PARENT EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY TRAINING CENTER

Our Organization        PEATC is Virginia’s parent education, support, training and information center committed to helping children with disabilities, their families and the professionals who serve them.

Our Mission               To build better futures for children with disabilities by working collaboratively with families, schools and professionals who serve them, to improve opportunities for excellence in education and
success in school and community life.

                              We accomplish this by offering:

·        Services and support for families and professionals

·        Experienced-based program development and training curriculum

·        Easy-to-understand, research-based disability education, information, training and support

Our Vision                 To be a nationally recognized leader in the development,
communication and dissemination of state-of-the-art disability
education, training, outreach and support services for children
with disabilities, their families and the professionals who serve them.

Our Values                 PEATC believes:

·        All children deserve opportunities to live, learn and participate fully in their communities.

·        Families are children’s first and best teachers.

·        Information and training enrich and empower families and professionals to build strong partnerships.

·        Children with disabilities can achieve independence and
 make valuable contributions to society with the right supports.

PEATC helps families . . . . . 

·        Understand special education in simple, easy-to-understand language

·        Better communicate their child’s needs (from birth to age 22)

·        Get needed services for their children

·        Develop self-advocacy and self-determination in children and youth

·        Organize information so that overwhelming problems become manageable

·        Manage their emotions for their child’s benefit and talk so others will listen

·        Learn the difference between effective advocacy and being adversarial

·        Experience and enjoy the power of partnerships and successful collaboration

PEATC helps professionals .  .  .  .  . 

·        Understand the strengths and dreams families have for their children

·        Provide more effective and innovative services

·        Learn the power of partnerships and enjoyment of successful collaboration   

Our History                PEATC was one of the first parent training and information centers

in the nation, and is the federal government’s choice to serve the

needs of children with disabilities throughout Virginia.  Since 1978, PEATC has been committed to promoting active partnerships

between parents and professionals. These partnerships continue to

lead to positive results for children with disabilities.

Our Staff                    PEATC staff and board of directors are caring and responsive individuals who are also parents of children with disabilities, individuals with disabilities and/or professionals who serve them.

Our Outreach             PEATC is committed to reaching all families, including traditionally underserved, rural and low-income populations and those families

that do not know how their effective involvement can make a difference.  Outreach efforts include program support for African-American and Latino populations across the Commonwealth. 

Se habla español.

Our Products              In addition to our services and support for families and

 & Services                  professionals, we develop and disseminate nationally-recognized, innovative products and services in disability education.  Products

include: national models in training and assessment tools, guides

and curriculum, current, easy-to-read, leading-edge publications, videos, a comprehensive website with exciting online resources

and a free quarterly newsletter, the PEATC Press, as well as

diverse workshops and conferences on the following topics:

                                    Special Education                                Disability-Specific Issues          

                                    Cultural Competency                           Transition (School to Adult Life)

                                   Parent/School Communication            Literacy

                                   Early Intervention                               Juvenile Justice

                                    Inclusion                                              Comprehensive Services Act

Managed Health Care                         Foster Care         

Help Make a               Individuals/Corporate Supporters

 Difference                  PEATC is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. 

We welcome your contributions of time, expertise, in-kind services or financial resources.  Please call or visit us at: www.peatc.org.