Join us on Jan. 9th at 1pm CST for a Live Q&A Session: Navigating Sibling Dynamics with PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance)

About Cheryl: Cheryl Quimba is the mother of a 7 year old and a 10 year old PDAer and has dedicated herself to understanding PDA for the last 5 years. She is the founder of What Helps, a resource dedicated to supporting those navigating Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), OCD/Scrupulosity, and creating families of felt safety. With a Bachelor of Science in Pastoral Counseling and certifications in PDA (Level 1, PDA North America; Level 3, NEST UK), she uses transformative insights to provide practical resources and guidance. Cheryl is a consultant, author, and speaker who has shared her expertise at conferences, on Portland’s KATU 2 Afternoon Live, and in various community settings.

We invite all dads & male caregivers of PDAers to join us for this very special webinar/discussion with adult PDAer, PJ Starling. PJ sits on our board and has led various presentations for us over the years. This will be a safe space for all male caregivers to join PJ for a brief presentation and open dialog about the challenges of parenting PDA as a male caregiver.

Do to the nature of this being focused on open discussion, and for the privacy of others, we will not be recording this event.

About PJ: PJ “Starling” Letourneau is a passionate advocate for neurodiverse humans. He writes a weekly-ish newsletter where he unpacks his life experience, and attempts to articulate the deeper gifts imbued in those with the PDA profile. He has a graduate degree in computational physics, and has had a 20+ year career as a software developer. He now focuses on launching early stage tech startups who can leverage his multi-passionate skills in science and computing. PJ has formal training in technical post-mortem investigation, where he works with high-performing teams to uncover important learnings from unexpected system failures.

Having only recently discovered his PDA nature in his early forties, PJ has since developed a special interest in healing the cumulative nervous system dysregulation at the core of the PDA profile. He follows closely the scientific research uncovering differences in the way the autistic body regulates itself and sends signals to the brain. PJ has developed his own cannabis microdosing protocol for nervous system health, and became a certified medicinal cannabis coach in 2023.

In addition to his work in tech, PJ works as an empathetic, non-judgemental group facilitator. He co-leads a weekly mens’ group in Vancouver, where he helps to hold space for men to explore and understand their emotions and relationships. He can often be found presenting and facilitating discussion at the PDANA webinars.

PDA North America Training Program – Level 2

Join us on January 24th for the Level 2 PDA North America Training Program created by team of autistic experts. This course was created for professionals only. Led by Diane Gould, Founder of PDANA and LCSW, Zach Morris, Education Consultant & Homeschool Advisor, and Sandra McConnell, Certified PDA Trainer and Parent Consultant.

In this training we will discuss anecdotal cases and/or students and give you an activity to complete during your training.

The training will take place via Zoom and will NOT be recorded. All ticket purchasers must attend this live in order to receive the certificate of completion.

Join us for a webinar with Amy Fox, Director of Online Programs, Big Minds Unschool on January 30, 2025 at 7:00pm central.

Navigating schooling with a PDA-profile student can be a source of anxiety and even trauma for parents and students alike. Amy will share practical tips and parent empowerment strategies for supporting your wonderful students and the development of their differently wired brains.

This will be recorded and sent to you after the event within 48hrs.

BIO: 

In addition to being a lifelong educator in a variety of environments, Amy has raised 4 neurodivergent, 2e, PDA kiddos to adulthood. In her current role as director of the online division of a small, dynamic school for 2e students she has developed a deep understanding of the needs of people experiencing PDA and the families who love them. Amy believes that the most important mission of any school comes from the students themselves.

Are you new to learning about PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance/Persistent Drive for Autonomy)?  Want a refresher on what PDA is and how to best accommodate it? Are you a teacher or practitioner looking to learn more about a learner or client?

You’ve found the right place. This is a monthly webinar led by PDA North America founder and licensed therapist, Diane Gould and adult PDAer, Brook Madera of No Pressure PDA. This webinar is for families, individuals and professionals who have recently heard of PDA (pathological demand avoidance) and want to know more. Diane & Brook will do a 75 minute long presentation and answer questions at the end should time allow. Participants are also welcome to attend our regular monthly webinars.

Held the first Thursday each month for 90 minutes at 7:00PM CST. Registration is required. This webinar will be recorded and available to all after the live event. $15 suggested donation.

Join us on February 20, 2025 at 7:00pm central for a webinar with Cheryl Quimba, Founder & Consultant: What Helps, LLC

PDA can be challenging to understand, but using familiar, well-accepted concepts as lenses can lead to those “lightbulb moments” of clarity. These simple, easily digestible frameworks help shift assumptions and bring PDA into focus, making it easier for both families and professionals to truly grasp.

About Cheryl: Cheryl Quimba is the founder of WhatHelps, a resource dedicated to supporting those navigating Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), OCD/Scrupulosity, and creating families of felt safety. With a Bachelor of Science in Pastoral Counseling and certifications in PDA (Level 1, PDA North America; Level 3, NEST UK), she uses transformative insights to provide practical resources and guidance. Cheryl is a consultant, author, and speaker who has shared her expertise at conferences, on KATU 2 Afternoon Live, and in various community settings. https://www.whathelps.me/cheryl

Join us on February 27, 2025 at 7:00pm central for a webinar with Janine Michaelson, PMHNP-BC,  Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

For PDA, the use of medication is considered on a case-by-case basis. There isn’t a specific medication for PDA itself, but medication might be used to address associated symptoms or comorbid conditions such as anxiety, ADHD, or Mood Disorders. It’s important to approach medication as part of a comprehensive treatment plan, considering the unique needs and circumstances of the individual. Reviewing the types of medications available for managing PDA can be helpful in ensuring that treatment is tailored to each individuals’ specific needs and circumstances.

• Janine is out of network with insurances.
• She is virtual only
• She is licensed in MD, DC, VA, and MA.
• She offers medication management for clients ages 6+.

Join us virtually or in-person for our 6th annual PDA North America Conference with hundreds of others looking to deepen their understanding and support of PDA people. 

This conference is created for parents/caregivers & family members of PDA autistic individuals, professionals working with PDA people, and PDAers themselves.