Inside the PDA Experience: Conversations With Maya on Feeling Trapped

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Amy is joined by her daughter Maya - who shares her lived experience as a PDA autistic teen. Together, they explore the PDA experience of feeling trapped: at school, in the medical system, and inside her own mind.From second-grade meltdowns to high school shutdowns to hospital sensory overwhelm, Maya speaks candidly about what “feeling trapped” really means for someone with a PDA profile. Amy and Maya discuss nervous system overwhelm, the importance of autonomy, why being heard matters, and how PDAers often struggle to express what’s happening internally. This episode is a must-listen for parents, teachers, and professionals looking to better understand and support PDA kids from the inside out.If this episode helped you, please subscribe and leave a 5-star review—it helps other PDA parents find this podcast!