Parent/Caregiver Scholarships:
The Parent/Caregiver Scholarship is available to parent(s) and/or caregiver(s) of a child with an IEP or who receives Early Intervention (EI) services and meets certain qualifications.
These funds will be provided through the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN), the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and the Pennsylvania Bureau of Special Education.
The registration window is from March 30th, 2024, until May 30th, 2024. A link will be provided in this section beginning March 30th.
Scholarships will be granted on a first come first served basis, but with priority given to parent/caregiver scholarship recipients for the Children’s Institute. Eligible recipients are encouraged to apply as early as possible.
Notifications will be sent out by June 20th, 2024.
Scholarship Details and Eligibility
WHO QUALIFIES FOR A SCHOLARSHIP:
Pennsylvania residents whose children would benefit from conference content who have:
1. A school-age child with a current IEP.
OR
2. A child who receives Early Intervention (EI)
- Parents/Caregivers who have never previously received this scholarship or who have received it previously but not more than 2 years in a row.
- Parents/caregivers of children who receive Early Intervention services are eligible, regardless of whether they have attended in the past.
- Parents who are employed in a professional capacity as educators by any of the following: school, school district, charter school, or Intermediate Unit, (and eligible for professional development funds) and those employed by a Parent Training and Information Center (PTIC), Community Parent Resource Center (CPRC), or other federally- funded educational or advocacy organization are not eligible for a scholarship and should seek funding through their employer/organization.
- *"School-age" refers to children old enough to attend kindergarten, to students enrolled in high school until they turn 22 years old.
To receive professional credits, you must register as a “Pennsylvania Parent/Caregiver requesting professional credits.” If you are awarded a scholarship, you may receive travel reimbursement expenses for recipients traveling 50+ miles one way.
TYPES OF SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED (In-Person):
- Full scholarship - covers conference registration, lodging and travel expenses for qualified applicants.
- Lodging for full scholarship applicants traveling 50+ miles, one way
- Partial scholarship* - covers conference registration; does not include lodging.
Applicants who qualify for a full scholarship with lodging and travel expenses are encouraged to make their hotel arrangements immediately, as lodging accommodations become more limited as the conference date approaches. If you are notified that you have been granted a scholarship, a list of hotels with reserved blocks will be provided. Daily continental breakfast, lunch and snacks will be provided as part of the National Autism Conference. Receipts must be submitted for reimbursement.
Additionally, you must submit the session verification codes for a minimum of 75% of conference sessions to be eligible for reimbursement.
Travel expenses must be paid up-front by the parent scholarship recipient(s). Reimbursement is typically made 4-6 weeks after the conference.
Allowable expenses for reimbursement up to $1,200.00 per family (PA residents only):
- Complimentary conference registration for up to 2 parent(s)/caregivers(s).
- Lodging reimbursement during the conference if you live at least 50 miles from the conference location. A lodging receipt that shows your name and the amount you paid is required. Reimbursement up to $150 per night, for a maximum amount of $600.
- Mileage reimbursement if you live more than 50 miles away to be reimbursed at 67 cents per mile (or the current federal standard mileage rates at the time of the conference) and tolls. Maximum mileage reimbursement of $300.
- Meal reimbursement up to per diem expense that are NOT provided as part of the National Autism Conference. Per diem rate for each parent or caregiver is $59 per day. Alcohol is not reimbursed. (Continental breakfast, lunch and snacks are provided at the conference.)
- Priority for Children’s Institute spots will be given to parent scholarship recipients with children ages 6 weeks old to 22 years of age for all ability levels and their siblings. You do not need to complete a separate enrollment for the Children’s Institute at this time to be eligible for a Parent/Caregiver conference scholarship.
- Please note that online registration for the Children’s Institute opens March 30th, 2024 and closes May 30th, 2024
- If you are planning for your child(ren) to attend, you MUST register them during this enrollment window via the Children’s Institute page.
Interested in Being a Vendor?
Are you a small business owner with Autism? Do you have a small
business that supports individuals with Autism? If you would be
interested in securing a free space at the 2024 National Autism
Conference in Harrisburg on August 5-8, 2024; use the QR code
above to register or email: NACVendors@pattan.net
Vendor Application
Home2Suites
2450 Brindle Drive, Harrisburg
H2S NAC 2024 Link
Hampton Inn
4230 Union Deposit Rd, Harrisburg
Hampton Inn NAC 2024 Link
Holiday In Express
4021 Union Deposit Rd. Harrisburg
HIE Union Deposit Link
Holiday Inn Express
604 Station Rd. Grantville
HIE Grantville Link
* see instructions below
Indigo
765 Eisenhower Blvd. Harrisburg
Hotel Indigo Link
Red Lion Hotel
4751 Lindle Road, Harrisburg
Red Lion Hotel
Courtyard Marriott
725 Eisenhower Blvd.
Harrisburg. PA 17111
Book your corporate rate for PaTTAN
Sheraton
4650 Lindle Rd, Harrisburg, PA 17111
Book your corporate rate for PaTTAN
* Holiday Inn Express Grantville Booking Instructions – or call hotel ask for National Autism Conference group block
After they select their check in and check out date, they will click on the rate preference box and the Group Code is a section that says Group Code. They will enter the code XPA. Please put in the arrival dates of 8-4-2424 to departing 8-8-24