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

We’re excited to share a featured session from the PDA North America Conference—now available on-demand!🎙️ “Attachment, ...
04/06/2026

We’re excited to share a featured session from the PDA North America Conference—now available on-demand!

🎙️ “Attachment, Autonomy, and a Little Bit of Chaos: Parenting PDA as a Neurodivergent Mom” with Sunita Kapahi Theiss

Parenting PDA while navigating your own neurodivergence can bring both challenges and powerful opportunities for connection. In this thoughtful session, Sunita Kapahi Theiss explores what it looks like to parent PDA from a neurodivergent perspective.

In this presentation, she explores:

🔹 Creating flexible routines that support regulation and growth
🔹 Balancing the sensory, emotional, and executive functioning needs of the whole family
🔹 Moving away from rigid structures toward connection-centered parenting

Sunita is a writer, coach, and advocate who supports families navigating neurodivergence across cultural and family systems. Her work blends personal insight with professional experience to help parents build homes centered on connection, regulation, and understanding.

🎥 Comment "Ecosystem" to receive the direct link to the full presentation from !

🌟 Important Free Community Event: Autism in the Black Community & PDA 🌟🗓 May 14 | 7:00 PM CST💛 All donations go directly...
04/06/2026

🌟 Important Free Community Event: Autism in the Black Community & PDA 🌟

🗓 May 14 | 7:00 PM CST
💛 All donations go directly to The Autism in Black Foundation

We invite you to join Dr. Destiny Huff (PDAer & advocate) and Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC (Founder, Autism in Black) for an important conversation about:

The experiences of Black Autistic and PDA individuals
Challenges around diagnosis, including mislabeling PDA as Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Hesitancy in accessing services and systemic inequities

This discussion centers lived experiences, highlights the realities often overlooked, and explores ways to move toward real, meaningful support for Black Autistic and PDA communities.

💻 Reserve your spot here: https://buff.ly/oR3zapL

🔊 Next Week! 🔊PDAer? Parent of a PDAer? PDAer Parenting PDAers?AI doesn’t have to mean pressure, productivity, or perfec...
04/05/2026

🔊 Next Week! 🔊

PDAer? Parent of a PDAer? PDAer Parenting PDAers?
AI doesn’t have to mean pressure, productivity, or perfection.
It can mean choice, autonomy, and fewer meltdowns.

🎓 Using AI to Support Your PDA Journey
Facilitated by Kyle Wegner, parent of PDAers
🗓 May 28 | 7 PM CST
🎟️ Grab your spot: https://buff.ly/7R3a5Mc

🌿 Ready to learn about PDA? PDA 101 with Diane Gould offers clarity, connection, and community.🗓 Thursday, May 7 | 7 PM ...
04/03/2026

🌿 Ready to learn about PDA?
PDA 101 with Diane Gould offers clarity, connection, and community.

🗓 Thursday, May 7 | 7 PM CST
FREE ($25 suggested donation)
https://buff.ly/rzYG9va

👥 Dads, stepdads, caregivers — your story matters.Join PJ Starling () on May 12 @ 7 PM CST for PDA & Fatherhood.✅ Hones...
04/02/2026

👥 Dads, stepdads, caregivers — your story matters.
Join PJ Starling () on May 12 @ 7 PM CST for PDA & Fatherhood.

✅ Honest talk about real life
✅ No judgment
✅ Shared wins and challenges

🎟️ | https://buff.ly/QDlwRtn

✨💥 PDA Kids Under 18: What Families Are Telling UsSurveying 2,000+ families revealed key challenges: school attendance s...
04/01/2026

✨💥 PDA Kids Under 18: What Families Are Telling Us

Surveying 2,000+ families revealed key challenges: school attendance struggles, strong resistance to direction, and more.

Want to learn more? Our free report shares real caregiver experiences and insights.
📥Read it here: https://buff.ly/HFuinZP

🎉 The wait is over! 🎉The 2026 PDA North America Conference recordings are now available in our Learning Lab—ready when y...
03/31/2026

🎉 The wait is over! 🎉

The 2026 PDA North America Conference recordings are now available in our Learning Lab—ready when you are.

