The PDA Space with Nicola Reeki

The PDA Space with Nicola Reeki In this episode of the Unfiltered Autistic Podcast, Amanda McGuinness speaks with Nicola Reekie, founder of The PDA Space, about PDA, Persistent Drive for Autonomy, the work of The PDA Space, and their upcoming PDA Summit.Nicola shares the story behind The PDA Space and its work supporting PDA people, families and professionals through greater understanding, connection, education and community.Amanda and Nicola talk about what PDA can look like in everyday life, why understanding the nervous system, autonomy, empathy, and felt safety matters, and the importance of moving beyond surface-level interpretations of behaviour to understand what may be happening for the person underneath.They also discuss the upcoming PDA Summit, what inspired it, what people can expect, and why bringing together lived experience, families and professionals is so important in developing more informed, compassionate and neuroaffirmative approaches to PDA.This conversation will be particularly relevant for Autistic and PDA people, parents and carers, educators, health professionals and anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of PDA through a neuroaffirmative lens.Topics discussed include:• PDA and Persistent Drive for Autonomy• The story behind The PDA Space• Supporting PDA people and families• Autonomy, pressure and felt safety• Understanding behaviour as communication• Lived experience and professional perspectives• The PDA Space Summit• Neuroaffirmative approaches to PDA• Supporting PDA children, young people and adultsHosted by Amanda McGuinness, Autistic advocate, Autism specialist and creator of Little Puddins.#PDA #PersistentDriveForAutonomy #Autism #Autistic #PDASpace #PDASummit #Neurodiversity #Neuroaffirmative #AutismPodcastLinks to PDA Space offers & resourceshttps://www.thepdaspace.com/summit\_2026 - get your Summit ticketshttps://www.thepdaspace.com/2026-summit - Meet the Summit Speakershttps://www.canva.com/design/DAHQ4X1\_kxg/66B2OGvGH1D0-vuMQU4y-w/view?utm\_content=DAHQ4X1\_kxg&utm\_campaign=designshare&utm\_medium=link2&utm\_source=uniquelinks&utlId=hc575a42fa7 E-bookhttps://www.thepdaspace.com/workshops-and-webinars - Find out more about the Portal Membershiphttps://www.thepdaspace.com/offers/LYU9DKgK/checkout - sign up for your Portal Membershiphttps://www.thepdaspace.com/resourcehub - one off recordings you can buyhttps://www.thepdaspace.com/freebies\_page - Free Resourceshttps://www.thepdaspace.com/wellbeinghub - Wellbeing Hub sign uphttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/81629280763 - Wellbeing Hub Zoom linkhttps://www.thepdaspace.com/e-books - Ebooks https://www.youtube.com/@thepdaspace - YouTube