PDA North America

### Context Profile for PDA North America

1. **Organization Mission & Cause**:
   - **Mission**: PDA North America is dedicated to raising awareness and providing support for individuals with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), a profile on the autism spectrum characterized by an extreme avoidance of everyday demands and expectations. Their mission is to educate, advocate, and empower families and professionals to better understand and support those affected by PDA.
   - **Cause**: The organization aims to promote acceptance and understanding of PDA, ensuring that individuals with this profile receive appropriate support and resources.

2. **Type of Activities**:
   - **Events**: PDA North America hosts various events, including workshops, webinars, and in-person gatherings. For example, the recent event titled "Understanding & Supporting PDA" at Fusion Academy focused on educating attendees about PDA.
   - **Fundraising Campaigns**: They conduct fundraising initiatives to support their educational programs and outreach efforts.
   - **Community Programs**: The organization provides resources and support for parents, professionals, and individuals affected by PDA, including informational materials and networking opportunities.

3. **Tone of Voice**:
   - The tone of voice used by PDA North America is **friendly, supportive, and informative**. Their communications aim to be accessible and relatable, fostering a sense of community among those affected by PDA. The language is often encouraging and empathetic, reflecting their commitment to support and advocacy.

4. **Emoji Usage**:
   - The organization does not prominently feature emojis in their communications, maintaining a more professional and straightforward approach in their messaging. This suggests a preference for clarity and seriousness regarding their cause.

5. **Key Facts**:
   - **Founding Info**: Specific founding details were not explicitly stated on the website, but the organization appears to have been established to address the needs of individuals with PDA in North America.
   - **Scale**: PDA North America has conducted 13 total forms and 277 email campaigns, indicating an active engagement with their audience.
   - **Impact Metrics**: While specific metrics were not detailed, the organization emphasizes community engagement and support through events and educational outreach.
   - **Volunteer Info**: Information regarding volunteer opportunities is not explicitly mentioned on the website, suggesting that they may focus more on professional support and community engagement.

6. **Writing Guidelines**:
   - **Style**: Content should be clear, concise, and supportive. Use of empathetic language is encouraged to resonate with families and professionals dealing with PDA.
   - **Structure**: Use headings and bullet points for easy readability. Ensure that information is presented in a logical flow, especially when discussing events or resources.
   - **Audience Engagement**: Personalize communications where possible, using the recipient's name and addressing their specific interests or needs related to PDA.
   - **Call to Action**: Include clear calls to action in emails and promotional materials, encouraging participation in events or support for fundraising efforts.

This context profile serves as a foundation for creating tailored content for PDA North America, ensuring alignment with their mission, tone, and audience engagement strategies.

LXCL:Ticket includes access to the virtual presentations on 2/27/26, 3/5/26, and 3/6/26. All will be recorded and you'll have access to view the recordings through August 31, 2026 except for Dr. Houser's presentation which is viewable through March 13, 2026. For financial assistance, please email info@pdanorthamerica.org

Early Bird Ticket - Virtual

Ticket - Virtual

7th Annual 3-Day PDA North America Conference Virtual Conference Details<span fr-original-style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;" id="isPasted" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important; box-sizing: inherit;">Please register each attendee separately. Enter the&nbsp;<strong fr-original-style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; font-weight: 700; box-sizing: inherit;">name and email of the person who will attend<span fr-original-style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important; box-sizing: inherit;">, not the billing contact, so the attendee receives all event communications. All times are listed in US Central &diams; Friday, Feb 27th - PDA Health &amp; Wellness 9:30am - 4:30pm - All Virtual Audience Speakers &amp; Topics:&nbsp;<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Emelda &ldquo;E&rdquo; De Coteau -&nbsp;PDA-Informed Mindfulness for Caregivers</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Laura Hellfeld -&nbsp;Supporting PDAers in Self-Care and Everyday Life</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Melissa Houser, M.D. -&nbsp;Everything is Connected to Everything: Improving the Health of Autistic, ADHD, and PDA Patients through the Lifespan</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Kelsie &ldquo;Mick&rdquo; Olds -&nbsp;Feeling All The Feelings: Regulation &amp; Interoception</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">PDA Conversations with Young PDAers</li></ul> &diams; Thursday, March 5th - The PDA Experience 9:30am - 3:30pm -&nbsp;Hybrid audience&nbsp;Virtual - streamed Live from Skokie, IL outside Chicago Speakers &amp; Topics:&nbsp;<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Diane Gould, LCSW, Executive Director of PDANA, Melissa McKenzie Ph.D. &amp; Michelle Kleinmann - The PDA Experience 2025 Research Survey Review</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Jennifer I. Huffman, PhD, ABPdN -&nbsp;Unlocking the Power of the PDA Brain</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Rabbi Shoshana Meira Friedman -&nbsp;The PDA Safe Circle: A Deep Dive Introduction and Workshop</li></ul> &diams; Friday, March 6th - Making it All Work 9:30am - 5:00pm - Hybrid audience&nbsp;Virtual - streamed Live from Skokie, IL outside Chicago Speakers &amp; Topics:&nbsp;<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Sunita Kapahi Theiss -&nbsp;Attachment, Autonomy, and a Little Bit of Chaos: Parenting PDA as a Neurodivergent Mom</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Zach Morris, M.Ed. - Demystifying Learning for PDAers of All Ages</li><li fr-original-style="font-weight: bold;" style="font-weight: bold; box-sizing: inherit;">Live Conversations with various PDA-Affirming Professionals</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Lauren Brown&nbsp;- Adulting with PDA while Parenting PDA</li></ul> There will be additional structured opportunities to network and discuss important topics for virtual attendees during lunch times.&nbsp; Ticket sales will remain open until February 20, 2026, at 5:00pm central, or until capacity is reached, whichever occurs first. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1768419837/wysiwyg/wfdr3y8bfrngbb3uanha.png" style="width: 600px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; user-select: none; position: relative; max-width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-style="width: 600px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable"><a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.neurodiverseinstitute.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Neurodiverse Institute</a> - Platinum Sponsor<a fr-original-style="" href="https://helpandhealingcenter.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Help &amp; Healing Center PLLC</a> - Gold Sponsor<a fr-original-style="" href="https://loftyangels.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Lofty Angels</a> - Gold Sponsor

