About Our Leadership Team

Destiny Pacha, Ed.D. is the president of EmpowerED Solutions, an organization dedicated to providing educational consulting, IEP advocacy, and support for families and professionals navigating the complex needs of children with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and other genetic disorders in school settings. Through EmpowerED Solutions, Dr. Pacha works closely with families to ensure children receive appropriate educational, behavioral, and health services, while also collaborating with professionals to improve awareness and best practices for supporting students with rare disorders. She is currently finalizing a parent training series set to be piloted in collaboration with the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (PWSA|USA).

In addition to her work with EmpowerED Solutions, Dr. Pacha is a faculty member at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, where she contributes to the PWS Lab within the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Online Department. Her research focuses on increasing awareness, fostering inclusion, and identifying best practices for educating children with PWS. She recently co-authored Prader-Willi Syndrome: A Primer for School Psychologists, published in Children and Youth Services Review.

Dr. Pacha is a sought-after speaker on PWS and its educational implications, frequently presenting at national conferences and offering training sessions to school districts. Recent presentations include PWS: An Intro for BCBAs and ABA Practitioners (Wisconsin Association for Behavior Analysis), Safety + Support = Success: Does Your Child’s IEP Add Up? (Foundation for Prader-Willi Research Family Conference), and Educational Implications of Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWSA|USA National Convention). She has also hosted webinars for parents of children with developmental delays, ensuring families have access to the latest research and advocacy strategies.

An active member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), Dr. Pacha is dedicated to empowering educators, families, and professionals to ensure children with PWS receive the support and inclusion they deserve. She previously served on the Board of Directors for Chance 2 Dance, an inclusive and accommodating dance studio, for five years and currently serves as an Advisory Board Member.

Dr. Pacha is also the author of It Starts With Hello: Katie’s Story About Prader-Willi Syndrome, the first and only children’s book about PWS. The book became a #1 Bestseller in Juvenile Nonfiction through IngramSpark and has received multiple accolades, including a Readers' Favorite Five-Star Review, First Place at The BookFest Awards in Children’s Learning & Education, and the International Impact Book Award in Children’s Education in December 2024.