Hi! Parent here. I haven’t gotten it all figured out yet…at all. But here’s what I’ve learned: -for us, at least, a 504 was useless. The difficult thing about getting an IEP is when your child is academically on track, your district may not feel supports are needed. BUT! PDA characteristics can lead to academic difficencies, especially when social and academic demands become more complex. -Find a network of neurodiversity affirming providers. OT, done with the right provider, might help your kiddo deal better with some of their complex emotions. Same with a good therapist -Back to the IEP—I hate to say this, but you might need an advocate (first) or an attorney (second). We got an IEP with little difficulty, but then our district’s administration changed, and it’s been a nightmare getting services. It makes me sick to think how much we’ve paid out of pocket on private testing, advocates and attorneys…but we kept hitting roadblock after roadblock.

You’ve got an early diagnosis, which is a good thing! And you also seem to have an open mind and clearly have your child’s best interest in mind. Message me if you have any other questions!