At Peace Parents Podcast Ep. 140 - Sorcha Rice - Occupational Therapist and Clinical Manager for Neurodiversity Ireland
Jan 23, 2026
In this engaging conversation, Sorcha Rice, an occupational therapist and clinical manager at Neurodiversity Ireland, opens up about her experiences as someone identifying as AuDHD with a PDA profile. She dives into the intricacies of PDA and how it manifests in the body, reflecting on her own childhood and the journey through burnout and recovery. Sorcha emphasizes the importance of creating safe spaces for neurodivergent children and the need for flexibility in occupational therapy. Her insights on regulation and supportive practices are both enlightening and inspiring!
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PDA Is A Survival Drive For Autonomy
- Sorcha defines PDA as a persistent survival drive for autonomy that is triggered by demand and pressure.
- Internal pressures (hunger, need to use the toilet, illness) can act as demands and reduce capacity just as much as external requests.
The Salmon Example: Body Responds First
- Sorcha gives a grocery example where her body reflexively says no to salmon even when she actually wants it.
- She describes that sometimes cognition follows the body's immediate survival response rather than leading it.
Accommodations Help But Can't Eliminate Demand
- Full accommodation won't remove all distress because neurodivergent nervous systems still face environmental demands.
- Sorcha emphasizes accepting an imperfect nervous system and learning self-regulation rather than chasing total elimination of demands.