantal Hewitt provides neuroaffirming strategies for Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and Autism. We help families navigate autistic burnout, family wellbeing and sibling dynamics, challenging behaviour, school refusal and autism meltdowns using low-demand parenting.

Watch on Youtube! 📺 @chantal.hewitt

This episode explores PDA (pathological demand avoidance) and PDA strategies for low demand parenting within children on the Autism Spectrum and within other neurodivergence, through a neurodiversity-affirming lens, focusing on foundations built by paediatric occupational therapy (OT), co-regulation, and DIR Floortime. Learn how the parent–therapist relationship supports the child’s nervous system, and the parent's nervous system, long-term wellbeing, and everyday functioning. We move from rigid, outcome-focused strategies to flexible, relationship-driven care that honors each child’s unique profile and the familys' thriving as a whole.

Guest
Rachel Gebers, Pediatric Occupational Therapist. Instagram: Growing Joy OT — https://www.instagram.com/growingjoyot/

Key takeaways

• Foundations and relationships come first: the child’s nervous system needs safety and co-regulation.
• PDA requires a flexible, child-led, neurodiversity-affirming approach—avoid rigid autism “playbooks.”
• The parent–therapist dyad is central; alignment and energy state matter for progress.
• A long-term mindset is essential: “slow to go fast” builds durable gains and reduces avoidance.
• Equity in school and home matters: support for autonomy, balanced to the child’s needs and context.
• Ensuring you find a neurodiversity affirming therapist

Guest: Rachel Gebers, Pediatric Occupational Therapist. Instagram: Growing Joy OT — https://www.instagram.com/growingjoyot/

Connect with Rachel via Growing Joy OT on Instagram for consults or floor-time parent coaching: https://www.instagram.com/growingjoyot/

Follow Attuned Spectrum on Spotify/Apple/your listening App. :)

✨ Raising PDA Community: Join the VIP Waitlist for an exclusive discount when we open again in March 2026! (for transformative parent coaching)

✨ PDA Motherhood (for neurodivergent mothers looking for community as they discover who they are) Only $9/Month (increasing once we have our first group of members, is it you? :) ).

If you're a neurodivergent mother, this space is for you. You don’t have to walk this path alone. Come join us in the PDA

Text me and tell me- What do you want to hear for future episodes?

Support the show

✨ Raising PDA Community: Join the VIP Waitlist for an exclusive discount when we open again in March 2026! (for parent coaching)

✨ Join Our Supportive Community PDA Motherhood (for mothers) $9/Month (increasing once we have our first group of members, is it you? :) ).
If you're a neurodivergent mother, this space is for you. You don’t have to walk this path alone. Come join us in the PDA Motherhood community—a safe, supportive space where you can unmask, reconnect, and rediscover who you truly are, separate from the demands of parenting.
Join us here

✨ Free PDA Language Guide: FREE GUIDE

About the Show: Chantal Hewitt provides neuroaffirming strategies for Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and Autism. We help families navigate autistic burnout, family wellbeing and sibling dynamics, challenging behaviour, school refusal and autism meltdowns using low-demand parenting.

Watch on Youtube! 📺 @chantal.hewitt

If you’ve tried autism parenting tips that aren’t moving the needle, this episode brings you back to your own nervous system as the missing piece. I share real examples of how to co-regulate through meltdowns and a four-step co-regulation framework—Pause, Observe, Connect, Support—that helps PDA and PDA autistic children move through meltdowns with safety and autonomy. Learn why nervous-system safety and low-demand parenting are the keys to long-term wellbeing.

What you’ll hear in this episode

• Your nervous system as your child’s most powerful co-regulator: why the parent’s regulation matters above all else
• Mirror neurons and wellbeing: how your child’s nervous system mirrors yours and what that means for daily moments
• The four-step framework to shift from trigger to co-regulator: Pause → Observe → Connect → Support
• What lies beneath the behavior: moving from behavior-focused ideas to understanding the nervous system and safety
• Practical links to low-demand parenting, nervous-system safety, and caregiver regulation to support PDA-autistic children

Key takeaways

• You are the primary environment your PDA-autistic child experiences; your nervous system safety is foundational to their wellbeing.
• Co-regulation is a practice you embody, not something you “switch on” in the moment.
• Focus on what’s happening beneath behavior (autonomy, safety, and nervous-system safety) to reduce power struggles and build trust.

🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:

My 4-Step Approach (simplified!)
Special Co-regulation gift! x

Explore these topics on your favorite player:

• ⚡ Regulation & Safety: Understand why PDA is a Nervous System Response here.
• 🗣️ PDA Foundations: Master the shift to Declarative Language & Safety here.
• 🏫 Education & Advocacy: Navigating masking and School Refusal here.

Text me and tell me- What do you want to hear for future episodes?

Support the show

✨ Raising PDA Community: Join the Waitlist for wraparound support and an exclusive discount to get your started! (We open again in March 2026!)

✨ Join Our Supportive Community PDA Motherhood (for mothers)
If you're a neurodivergent mother, this space is for you. You don’t have to walk this path alone. Come join us in the PDA Motherhood community—a safe, supportive space where you can unmask, reconnect, and rediscover who you truly are, separate from the demands of parenting.
Join us here

✨ Free PDA Language Guide: FREE GUIDE

You are not failing, and your child is not broken. If you're ready to establish deeper foundations around burnout and sustainability, visit chantalhewitt.com for more resources and 1:1 support.

About the Show: Chantal Hewitt provides neuroaffirming strategies for Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and Autism. We help families navigate autistic burnout, family wellbeing and sibling dynamics, challenging behaviour, school refusal and autism meltdowns using low-demand parenting.

Watch on Youtube! 📺 @chantal.hewitt