The Insider Guide to PDA, by Sally Cat and Brook Madera, with a foreword by Linda K. Murphy, is a practical guide to Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), written from the perspective of people who experience it themselves. Published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers, it explains what PDA is, how it shows up in everyday life, and practical strategies for reducing its impact, for both PDAers and the people supporting them.

PDA is a demand-avoidant profile most often understood as part of the autism spectrum, characterised by an anxiety-driven need to resist and avoid everyday demands and expectations. The book examines how PDA intersects with other forms of neurodivergence, addresses the risk of misdiagnosis, and draws on real experiences from the PDA community, including the positive aspects of living with PDA as shared by PDAers and those who support them.

For parents and home use

• Helps parents and carers understand PDA from the inside, using first-hand accounts rather than clinical description alone.
• Offers practical strategies for reducing demand-related anxiety and conflict at home, alongside an honest look at the everyday challenges of PDA.
• Addresses the risk of PDA being misdiagnosed or misunderstood, which can help families advocate more confidently for the right support.
• Written with input from the PDA community, giving families a sense that their child's or their own experience is genuinely understood.

For schools

• Gives SENCOs and teachers a first-hand account of PDA, useful alongside clinical or academic literature when planning support for a PDA pupil.
• Explains how PDA can intersect with other neurodivergent conditions, relevant to schools building a rounded picture of a pupil's needs.
• Supports staff in understanding why standard demand-based classroom approaches can be counterproductive for PDA pupils, and where a more flexible, low-demand approach may help.
• Useful as a staff CPD resource for building understanding of PDA across a school or trust.

For PDAers themselves, and for the families and school staff supporting them, understanding PDA as a genuine, anxiety-driven profile rather than simple defiance is often the first step towards a more effective, less conflict-driven approach. The book's first-hand perspective, alongside guidance from those who support PDAers, gives readers a fuller picture than clinical description alone.

Families and professionals looking for further support around PDA may also wish to look at organisations such as the PDA Society, which focuses specifically on this profile within the autism spectrum.

Whether you are a parent trying to understand your child's PDA, a school building its understanding of a pupil's needs, or a PDAer wanting to feel understood, The Insider Guide to PDA is a first-hand, practical resource worth considering.

• Written by Sally Cat and Brook Madera, with a foreword by Linda K. Murphy, published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
• Format: paperback, approximately 160 to 176 pages depending on retailer listing.
• Covers: what Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is, how it manifests day to day, strategies for managing its impact, intersections with other neurodivergent conditions, and the risk of misdiagnosis.
• Perspective: written by and for people with PDA, and those supporting them, including family members and professionals.
• Publication date: 21 January 2026.
• Dimensions: 215mm x 138mm x 15mm spine width.
• Weight: 190g.

• Written from lived experience. Authors Sally Cat and Brook Madera write about Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) from the inside, not as outside observers.
• Works for home and school. Gives parents practical strategies and gives SENCOs and teachers a first-hand account to support classroom planning.
• Addresses misdiagnosis honestly. Covers how PDA can be missed or misunderstood, helping families and professionals advocate more confidently.
• Published by a specialist publisher. Jessica Kingsley Publishers is a well-established publisher of books on autism, PDA, and related neurodivergent profiles.

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• What is The Insider Guide to PDA about?
  It is a practical guide to Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), written by Sally Cat and Brook Madera from their own lived experience. It explains what PDA is, how it manifests day to day, and strategies for managing its impact, for PDAers and those supporting them.
• What is Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)?
  PDA is a demand-avoidant profile most often understood as part of the autism spectrum, involving an anxiety-driven need to resist and avoid everyday demands. This book explores PDA from the perspective of people who experience it themselves.
• Is this book suitable for parents of a child with PDA?
  Yes, it gives parents and carers a first-hand understanding of PDA and practical strategies for reducing demand-related anxiety and conflict at home. It also addresses the risk of PDA being misdiagnosed or misunderstood.
• Can this book help schools support a pupil with PDA?
  Yes, it gives SENCOs and teachers a first-hand account of PDA that can sit alongside clinical guidance when planning support. It explains why standard demand-based classroom approaches can be counterproductive for PDA pupils.
• Who is The Insider Guide to PDA written for?
  It is written for PDAers themselves, their family members and supporters, and professionals such as teachers and SENCOs who want to understand PDA better.
• Who wrote The Insider Guide to PDA?
  It was written by Sally Cat and Brook Madera, with a foreword by Linda K. Murphy, and published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
• How long is The Insider Guide to PDA?
  It is a paperback of approximately 160 to 176 pages, depending on the retailer listing.