Helping PDA Kids Thrive Through Validation, Safety, and the Right School Setting: With Jessie Townz

Send us Fan Mail This episode features Jessie Townz, a parent advocate from London, about raising and supporting a child with a PDA profile. Jessie shares her family’s two-year journey through school exclusion, diagnosis delays, and the fight to find an education setting that actually worked for her son. We discuss what PDA can look like in real life, why nervous system dysregulation sits underneath the behavior, and how validation, autonomy, and safety can change everything for families navigating this path. Action items Keep a written log of behavior, triggers, and recovery patterns at home and school. Focus first on safety, hydration, food, rest, and proximity before trying to solve the behavior. Use language that helps children describe energy, safety, and overwhelm rather than forcing immediate explanation. Advocate firmly when school placement is not working and document everything. Listen to parents’ lived experience when school reports do not match what happens at home. Learn more by following Jessie at https://www.instagram.com/mrsjessietownz/ We want to hear from you! Follow us and leave a comment on our Instagram at ThePolarisConnection or reach us at [email protected]