The balance between ability and disability. Looking at the children in our classrooms who have received labels such as ASD, ADHD, and PDA; how do these children present, identifying their strengths and gifts with Jackie Cox-Taylor

The balance between ability and disability. Looking at the children in our classrooms who have received labels such as ASD ADHD PDA, how do these children present, and how do we identify their strengths and gifts. SD, ADHD, OCD and now PDA, are acronyms used to describe and label children in our classrooms. What are the behaviours the children present with that lead parents to seek advice and subsequently attract these labels for their children. Challenges in communication and lack of social awareness, all conditions which are developmentally appropriate at early stages of development and in less exaggerated forms in all of society. Through a developmental lens we will examine the behaviours and seek to find not only support for the children but also to recognise that ultimately inherent in these challenges are great gifts.