For the first time, you can access 3 full days of powerful, lived-experience-informed sessions from PDA speakers across our community… all in one place.

🧠 Dive into the topics that matter most
💛 Hear directly from PDAers, parents, and professionals
⏯️ Learn at your own pace, on your own time

Whether you’re revisiting your favorite sessions or catching what you missed, this is your chance to stay connected, informed, and supported.

🎥 Start watching now: https://buff.ly/k5FSflu

If you’ve ever walked out of an appointment feeling unheard… misjudged… or blamed for your child’s struggles — this chec...
03/30/2026

If you’ve ever walked out of an appointment feeling unheard… misjudged… or blamed for your child’s struggles — this checklist is for you.

PDA requires a different approach.
One rooted in collaboration, autonomy, and co-regulation, not compliance.

We created a PDA-affirming provider checklist to help you find professionals who get it, and to help you avoid the ones who don’t.

✅PDA-Affirming Provider Directory: https://buff.ly/kF1iyuA

We still recommend you utilize the checklist with our directory as we do not have the bandwidth to vet the list!

📅 Coming up soon: PDA 101!Perfect for anyone who’s just heard of PDA or wants a refresher.🗓 Apr 9 | 7 PM CST FREE regist...
03/26/2026

📅 Coming up soon: PDA 101!
Perfect for anyone who’s just heard of PDA or wants a refresher.

🗓 Apr 9 | 7 PM CST
FREE registration
https://buff.ly/WBYucgS

Navigating Medication with a PDA LensWhen it comes to psychiatric meds for PDAers, there’s no one-size-fits-all — and th...
03/24/2026

Navigating Medication with a PDA Lens

When it comes to psychiatric meds for PDAers, there’s no one-size-fits-all — and the decision-making process can feel overwhelming.

That’s why we bundled our PDA & Medication webinars, featuring 2 expert-led sessions with PDA-affirming Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Janine Michaelson, PMHNP-BC. (Also sold separately)

You’ll learn how to:

🧠 Make informed, low-pressure decisions about meds
🧠 Monitor side effects with care and clarity
🧠 Understand how PDA traits may affect medication responses
🧠 Explore integrative options and supportive alternatives

Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or professional, this bundle offers grounded, compassionate guidance rooted in real-world experience and deep respect for autonomy.

🎓 Start learning here: https://buff.ly/KBqipw6

Because your PDAer deserves support that fits them — not the other way around. 💚

🔎 Caregivers Are Helping Us See Adult PDA ClearlyThrough their survey responses, caregivers of adults (18+) with PDA are...
03/23/2026

🔎 Caregivers Are Helping Us See Adult PDA Clearly

Through their survey responses, caregivers of adults (18+) with PDA are helping to paint the picture of daily life, struggles, and supports that really matter. Free report available now.

📥 Read it here: https://buff.ly/HFuinZP

🧠 Boundaries can feel tricky with PDAers — but they’re also an act of care, connection, and respect.🤝 PDAer and mom of P...
03/21/2026

🧠 Boundaries can feel tricky with PDAers — but they’re also an act of care, connection, and respect.

🤝 PDAer and mom of PDA twins, Ruth Hevelone, breaks down how to set limits with compassion instead of confrontation, even when overwhelm or rigidity shows up.

🎟️ Join us Thursday, 3/26 for PDA Teens & Their Neuro-complexities with AuDHD therapist, Calial McCarty: https://buff.ly/SAcoDL1
💬Read & learn more: https://buff.ly/5snTTsT

💜 You can hold space for both your needs and theirs — and communicate more calmly along the way.

EDIT to Add: These types of boundaries may not work for those families in burnout.

Address

Deerfield, IL

Website

https://pdanorthamerica.org/

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Our Story

PDA North America was established as a result of the March 2020 Chicago PDA workshop. At this first PDA event in America, there was overwhelming enthusiasm and support for an ongoing effort in the US and Canada by the parents and professionals who attended. Diane Gould hosted the workshop and she is the founder of PDA North America. The workshop presenters from the UK were Laura Kerbey and Harry Thompson who serve as advisors to PDA North America. Sandra McConnell and Ann Hackler-Foutch, parents of children with PDA have joined the PDA North America effort as Certified PDA Trainers and Consultants.