3 Part PDA Dysregulation Support

3 Part PDA Dysregulation Support - Before, During and After

A three-part visual framework for supporting PDA nervous system dysregulation — before, during and afterwards.

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This clear, 5 page printable resource is designed to be displayed, shared or kept close at hand to guide parents, educators and professionals through the full cycle of PDA distress. Grounded in lived experience, current research (including Frontiers in Education, 2024), and trauma-informed practice, each section offers calm, actionable guidance that protects autonomy while restoring felt safety.

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The resource is colour-coded for immediate clarity and ease of use:

• Yellow — Before the moment: early co-regulation steps to prevent escalation

• Red — During dysregulation: safety-first responses with zero shame or control

• Blue — After the moment: how to repair, reconnect and support nervous system recovery

This is not behaviour management — it is nervous system support.

What’s Inside

A downloadable PDF containing three printable handouts/posters you can:
• display on your classroom / therapy room / home wall
• keep in a staff folder or parent-ready “calm kit”
• hand out in professional training or parent workshops
• use as a visual script to guide your own nervous system in high-pressure moments

Each section uses warm, declarative, autonomy-respecting language — nothing that could ever shame, escalate or pathologise the child.

Who It’s For

• Parents & Carers of PDA children (diagnosed or suspected)
• Teachers, LSAs & SENDCos looking for truly neuro-affirming meltdown support
• Educational Psychologists, OT, SALT, SEMH & CAMHS professionals
• Therapists & family support workers across social care and early help
• Post-16 providers, hospital school, PRU & alternative provision teams

Suitable for home, school, therapy settings, training, and professional toolkits.

Why It Matters

Most resources still focus on stopping behaviour. PDA children do not need behaviour management — they need safety, co-regulation, autonomy and recovery.
This resource was created by an Autistic PDA adult, parenting and educating multiple PDA children — and shaped by what actually works in real moments of crisis.

If you’ve ever thought, “I just need someone to tell me what to do in the moment — without causing more harm,” — this is that guide.