PDA North America - Pathological Demand Avoidance

PDA North America - Pathological Demand Avoidance Our mission is bold. We want to spread awareness of PDA to parents, individuals, educators and therapists throughout the US and Canada.
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Our mission is to provide advocacy, education, and resources to autistic PDA individuals, others who identify as PDA and their families along with the professionals who support them. We want families to have a place to turn for support and guidance. We want professionals to be able to receive training, consultation and information in order to effectively teach or treat PDAers. And we want PDAers t

o know that they are understood. In short, to build a strong and vibrant community for this underserved population.

📱 Are screens helping...or hurting?When PDA is part of your life, the answer is rarely simple.For some PDAers, screens b...
08/27/2026

📱 Are screens helping...or hurting?

When PDA is part of your life, the answer is rarely simple.

For some PDAers, screens become a source of conflict. For others, they're a lifeline—supporting regulation, autonomy, connection, creativity, recovery, and even learning.

So how do we move beyond the "screen time is good" or "screen time is bad" debate?

Join adult PDAers Amanda Diekman and Brook Madera for an honest, nuanced conversation about the role screens play in PDA lives, and what families, PDAers, and professionals need to understand.

🗓 October 22
⏰ 7:00 PM Central
🎥 Live + Recording Included

Whether you're a PDAer, parent, educator, or professional, you'll leave with a more compassionate, informed perspective on one of the most talked-about topics in the PDA community.

💬 Comment PDASCREEN below, and we'll automatically send you the registration link!

08/26/2026

Do PDAers need supplements? Gut testing? Dietary changes?

The better question might be: what’s actually worth exploring?

Dr. Joy, The PDA Doc, is an adult PDAer and board-certified pediatrician, and she’s joining PDA North America to talk about the often-overlooked body side of PDA.

Gut-brain connection. Supplements. Testing. What may help. What you can probably let go of.

All without turning health into one more demand.

💬 Comment PDADOC and we’ll send you the registration link.

🌿 SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT: Nyck Walsh, MA, LPCWhat if feeling good in your body isn’t always the goal?For many PDAers and neur...
08/25/2026

🌿 SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT: Nyck Walsh, MA, LPC

What if feeling good in your body isn’t always the goal?

For many PDAers and neurodivergent people, having a body can come with a lot: demands, sensory intensity, overwhelming feelings, and a nervous system responding to threat.

And sometimes, even feeling good can be too much.

At the 2026 Virtual PDA Health & Wellness Conference, Nyck Walsh (he/they), MA, LPC, creator of Neurodivergent Somatics, is exploring another possibility:

🗣️ The Body as a Pathway for Feeling Good (or Neutral): Is It Really Possible?

Through an anti-ableist and anti-oppressive lens, Nyck will explore pleasure, sensory delight, embodiment, and the wisdom of neutrality when pleasure isn’t accessible or desirable.

Because wellness doesn’t have to mean making our bodies feel a certain way.

This is the kind of conversation we created the PDA Health & Wellness Conference for.

📅 September 25 | Virtual

💬 Comment NDWellness and we’ll send you the conference + ticket information.

⏰ ONE WEEK TO GO!School isn't one-size-fits-all.Neither are PDA learners.Join us for the final webinar in our Back-to-Sc...
08/24/2026

⏰ ONE WEEK TO GO!

School isn't one-size-fits-all.
Neither are PDA learners.

Join us for the final webinar in our Back-to-School...or NOT? series and explore homeschooling and unschooling through a PDA-informed lens.

🎒 Homeschooling & Unschooling Your PDA Child

📅 September 3 | 7:00 PM Central
🎥 Live + Recording Included

Featuring Helen Lowery, neurodivergent lawyer, advocate, and homeschooling parent to four neurodivergent children, including PDAers, and Marni Kammersell, neurodiversity educator, homeschooling parent, and self-directed education advocate with 15+ years of experience.

💬 Comment BACKTOSCHOOL below, and we'll send you the registration link plus information about the full series! 💜

🌱 What if healing begins with feeling safe—not pushed?For many PDAers, traditional therapy approaches haven't always fel...
08/23/2026

🌱 What if healing begins with feeling safe—not pushed?

For many PDAers, traditional therapy approaches haven't always felt accessible, affirming, or supportive. Learning about different approaches can help you make informed choices that honor your nervous system and autonomy.

Join us for PDA & Brainspotting as we explore a neuroaffirming, nervous system-informed approach that may support some PDAers and other neurodivergent individuals.

Together, we'll explore:
🧠 The foundations of Brainspotting
💜 How a nervous system-informed approach may support some PDAers
✨ The role of autonomy, consent, and regulation in therapeutic relationships
🤝 Insights for PDAers, Navigators, and neuro-affirming professionals

Whether you're curious about Brainspotting for yourself, someone you support, or your clinical practice, this webinar offers a thoughtful introduction grounded in respect, curiosity, and neuro-affirming care.

