Kristy addresses the confusion around the differences between PDA anxiety and non PDA anxiety.

Kristy Forbes is an Australian based autism & neurodiversity support specialist with experience working with clients all around the world. This includes neurodivergent people and their families, and professionals who wish to support them, such as Educators, Psychologists, Paediatricians, allied health professionals, support workers and integration aides.

Her work is informed by her extensive professional experience as an educator (Early Childhood, Primary and Secondary teaching), as an integration aide to children with social, emotional and behavioural challenges, and as a childhood behavioural and family specialist.

Her most valuable insights, however, come from lived experience. Kristy is autistic herself and diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA).

She is a Mother to four autistic children, ranging from 5 years to 21 years, all with varying autistic expression including non-speaking and PDA, and Kristy is married to a wonderful autistic man.

Kristy has the unique experience and insight of many perspectives: the teacher, the support specialist, the parent, the partner and the person (including the autistic child she once was!).