Portland, Oregon

Mutual aid for families raising children with PDA

We are a community of Portland-area caregivers supporting one another through financial aid, material assistance, caregiver coordination, and connection. Verified membership keeps our community safe. Anonymity options keep it honest.

Join the Community Learn about PDA

What We Do

Real support, not just a feed to scroll

PDX PDA is a verified, members-only mutual aid network. We help families connect around specific, concrete needs — not algorithms. When a family needs help, the community sees it and responds.

01

Financial Aid

Admin-verified, anonymous requests for families facing urgent financial need. Contributions happen through the platforms families already use.

02

Caregiver Swaps

Find other families available for shared childcare. Match by schedule, neighborhood, and your children's ages and needs.

03

Spontaneous Meetups

Check in when you're out with your kid. Friends see where you are. Others see that a family is nearby. Opt in to connect.


Understanding PDA

Pathological Demand Avoidance

PDA is a profile of autism characterized by an overwhelming need to avoid and resist everyday demands. It is driven by anxiety, not defiance. Children with PDA often need approaches that are fundamentally different from conventional parenting and behavioral strategies.

Common characteristics

Resists and avoids ordinary demands of life

Uses social strategies as part of avoidance

Appears sociable but lacks depth of understanding

Experiences excessive mood swings and impulsivity

Comfortable in role play and pretending

Shows obsessive behavior, often focused on people

Raising a child with PDA can be profoundly isolating. Standard parenting advice often makes things worse. This community exists because families who understand what you're going through are the most valuable resource there is.


Join our community

Membership is free and verified by our admin team. We ask for verification to keep the community safe and trustworthy — real people, real support.

Sign Up
  1. Create an account with your name, email, and neighborhood
  2. Submit your application — tell us a bit about your family
  3. An admin verifies your membership within 24–48 hours
  4. Access the full community: requests, check-ins, connections