Why Is This Young Person So Hard to Teach? Understanding the Diagnoses PDA, IED, ODD, CD and ASPD’

This Critical Agendas webinar tackles one of the most challenging questions educators face: how to effectively support students diagnosed with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED), Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Conduct Disorder (CD), and Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD). Rather than shying away from the complexity of these conditions, the session provides educators with a deeper understanding of how each diagnosis manifests in the classroom, helping them recognise traits that influence learning and behaviour. Participants will gain evidence-based, practical strategies for reducing barriers and creating supportive learning environments, along with insight into the potential for co-occurring diagnoses that can complicate the picture. The session is designed to move beyond surface-level behaviour management toward genuine understanding that fosters positive engagement.