📅 October 15
🕖 7:00–8:00 PM CDT

💜 Join us live for this thoughtful conversation.

💬 Comment PDABrainSpotting and we'll send you the registration link via DM.

Neurodivergent health is complex. Our conversations about it should be, too.Chronic illness. Sleep. Nutrition. Sensory n...
08/22/2026

Neurodivergent health is complex. Our conversations about it should be, too.

Chronic illness. Sleep. Nutrition. Sensory needs. Somatics. Nervous system support. The realities of accessing care when your brain and body don’t fit neatly into traditional models.

On September 25, we’re bringing these conversations together for one full day.

Join PDA North America for our virtual PDA Health & Wellness Conference, featuring lived experience alongside neurodivergent-affirming professional perspectives.

You’ll hear from:

✨ Patrick Casale, MA, LCMHC
✨ Laura Hellfeld, Neurodivergent Nurse Consulting
✨ Stephanie Arias, OTR/L
✨ Emelda “E” De Coteau
✨ Nyck Walsh, MA, LPC
✨ Plus special guest appearances, including Dr. Joy, The PDA Doc

Created with PDAers at the center and relevant to the wider neurodivergent community, including parents, caregivers, therapists, healthcare professionals, and educators.

📅 Friday, September 25
⏰ 9:30am–5:00pm Central
💻 Virtual

Spend the day learning with people who understand the complexity.

💬 Comment NDWellness and we’ll send you the ticket link directly!

🍂 Understanding PDA changes everything.Join Diane Gould for PDA 101 — a warm, insightful intro to Pathological Demand Av...
08/20/2026

🍂 Understanding PDA changes everything.
Join Diane Gould for PDA 101 — a warm, insightful intro to Pathological Demand Avoidance.

🗓 Thurs, Oct 1 | 7 PM CST
FREE ($25 suggested donation)
Comment 101OCT26 for a direct link to register

“He seems fine today, but we’re not fine.”For many families of PDA children, this is a familiar and painful experience.A...
08/19/2026

“He seems fine today, but we’re not fine.”

For many families of PDA children, this is a familiar and painful experience.

A child may communicate clearly, complete an assessment, and appear ready for every expectation placed in front of them. Then, under different demands or conditions, they may be unable to access those same abilities.

Too often, adults see ability and assume access.

They see language and assume communication.
They see intelligence and assume control.
They see what a child can do once—and conclude they should be able to do it anywhere.

But a child’s capacity can shift with demand pressure, threat perception, the environment, and felt safety.

The question is not only, “Does this child have the skill?”

We also need to ask, “Can they access it under these conditions?”

This excerpt from A Body of Evidence explores what happens when an evaluation captures a child’s abilities—but misses the reality their family is living.

Comment "seems fine" to get a link to the full PDA Insight!

⏰ ONE WEEK UNTIL OUR MOST REQUESTED SCHOOL CONVERSATION!Finding the right educational fit can feel overwhelming, especia...
08/17/2026

⏰ ONE WEEK UNTIL OUR MOST REQUESTED SCHOOL CONVERSATION!

Finding the right educational fit can feel overwhelming, especially when traditional schools aren't working.

Next week, join us for the third webinar in our 4-part Back-to-School...or NOT? series as we explore private schools, microschools, residential programs, and other educational options that may better support PDA learners.

🎒 Private School Options for PDAers: From Microschools to Residential

📅 August 27
⏰ 7:00 PM Central
🎥 Live + Recording Included

Hear from an incredible panel of experts:

✨ Dr. Marie Hooper – Clinical Psychologist & PDA North America Board Member

✨ Lucy Pritzker – Founder, Elm Street Placements

✨ Ashley Soifer – Co-Founder, National Microschooling Center

✨ Annie Holub – Founder, Desert Dragon Learning Community

Together, they'll discuss:
💜 What different educational options can offer PDA learners
💜 What makes a learning environment a good fit
💜 Questions to ask when exploring schools
💜 How to think beyond traditional educational pathways

Whether you're actively looking for a new school, considering alternatives, or simply wondering what's possible, this conversation will help you make more informed decisions for your child.

💬 Comment BACKTOSCHOOL below, and we'll automatically send you the registration link plus details about the entire Back-to-School...or NOT? series! 💜

💛 Now Live: PANS, PANDAS & Neurodivergence WebinarWe know how challenging and confusing it can be to navigate PANS or PA...
08/14/2026

💛 Now Live: PANS, PANDAS & Neurodivergence Webinar

We know how challenging and confusing it can be to navigate PANS or PANDAS alongside neurodivergence. This neuroaffirming webinar is here to help.

Join Helen Edgar () and Laura Hellfeld (.nd.nurse.consulting) as they explore what these experiences can look like in everyday life and share practical, compassionate tools to support children and young people at home and in school.

🎥 Comment PANSPDA for the direct link to watch it anytime on the PDA NA Learning Lab

You’re not alone—we see you, we hear you, and we want to support you. 💛

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