About Us

Our Organization

PEATC is committed to reaching all families, schools, and communities to improve outcomes for students with disabilities.

Our Mission

Building positive futures by empowering individuals with disabilities through education and training. We accomplish this by offering:

  • Services and support for families and professionals
  • Easy-to-understand, research-based information and training
  • Opportunities for strategic partnerships and advocacy for systemic improvement

Our Vision

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

Our Values

  • Families are children’s first and best teachers.
  • Information and training enrich and empower families and professionals to build strong partnerships.
  • All children deserve opportunities to live, learn, and participate fully in their communities.
  • Children with disabilities can achieve independence and make valuable contributions to society.

Our History

The Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC) is the parent information and training center serving families and professionals of children with disabilities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. PEATC promotes respectful, collaborative partnerships between parents, schools, professionals, and the community to increase the success of students with disabilities.

PEATC began its proud history of building partnerships to create improved educational opportunities for children with special needs with one family, one child, and a courageous school administrator. In 1970, the parents of Danny Chitwood approached Win Anderson, the Director of Resurrection Preschool, about the possibility of allowing their son with disabilities to attend classes with the other students at their school. Following Danny’s successful inclusion, Win and the Chitwoods were inundated with questions from other families who wanted information about advocating for their children under IDEA, the new special education law.

Responding to this pressing need, Win Anderson and Steve Chitwood began a journey that ultimately touched the lives of thousands of families through the creation of PEATC. Founded in August of 1978 as a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, PEATC has become a leader in special education, training, and advocacy to families and professionals throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond.

We earned a 2023 Platinum Seal of Transparency! Learn more about our organization’s impact on our Nonprofit Profile on Guidestar.org.