07/22/2026
Community is at the heart of everything we do, and the inaugural Brave Buddies event was a wonderful example of what can happen when organizations come together with a shared purpose.
A heartfelt thank you to the Autism Society Tidewater VA for serving as a collaborative partner and helping bring this vision to life. Your commitment to supporting autistic individuals and their families continues to strengthen our community.
Thank you to Connecting The Steps, LLC for being our first-ever Big Buddy Sponsor. Your generosity helped make this inaugural event possible, and we’re grateful for your investment in building safer, more inclusive communities.
We also extend our sincere appreciation to the Cpl. Matt
Youth Services Division and all of the officers and volunteers who spent the day engaging with our families. Your willingness to build relationships through play helps create trust and understanding long before an emergency ever occurs.
To the families who joined us, thank you for being part of the beginning of something special. We can’t wait to welcome you back for future Brave Buddies events!
First responders: We’d love to have you join us at an upcoming event. Your participation makes a lasting difference.
Families: Stay connected with Destination Family Services for announcements about future Brave Buddies events and opportunities to build confidence, connection, and community together.
06/18/2026
BRAVE BUDDIES: PLAY. CONNECT. EXPLORE.
Destination Family Services, the Autism Society Tidewater VA , and the Virginia Beach Police Department Youth Services Unit are excited to introduce Brave Buddies, a unique play group designed for children with Autism ages 4–8.
Through interactive play, sensory-friendly activities, and positive engagement with first responders, children will have the opportunity to build confidence, familiarity, and trust in a fun and supportive environment.
July 21
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
3509 Virginia Beach Blvd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23453
Interactive Play Activities
Meet & Play with VBPD Youth Services Officers
Sensory-Friendly Environment
Explore Police Equipment & Vehicles
Safe, Supportive Community Connections
FREE for participants!
Space is limited to 15 participants per play date, so early registration is encouraged.
A special thank you to our sponsors and community partners whose support helps keep this program FREE for families.
Interested in attending or sponsoring future Brave Buddies events?
Contact [email protected] and visit our website www.TidewaterASA.org
06/03/2026
📣 Registration for 2026 Virtual Family Engagement Summit is LIVE! 📣
Join PEATC, in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), invites you to the 2026 Virtual Family Engagement Summit: "Collaboration That Transforms Outcomes." This FREE virtual event brings together parents, caregivers, educators, and community partners who share a common goal - helping students with disabilities succeed in school and in life.
Participants will
➡️ Hear from inspiring speakers sharing practical tips, real-life experiences, and fresh ideas
➡️ Learn strategies for building stronger partnerships between families, schools, and communities
➡️ Explore resources and supports available to students with disabilities and their families
➡️ Engage in meaningful conversations
➡️ Leave with tools, ideas, and actionable takeaways
Together, we can build stronger relationships, improve communication, and create better outcomes for children and youth with disabilities.
📅August 22, 2026
🕓9:00 a.m. - 2:50 p.m. EST
Register here: go.peatc.org/26FESummit
04/02/2026
On World Autism Awareness Day, we'd like to remind Virginians of our ✉️ Blue Envelope Program. ✉️
Blue envelopes inform police officers that a driver is on the spectrum. This can inform the officer and help decrease the stressfulness of interactions between individuals with autism and the police.
They also act as a storage place for all the resources that the driver may need in the case of an interaction.
Envelopes are available at DMV Customer Service Centers across Virginia.
