Supporting PDA Individuals with Declarative Language

$89.00

April 08, 2025 1:00 - 3:15pm Central Standard Time

Linda Murphy, M.S., CCC-SLP – Join us for this live interactive webinar as Linda discusses declarative language and how it can be used to support PDA individuals.

Also Available: Introduction to Pathological Demand Avoidance | Kelsie Bacon April 8, 2025 9:00 am Central

Use code AEP20% for a 20% discount when purchasing both courses

Register for two or more Linda Murphy webinars and receive a 10% discount off of the total webinar fee for each course. This discount applies to all webinars provided by Linda Murphy and presented by AEP Connections.

Category: Live Webinars Tag: Linda Murphy Course

Declarative language is an extremely effective tool that supports social information processing across social learning styles, when it is used with intentionality and care. PDA, or Pathological Demand Avoidance, is a unique autistic profile where increased thoughtfulness around communication is especially important to ensure the PDA individual feels safe. Interestingly, even though declarative language is generally known to be helpful to PDAers, some PDA adults share their skepticism and even dislike for this speaking style.

In this course, participants will not only learn what declarative language is, but we will dive deeper to explore and truly understand the foundation and heart of this therapeutic approach, and subsequently the nuances and shifts that are most important for PDA individuals. Participants will learn how to create declarative dialogue that works to establish safety, helps reduce anxiety, shares important information, and prioritizes autonomy - all essential elements for communication with PDA individuals. In addition, common pitfalls will be shared so that participants can spot declarative statements that may not be helpful.

Lecture, powerpoint, many examples and case studies will also be shared, with time for Q&A.

Who should attend?

K-12+ Special Education teachers, Speech-Language Therapists, OTs, counselors, general education teachers, administrators, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, PTs, principals, nurses, parents, and anyone who works with someone on the autism spectrum, PDA, executive functioning difficulties, or other learning disabilities. There are no prerequisites and anyone is welcome to attend, this is an intermediate level course.

Below are 3 options for participation:

BUNDLE: Live zoom webinar AND On-Demand Replay (available April 12, 2025 - June 12, 2025)

ON-DEMAND ONLY: Access the recording at your own pace between April 12, 2025 - June 12, 2025

LIVE ZOOM WEBINAR ONLY: Attend live on April 8, 2025 only (also includes a one time live replay of the recording on Saturday April 12th beginning at 2 pm CT)

View Packet

Registration Form

Professional Development

Speaker

Linda Murphy MS, CCC-SLP

Linda Murphy MS, CCC-SLP is a speech language pathologist and RDI® Consultant. She co-founded Peer Projects – Therapy From the Heart, a clinic in Beverly, MA dedicated to helping individuals of all ages and their families by using a positive, thoughtful communication style that emphasizes understanding, patience, respect, and kindness. Linda has been working with individuals with social learning differences for over 25 years. She leads trainings on the topic of social learning, has authored Declarative Language Handbook, Co-Regulation Handbook, numerous articles, and co-authored the book Social Thinking and Me with Michelle Garcia Winner. Linda lives north of Boston with her husband and their two busy lovable boys.

Disclosures:

Financial: Linda Murphy will receive a speaker’s honorarium from AEP Connections for the presentation. Linda also receives royalties from KDP Publishing (Amazon) as the author of the books, Declarative Language Handbook and Co-Regulation Handbook, which she will refer to in this course. There are no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose.

Objectives

Identify two differences in the ways autistic individuals process information
Explain why declarative statements can reduce anxiety
Construct declarative statements that give information and prioritize autonomy
Describe important aspects of nonverbal communication when speaking in a declarative way
Identify inferential declarative statements in contrast to those that are more direct
Explain the importance of consent when sharing new information

Schedule

Central Time Zone

1:00 pm – 1:15 pm Overview, Neurodiversity, Double Empathy, Social Communication

1:15 pm – 1:40 pm Getting into PDA: Processing, Uncertainty, and Autonomy; Safety & Autonomy

1:40 pm – 1:50 pm Attunement and Co-Regulation

1:50 pm – 2:00 pm BREAK

2:00 pm – 2:25 pm Q & A; Elements of Declarative Language important for PDAers, Examples

2:25 pm – 3:05 pm FAQs and other important topics to PDAers, Case Studies

3:05 pm – 3:15 pm Conclusions, Q and A

Professional Development Offerings

ASHA CEUs

Each program (day) is offered for .2 ASHA CEUs. Full attendance and a completed evaluation required for satisfactory completion of ASHA CEUs.

Provider approval and use of the Brand Block does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products, or clinical procedures.

CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE

2 hours for the day. Attendance will be checked via ZOOM log in/log out.

NBCC

AEP Connections, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7173. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. AEP Connections, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Available NBCC Clock Hours: 2

NASP

AEP Connections is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists to offer continuing education for school psychologists. AEP Connections maintains responsibility for the program. NASP Approved Provider #1165. A code to access the course evaluation will be provided in segments throughout the webinar, to ensure full participation. This course is offered for 2 credits/hours and full attendance is required.

ASWB

AEP Connections, LLC, #1332, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 1/27/2025- 1/27/2028. Social workers completing this course receive 2 continuing education credits. Full attendance, a course evaluation and an additional post test is required for satisfactory completion.

AOTA

AEP Connections, LLC is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. Course approval ID XXX. This distance learning – interactive is offered for up to .2 CEUs (2 contact hours). Intermediate, OT Service Delivery. AOTA does not endorse specific course content, products, or clinical procedures. A course evaluation with additional post test questions is required for satisfactory completion.