Students with autism frequently experience significant anxiety that can influence behavior, school engagement, and academic performance. In some students, anxiety may present as extreme avoidance of everyday demands, sometimes described as Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) profiles. These presentations can be misinterpreted as defiance or noncompliance, leading to ineffective intervention approaches. This session will examine the relationship between anxiety and autism, explore characteristics associated with demand-avoidant profiles, and review considerations for assessment and school-based supports