0%

Youth & Family Summit 2026 Waitlist Application

Waitlist applications are now being accepted! You will be informed if you have been accepted off the waitlist by April 10, 2026.
 
The Youth & Family Summit is sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education. Parent(s)/guardian(s) must attend with student(s) under age 18. All costs associated with lodging and meals are covered. Applications must be completed by the student requesting to attend. Only completed applications will be reviewed.
 
Event Details
When: June 9-11, 2026 (Tuesday-Thursday)
Where: James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA
Who: Virginia youth with disabilities ages 14-18 (as of June 9, 2026) and accompanying parent/guardian. There are no exceptions to the age requirement.
What: We are in the second year of a multi-year series on the 3 elements of I'm Determined - Competence, Autonomy and Relatedness (CAR). This year's theme and focus will be Relatedness.
Waitlist Closes: Tuesday, March 31, 2026 by midnight

Waitlist applications will be reviewed and acceptance letters will be emailed on or before April 10, 2026. Completing this application does not guarantee you a spot at the 2026 Youth & Family Summit.

Before completing this application, we highly encourage you and your family to review the information on our website here or contact us at imdeterminedcenter@jmu.edu.
Please review these instructions before filling out a waitlist application.

This application contains questions at the end that must be filled out by the youth and the parent/guardian both - one set for youth and one set for families. Please answer the questions in as much detail as possible so that we can get to know you better. These questions are used to evaluate applications and decide on participant acceptance based on youth voice, completeness of answers and individual experiences. Including examples to help explain answers is recommended.


All youth questions should be answered by the youth who is applying. Having your answers ready ahead of time will allow you to apply much faster. While preparing ahead of time is optional, we recommend that you prepare your answers in one of two ways:
 
  1. If you are going to write your answers: Type your answers in a word processing document, save it, and then copy and paste your answers into the form so that you have a back-up copy available.
  2. If you are going to record your answers: Record video or audio of yourself answering the questions. Save the recording, and upload it to an online storage folder (such as Google Drive or Dropbox). Copy the sharing link, and paste that link into the answer box on this form. You can use 1 recording for all of your answers, or you can do separate recordings for each question. Each question has a 3-minute limit, so think carefully about how you want to answer the question!
Youth Application Questions:

If this will be your first I'm Determined Summit at JMU, you will answer these questions:
  1. What do you hope to learn or gain from attending the Summit? Tell us about it briefly.
  2. This year's theme focuses on Relatedness and belonging. Our Youth Leaders define Relatedness as: Feeling at home in your community while building supportive relationships to share your strengths and needs. What does this theme mean to you?
  3. How do your family and educators help you express your voice in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process?
  4. What are some examples of relationships that have helped you accomplish and attain your goals?
  5. Share a moment when you felt truly connected to a team or group you were a part of. What made that experience special?

If you attended a previous I'm Determined Summit at JMU, you will answer these questions:
  1. What’s one thing you learned at the previous Summit(s) that you have applied into your life since attending?
  2. Relatedness has been a part of the themes over the past several Summits. How have you boosted your sense of connection with others and how has it impacted your school or personal life?
  3. How have you shared your voice during your Individualized Education Program (IEP) process? What have you done that is new or different since last year?
  4. Can you recall a time when you wanted to feel more connected to others? What could they have done to help you feel a stronger sense of belonging and relatedness?
  5. Share a time when you supported someone in your class, on your team or in the community to strengthen your connection. What actions did you take to help them feel included or connected?


Parent/Guardian Application Questions:

If this will be your first I'm Determined Summit at JMU, you will answer these questions:
  1. This Summit is all about helping youth take charge of their own lives and speak up for themselves (self-determination). What do you currently believe that means for your youth?
  2. What are the top two skills or strategies you hope to learn at the Summit to better support your youth's ability to advocate for themselves and build social connections ("Relatedness")? 

If you attended a previous I'm Determined Summit at JMU, you will answer these questions:
  1. Tell us about one success you've had since your the last Summit you attended. How did you and your youth use an I'm Determined tool (like the One-Pager or Goal Plan) to make a real difference in their life?
  2. Thinking about the 2026 Summit theme of "Relatedness," what is one new thing you hope to achieve this year to help your youth better connect with others and speak up for themselves?


If you are ready to begin the application, click the "start" button below.