PLEASE NOTE: ALL OF OUR PROGRAMMES BELOW ARE BEING REVAMPED AND WILL BE AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE SOON

The Nurturing PDA Parenting Programme


PLEASE NOTE: YOU WILL NEED TO SIGN UP BELOW TO FIND OUT DETAILS OF WHEN YOU CAN BOOK.

This programme is designed to be a raw and vulnerable project that takes you on a journey through our mistakes, our achievements and most importantly the realisations that Autonomy, Authenticity and Connection can empower the young person or adult, reducing their anxiety and therefore helping them to achieve, rather than avoid. Often we find ourselves in a power struggle with our children due to the societal expectations and parenting beliefs bestowed upon us. We visit the notion that we do not have to parent to societal expectation anymore, or to those rigid parenting beliefs that were bestowed upon us through our childhood. We CAN be different. We can be RADICAL parents.

WHAT IS PDA?

An Autistic person with a PDA profile strives for Autonomy, to be Authentic, and to have control over their own decisions and journey through life. When we take this away from them, their threat response is likely to become so heightened that they will lose trust in the people around them, including those closest to them. Their Anxiety will rise, they will feel so out of control that the need to control everything around them becomes so intense that they struggle to manage everyday tasks, such as socialising, getting dressed to go to work, or school and other crucial aspects such as the things or activities they love the most. Because people with PDA are Autistic they will also have differences in social interactions and communication. This profile is widely mistaken for bad behaviour, oppositional defiant disorder and challenging behaviours. Whilst the child may display behaviours which one may think of as naughty, it is important to remember that these are driven by high levels of anxiety.
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The Project

This programme is part of a bigger project that Danielle Jata-Hall & Jodie Isitt are working on together. Black Rainbow, is Danielle’s debut adult novel and a KICKSTARTER will be launched in 2023 to raise money in the form of pre-orders so that we can self-publish her story based on real life experiences of parenting a PDA child. 

The only way to participate in this programme’s launch will be through pre-ordering Black Rainbow. Details on how to pre-order will be coming really soon, but for now you can SIGN UP HERE for launch dates and sneak peeks of some extracts taken from the book.

This programme will be complementary to the magnificent lessons that Sarah, the main character in Black Rainbow takes us on through the chapters, and will encompass The Nurture Programme’s model of parenting. Calm, Connection & Co-Regulation© is used throughout all of the programmes here and is supported by the wider Autistic community, as nurture is at the heart of everything we guide you through. It will help you gain a greater understanding of the child’s neuro differences and encourage you to harvest their autonomy so that Calm & Connection can be created for everyone involved. Our Calm, Connection & Co-Regulation© method is paramount to every child’s needs, particularly those who are described as Demand Avoidant, whether they have a diagnosis or not.,’

About The Programme

This programme is designed to be a raw and vulnerable project that takes you on a journey through our mistakes, our achievements and most importantly our realisations that Autonomy, Authenticity and Connection can empower the young person or adult, reducing their anxiety and therefore helping them to achieve, rather than avoid. Often we find ourselves in a power struggle with our children due to the societal expectations and parenting beliefs bestowed upon us, We visit the notion that we do not have to parent to societal expectation anymore, or to those rigid parenting beliefs that were bestowed upon us through our childhood. We CAN be different. We can be RADICAL parents. This programme will be interactive, collaborative and linked to a private Facebook Group where the focus will be based around Black Rainbow, the chapters, and how we can become more accepting, nurturing and RADICAL guides to our young Autistic/PDA people

The Programme Guides

Guide One:

COMING SOON

Guide Two:

COMING SOON

Guide Three:

COMING SOON 

Guide Four:

COMING SOON 


BRAND NEW

THE NURTURING PDA PARENTING PROGRAMME

COMING SOON FOR 2023

What is included?

