Making the World of ITP a more manageable place to be! 

PDSA is a 501 (c)3 organization. Contributions are tax deductible to the extent of the law. PDSA is eligible for corporate matching programs. PDSA receives NO federal funding.

OUR MISSION: The Platelet Disorder Support Association is dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and other platelet disorders through education, advocacy, research and support.

A diagnosis of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) leaves patients, caregivers and loved ones frightened, confused, angry and feeling alone. Medical professionals not accustomed to treating ITP patients often times become perplexed and frustrated in treating the disease. There is NO CURE for ITP so proper management of the symptoms that can abruptly rob an individual from his or her life is crucial. PDSA is the premier ITP education and support resource for all individuals involved in the treatment, management and life with ITP. 

EDUCATION 

Website 

PDSA.org contains more than 200 pages of FREE information, featuring the most current ITP research and news. Each month, PDSA.org receives 40,000 - 50,000 visitors from 130 countries. 

Patient Booklets & Articles 

• 18 patient booklets
• 6 available in Spanish and 3 available in French
• Partnership with Health Monitor Network producing the patient Guide to ITP distributed to medical institutions and hematology offices across the U.S.
• Numerous Medical Articles 

All booklets are distributed free at local support group meetings, medical meetings and conferences, are available by mail and downloadable at PDSA.org. 

Newsletter 

PDSA’s quarterly newsletter The Platelet News is a comprehensive publication for PDSA members with the latest research and recommendations for treatment and improved health for ITP patients. The newsletter’s 28 pages include reports from our annual meeting, advocacy meetings and annual hematology conferences and provides updates on PDSA support groups around the U.S. and in Canada, and shares fundraising news, patients’ letters and stories, and other pertinent news. 

E-News 

PDSA’s complimentary online newsletter is distributed to more than 17,000 constituents each month and features current ITP related news, general health information and provides resources to patients, families and medical professionals. 

Annual Meeting

Each year, PDSA hosts the three day national ITP Conference featuring the latest information and research on ITP. For many ITP patients, this is the first time they are able to meet others with the disease and speak with the world’s top researchers and medical experts on immune thrombocytopenia. 

SUPPORT

The ITP Network: Building Strength through Support. Advancing Advocacy through Education.

PDSA’s ITP Support Network is a volunteer-driven movement focused on empowering ITP patients through education, support and dedication to raising public awareness for the most common bleeding disorder unknown to most.
ITP affects 10 times as many people as hemophilia.

Support Groups

• 37 local support groups (including 2 in Canada)
• 1 Teleconference Support Group for Parents of Children with ITP
• 1 Teleconference Support Group for Canadian Patients and Loved Ones 

Support Group Facilitator Workshop

Yearly training offered at ITP Conference to current facilitators and those interested in starting a group. 

Online Discussion Group and Chat Room

Available to adults with ITP, teens with ITP, parents of children with ITP, and ITP and pregnancy with thousands of visitors each day. 

Social Networking

• More than 10,000 Facebook Friends
• More than 12,000 YouTube & Vimeo Video Views

Patient Support and Referral Service

Trained staff answer more than 5,000 calls/emails each year, providing information on ITP and available treatments, and offering assistance in locating a hematologist. 

Audi Gerstein Scholarship

PDSA’s Audi Gerstein Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to senior high school students and college students who are suffering from ITP or a similar platelet disorder. 

Poke-R Club for Kids with ITP

Clinical support programs for children in hematology/oncology units are primarily designed for children with cancer or other bleeding disorders. The ITP POKE~R CLUB program was developed to empower children with ITP by alleviating the fears and anxieties associated with treatments, needlephobias and managing the disease. The program is available to PDSA members in the U.S.

View our most recent Annual Report here    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visit PDSA.org for a complete look at how we help make the World of ITP a more manageable place to be!