PDAers are a unique community of people and so it makes sense that our sleep and sleep priorities differ from other people. This workshop will look at common PDA traits and how these are our foundation blocks to creating sleep support. Attendants will be encouraged to help answer the question ‘what should sleep look like’ and ‘do PDAers have bedtime routines?’. We will also look at the most commonly reported sleep challenges and how our tailored support will address regulation and mental health needs.

Goals of the Workshop:
- Clarify PDA traits that impact bedtime routines and sleep
- Solidify a family’s priorities about sleep and bedtime
- Support a young person’s sleep in a way that validates their needs
- Rethink some traditional sleep training methods and why they don’t work for PDAers
- Remove anxiety and power struggles associated with sleeping
- Improve the young persons and parents overall mental health

Laura Hellfeld is the nurse behind Laura the Neurodivergent Nurse. She is an Autistic, PDA and ADHD Health Care Professional, consultant and advocate.

Her education includes a Masters in Nursing (RN, MSN), licensure in Public Health Nursing (PHN) and a certification as a Sleep Consultant.

True to her neurotype, Laura enjoys the diversity of people and settings that she is working with. She supports individuals and families for more personalized care and also runs a variety of group workshops.

In addition, Laura works with a number of charities and businesses in order to provide staff training and/or education events for their members.

Facebook: facebook.com/LauratheNeurodivergentNurse

Email: [email protected]