2025 PEATC Parent and Youth Empowerment (PYE) Summit

PEATC is pleased to announce the 2025 Parent and Youth Empowerment (PYE) Summit on Saturday, September 6, 2025. This event is designed for Virginia high school students (ages 14-22) receiving special education IEP services and their parents!

Accepted Summit participants will engage in both large group sessions and separate breakout sessions for parents and students.

Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to visit with a variety of statewide disability-related exhibitors and learn about their services and resources.

This Summit aims to empower participants to better prepare for life after high school.

Interactive Youth breakouts will allow students to build their self-advocacy skills, create goals for their future, and learn about pathways to reach their goals.

Parent breakouts will cover topics such as SSI, Medicaid Waivers, Employment Supports, financial future planning, and much more. These sessions will empower parents with knowledge that leads to better outcomes for their students.

Registration priority: Spaces will fill quickly, and you may be placed on a waitlist.

• July 7, 2025 – Registration opens for 1st-time attendees
• July 22, 2025 – Registration opens for all if spaces are still available

Cancellation Policy - Cancellations by accepted participants are non-refundable (including fees and any extra meal vouchers that were purchased).

The $35 registration fee will be refunded after the event to those accepted participants who attend the Summit in its entirety and meet the requirements of the event.
The registration fee INCLUDES:

• Summit admission for high school students who are receiving special education IEP services (ages 14-22) and parents/guardians. (At least one adult and the high school students are required to attend the ENTIRE Summit).
  
• Breakfast and lunch for registered attendees of the Summit. (Families have the option to pay for meal vouchers for family members joining them at the Great Wolf Lodge, but who are not attending the Summit).
  
• One-night hotel accommodations for Friday, September 5, 2025. Rooms sleep up to 6 people (2 beds and a pull-out couch). Room upgrades are NOT available. Rooms include up to six water park passes.

A limited number of additional hotel rooms for Saturday, September 6, 2025, will be available for a cost of $65 (paid by participants and NOT refundable for any reason).

Event details:

8:00 am – 8:45 am: Registration Pick-Up (do this no later than 8:45 am)

8:00 am – 8:45 am: Breakfast and Vendor Visits

8:50 am: Summit Kick-Off (main conference room)

9:45 am: Youth Breakout Sessions Begin

9:45 am: Parent Breakout Sessions Begin

12:00 noon: Lunch (All Attendees Together)

1:00 pm: Youth Breakout Sessions Resume

1:00 pm: Parent Breakout Sessions Resume

2:15 pm: Summit Concludes

This event is for Virginia residents only!
Spaces are limited.
You must receive a confirmation from the PEATC office to attend this event. Additionally, you are required to have at least one high school student who is receiving special education IEP services (ages 14-22) and one parent/guardian attending the entire Summit.

Please make childcare arrangements for youth/children who are NOT attending the Summit. Children under the age of 14 and/or children who are not receiving special education IEP services are not permitted to attend the Summit and must have a parent/caregiver with them at all times while at the Great Wolf Lodge.

Contact PEATC at 703-923-0010 or [email protected] with any questions. DO NOT CONTACT THE GREAT WOLF LODGE DIRECTLY.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Great Wolf Lodge, 549 East Rochambeau Drive, Williamsburg, United States