Hi <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip" fr-original-style="" style="background-color: rgb(248, 248, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255); border-radius: 4px; color: rgb(42, 42, 196); padding: 1px 8px; font-size: 11px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: anywhere; user-select: none; box-sizing: inherit;">First name, We can&#39;t wait to see you at our 7th Annual PDA North America Conference. This ticket is to attend the conference virtually only. (In person tickets sold separately.) Below are the Zoom links for each day. Please note that each day has a different Zoom.&nbsp; Friday, February 27, 2026Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/83853441473?pwd=RBCTgFOMNy9mtbzB34n9BaSsu6xUYb.1 Meeting ID: 838 5344 1473Passcode: 292672 Thursday, March 5, 2026Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/88175423664?pwd=mrJuH45tueyU1hEyJi3ycZKKp8iQkk.1 Meeting ID: 881 7542 3664Passcode: 225293 Friday, March 6, 2026Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/88036263527?pwd=t9I5bDZa52TlDIuz7zHEToXyggjLXU.1 Meeting ID: 880 3626 3527Passcode: 671568 If you have any questions leading up to the conference, please email <a fr-original-style="" href="mailto:info@pdanorthamerica.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">info@pdanorthamerica.org</a> Thank you,The PDA North America Team

7th Annual 3-Day PDA North America Conference Virtual Conference DetailsPlease register each attendee separately. Enter the name and email of the person who will attend, not the billing contact, so the attendee receives all event communications. All times are listed in US Central ♦ Friday, Feb 27th - PDA Health &amp; Wellness 9:30am - 4:30pm - All Virtual Audience Speakers &amp; Topics: <ul><li>Emelda “E” De Coteau - PDA-Informed Mindfulness for Caregivers</li><li>Laura Hellfeld - Supporting PDAers in Self-Care and Everyday Life</li><li>Melissa Houser, M.D. - Everything is Connected to Everything: Improving the Health of Autistic, ADHD, and PDA Patients through the Lifespan</li><li>Kelsie “Mick” Olds - Feeling All The Feelings: Regulation &amp; Interoception</li><li>PDA Conversations with Young PDAers</li></ul> ♦ Thursday, March 5th - The PDA Experience 9:30am - 3:30pm - Hybrid audience Virtual - streamed Live from Skokie, IL outside Chicago Speakers &amp; Topics: <ul><li>Diane Gould, LCSW, Executive Director of PDANA, Melissa McKenzie Ph.D. &amp; Michelle Kleinmann - The PDA Experience 2025 Research Survey Review</li><li>Jennifer I. Huffman, PhD, ABPdN - Unlocking the Power of the PDA Brain</li><li>Rabbi Shoshana Meira Friedman - The PDA Safe Circle: A Deep Dive Introduction and Workshop</li></ul> ♦ Friday, March 6th - Making it All Work 9:30am - 5:00pm - Hybrid audience Virtual - streamed Live from Skokie, IL outside Chicago Speakers &amp; Topics: <ul><li>Sunita Kapahi Theiss - Attachment, Autonomy, and a Little Bit of Chaos: Parenting PDA as a Neurodivergent Mom</li><li>Zach Morris, M.Ed. - Demystifying Learning for PDAers of All Ages</li><li>Live Conversations with various PDA-Affirming Professionals</li><li>Lauren Brown - Adulting with PDA while Parenting PDA</li></ul> There will be additional structured opportunities to network and discuss important topics for virtual attendees during lunch times.  Ticket sales will remain open until February 20, 2026, at 5:00pm central, or until capacity is reached, whichever occurs first. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1768419837/wysiwyg/wfdr3y8bfrngbb3uanha.png" style="width:600px;display:block;vertical-align:top;margin:5px auto;text-align:center;cursor:pointer;padding:0px 1px;user-select:none;position:relative;box-sizing:inherit;max-width:100%" /><a href="https://www.neurodiverseinstitute.com/" target="_blank">Neurodiverse Institute</a> - Platinum Sponsor<a href="https://helpandhealingcenter.com/" target="_blank">Help &amp; Healing Center PLLC</a> - Gold Sponsor<a href="https://loftyangels.com/" target="_blank">Lofty Angels</a> - Gold Sponsor

PDA North America

7th Annual PDA North America Conference: Virtual

Ticket - Virtual

$375