FOUR 60+ minute LIVE sessions of presentations from Jodie Isitt, Founder of The Nurture Programme, and Danielle Jata-Hall Founder of PDA Parenting. Using Danielle’s debut adult novel Black Rainbow as session guides and incorporating The Nurture Programme’s Parenting model of Calm, Connection & Co-Regulation©, this programme will be delivered on-line via zoom and once booked all the registration links will be emailed to you. There will also be a Facebook Group that runs alongside the programme so that support can be accessed throughout the sessions. This will help you to absorb the guidance and give you the confidence needed to continue the transition from Power Parenting to Nurturing Parenting. Both Jodie and Danielle are neurodivergent with multiple Autistic and PDA people in their families. 

Jodie has worked hard in her family life to create a balance for all three children to live as harmoniously as possible and this wouldn’t have worked without the CCC© model which she now shares through all of her programmes. 

We hope to see you there soon, 

Love Jodie & Danielle 

Book your place below

Use our online booking system to join our next cohort. Details will be available soon.

Guide Two - Trust Your Gut

Guide Two: Trusting your instincts is a vital part of the process for RADICAL (UN)Parenting and we will discuss the many experiences of the facilitator and the learners where this has either proven to be true when listened to or when you wish you would have listened and acted on that gut feeling.

Briefly discussing methods of communication for the neurodivergent person and how important it is to study our young people intently so that we can begin to talk their language.  This session guides you back to your most confident, enabling those advocacy skills to flourish once more and encouraging you to always trust your gut.

Week 2: Nurturing Advocacy Confidence

The aim of this session is to break down attendees’ advocacy skills, then rebuild them so that facts and controlled emotions are used successfully.

Laura and Jodie share their experiences of advocating for their children – both good and bad and demonstrate how to use assertiveness skills effectively and remove emotive language.

They also share their “Top Tips” before, during and after transitions to ensure that all objectives are achieved.  

Week 3: Reasonable Adjustments

The pathway of SEN / EHCP’s / Reasonable adjustments and so forth can be a scary and bewildering place. But knowledge is POWER and this session aims to provide members with this power. 

Attendees will be given clear information and knowledge so they will be able to navigate these pathways armed with confidence. This will include basic law and children’s rights including ideas about what reasonable adjustments vs unreasonable adjustments are. We give examples of our own reasonable adjustments, how to ensure these adjustments are put in place and ideas on how to approach the professionals in your children’s lives to ensure that their needs are met. 

Members will also be equipped with ideas for “reasonable adjustments” versus “unreasonable adjustments”. A guest expert speaker – Karen Stepanova – SEN Consultant is arranged for this week who will give her very own presentations on the basics of SEN Law.

Week 4: Mental Health

In this session we look at how Imposter Syndrome can cause people to doubt their abilities.

The toll of advocating for children with additional needs can be detrimental to a parent or carer’s health. Our aim is to build up confidence and restore the mental health of parents or carers so that they have the inner strength to fight as hard as they can for their children.

This week focuses on changing negative thoughts to positive ones and helps restore the mental health of attendees. Jodie and Laura provide ‘Top Tips’ to staying mentally well during tricky times.  

Week 5: No-one can help me

What can I do? By week 5 we hope that all attendees will feel more confident, less stressed and have the skills and facts that they need to successfully advocate for their children. But we know that sometimes this is not enough.

The system can be fraught with challenges, and no matter how skilled you are, it can feel like your journey keeps being taken off track. In this session, an expert speaker will join to give fantastic advice on where to turn next when you feel you have exhausted all avenues. Practical advice regarding matters such as benefits, grants and additional sources of advice is also given, leaving the attendees feeling well equipped in their journey ahead.  

The Anxiety Nurture Programme

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The ADHD Nurture Programme

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The Autism Nurture Programme

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Guide Three: I'm Giving Up

Making sure that consistency is key, as our young people will not learn to trust us if we do not show them we are trustworthy. So making sure that when we start this process, we are committed to making it as successful as we possibly can.

Gaining trust, and keeping it is extremely important, however we all make mistakes, we will get triggered at some point, it is how we manage those mistakes that count. We are so used to being judged for our parenting choices, that throughout this session you be inspired to take back control of who you are, and give you the confidence to shut out the negative and leave more room for the positive.

