Why is hygiene such a struggle for PDA autistic kids?

And why does pushing only make it harder?

In this episode of the PDA Parenting Podcast, Amy explores the real reasons behind resistance to toothbrushing, showering, and other daily self-care routines. You’ll learn how nervous system responses, sensory sensitivities, and demand avoidance all play a role, and why it’s never about laziness or willfulness.

Amy shares practical, creative strategies that ease the pressure, support autonomy, and restore connection - so parents can move away from shame and toward compassion.

Whether it’s silly characters like “Ms. Helga,” salon visits, or scaffolding with small steps, this conversation offers hope, empathy, and tools for families walking this path.

Want more support? Join the waitlist for my upcoming 12-week parent course, Raising Kids with Big Baffling Behaviors (developed by Robyn Gobbel, led by me, Amy K). You’ll be the first to know when doors open!

👉 Join the waitlist here: https://amykcoach.myflodesk.com/bafflingbehaviors

Parenting a PDA teen means our role is always evolving - and nowhere is that more clear than during big life transitions like starting college, a first job, or moving away from home. In this episode of The PDA Parenting Podcast, Amy Kotha shares how scaffolding, cues of safety, and collaborative strategies can help PDA teens and young adults navigate overwhelming changes without collapsing under the weight of demands.

Drawing on neuroscience, polyvagal theory, and her own experience supporting her PDA autistic daughter as she transitioned into college life, Amy explores:

• What scaffolding really means for PDA kids, teens, and young adults
• Why cues of safety* (sensory, emotional, relational) are not extras but nervous system essentials
• How to lower demands and support autonomy through collaboration
• What these transitions mean for parents, whose nervous systems are also adapting and shifting

Whether your child is starting a new school year, leaving home, or facing any big change, this episode will help you reframe scaffolding as a strength - a bridge toward growth, safety, and connection.

Because while this path is hard, your presence, your love, your being - is enough.

* Gobbel, R. (Host). (2020–present). The Parenting After Trauma Podcast [Audio podcast]. Robyn Gobbel, LLC. https://robyngobbel.com/podcast

In this powerful episode of The PDA Parenting Podcast, host Amy Kotha is joined by Diane Gould, LCSW - a veteran therapist, late-diagnosed autistic woman, and Director of PDA North America. Diane shares her personal journey to discovering her neurodivergence and how it informs her professional mission to amplify PDA awareness and advocacy across the continent.

Together, Amy and Diane dive into what it truly means for neurodivergent individuals - especially those with a PDA profile - to find their voice in a world that often misunderstands them. From school struggles and masking to identity, self-advocacy, and parenting with presence, this episode is rich with insight, validation, and practical wisdom.

Highlights:

• Diane’s late autism diagnosis and the surprising story behind it
• The founding and mission of PDA North America
• The power of lived experience in supporting PDA families
• Rethinking behavior through the lens of curiosity and nervous system regulation
• What it means to scaffold our kids' voices — not replace them
• A vision for a truly neurodivergent-affirming world

Resources & Contact:

• 📚 Navigating PDA in America by Diane Gould & Ruth Fidler
• 🌐 PDA North America www.pdanorthamerica.org
• PEERS®-Inspired Friendship & Relationship Program https://dianegouldtherapy.com/peers/
• 📧 Email: info@pdanorthamerica.org or dianegouldtherapy@gmail.com

✨ To learn more about Amy’s work or to get coaching support, visit www.amykcoach.com