Radical Guide Four: F*ck That Sh*t

Tuning out all the negative interference from around you will be crucial to enhancing your progression through this change, and this is something that will be difficult for a lot of families particularly when people are not yet ready to accept the RADICAL approach. Ditching the negative impacts on your parenting so that you can be free to be you. No shame. No judgment, just unapologetically you!

Join us whilst together we chant:   

F*ck That Sh*t

Week 3: Worrier to Warrior

In this final session, we will help you and those you support to find ways to reframe negative thoughts so that it is possible to “think better and feel better.”  We will also cover practical strategies to help you manage your anxious self, keep calm and turn you from a worrier, to a warrior, ready to battle everything that life throws at you.

Guide Five: RADICAL CONNECTION - Neuroparenting with Kristy Forbes & Jodie Isitt

Kristy and Jodie have worked together for a number of years and are completely aligned in their parenting, and in fact all round beliefs. Creating neuro-inclusive spaces, using neuro-affirmative approaches as standard. 

Week 1: Introduction to ASC

We will explore the many aspects of being autistic or having an autistic family member. Jodie will share her road to diagnosis for her three children and finally herself and her own diagnosis in 2020 at 35 years of age.  This first week will lay the foundations for the rest of the Five week programme. 

Week 2: Differences I May Experience

Focussing on the saying, “When you have met one autistic person you have met one autistic person” we will take a deeper dive into the way that autism effects everyone individually.  During this session we will look at sensory needs in more detail and provide some ideas to help keep autistic children more regulated.

Week 3: Advocating For My Autistic Child

Laura and Jodie feel that “small changes make a big difference” for autistic individuals – and during this session we will discuss helpful tips for parents and reasonable adjustments for schools and colleges. 

In this session you will also be able to ask us questions relevant to this topic and we will signpost you to other helpful organisations and sources of information related to Autism. 

Week 4: Sibling Support

There is no doubt that an autism diagnosis can affect the whole family.  In this fourth session we will explore the impact autism can have on families and siblings.

We will discuss lots of helpful approaches to help you support your whole family and explore the positive aspects of an autism diagnosis.  We will also discuss how to support siblings of autistic individuals using empathy and understanding whilst also covering the importance of looking after your own mental health as parents.

Week 5: The Autistic Experience

Chloe, Jodie and Laura will discuss the medical model of autism and some of the theories of autism which are now proven to be out-dated and detrimental to autistic individuals.

Chloe will talk using her personal insight as an autistic adult, will discuss effective ways to support the mental well-being of autistic individuals and answer questions from attendees.

Week 2: Nurturing Anxious Minds

Whilst it is true that many children suffer from anxiety at any one time, those who are neurodivergent (ie are autistic, with or without PDA; have ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia etc) are more likely to have anxiety to varying degrees as part of their experience.  In this session, the anxiety experienced by any child is approached with understanding and acceptance and is jam-packed with practical ways to support children in a positive and nurturing way.

Week 1: Understanding Your Anxious Self

In this first session, Laura and Jodie gently introduce what anxiety can look and feel like with a real and tangible understanding that all participants come from a variety of experiences. Together, we will look at the impact anxiety can have on how we behave and interact with different people as well as the internal struggles it can bring.  By offering an invitation to reflect on and recognise our own anxiety and the negative internal voices that drive it, they begin to consider ways to quieten those voices and fears both for ourselves and those we wish to support. 

The RADICAL Parenting Programme

Many neurodivergent families are living by the textbook and this puts them at a disadvantage of struggling to live using outdated and debunked methods of parenting.

This programme encourages learners to reflect on what could have been better during their own childhood, to begin reframing that into their own unique, instinctive parenting style, allowing autonomy, creating trust, which in turn will allow trusting bonds to flourish leading to the three most important aspects of development, growth and independence, Autonomy, Authenticity and Consent.