Youth and Family Scholarship Application

In partnership with the Arizona Department of Health Services, Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Program, ADE/ESS is excited to be able to offer scholarships for Arizona youth and their families. Scholarships are available so that youth and young adults with disabilities and/or their family member/caregiver can attend Arizona’s 2026 IDEA Conference: Stronger Systems, Better Outcomes—for Every Student. This year’s conference will be held at the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort from August 18–20, 2026, with Preconference activities on August 17.

Who can apply for a scholarship:

• Youth/young adult between the ages of 14 and 26 who has a documented disability
• Family member of a student with an IEP or 504 Plan
• Caregiver who attends with a student or family member

Scholarships will cover the conference registration fee for each recipient as well as lodging and mileage for eligible recipients. 

ADE/ESS also partners with the Arizona Rehabilitation Services Administration/Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program to support registration scholarships for students with disabilities receiving Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS).

Additional, important information is listed in the application. A limited number of scholarships are available. All applications must be completed by Friday, May 29, 2026.

Applicant Eligibility:

• Applicants must be Arizona residents.
• Youth/young adults must be between the ages of 14 and 26 years who have a documented disability.
• Family members must be associated with a student/youth/young adult with an IEP or 504.
• Caregivers must attend with a student or family member.

Additional Considerations:

• Family members can attend the conference independent of their eligible student/youth/young adult.
• If applying as a caregiver (direct care provider, personal assistant, aide, para, etc.) , you must discuss your participation with the youth/young adult/family and also provide the name of the person you’re accompanying in the scholarship application.
• Childcare/respite is not provided.
• If applying as a school group, the names of all students and staff must be provided upon acceptance of your application.
• Children under the age of 14 are not permitted to attend the conference.
• Family groups are limited to three (3) people total.

Lodging and Mileage Reimbursement Eligibility:

• A credit/debit card will be required to secure your lodging reservation and to cover any incidentals at check-in.
• Only applicants who live 51 miles or farther from the event venue can request this component of the scholarship and must be willing to fill out a W-9 form.
• Lodging must not be booked independently and will only be paid when secured as instructed.

Scholarship Issuance and Requirements:

• The total number of scholarships awarded will be based on available space and offered to first-time participants on a first-come, first-served basis.
• In order to ensure that scholarship funding is fairly distributed, the number of scholarships offered per family may be limited at the discretion of ADE/ESS.
• Scholarship approval may be limited based on scholarship awards received by the applicant in prior years.
• In the event that requests for scholarships exceed available seats, your name may be placed on a waiting list.
• If your application is approved, you will also need to complete a registration acceptance form before you can attend the conference.
• A mandatory virtual meeting will be held prior to the conference for all approved scholarship youth, family members, and caregivers.

Special Notes:

• The conference will provide some meals on event days. A combination of breakfast, lunch, light dinner, and/or snacks will be offered depending on the schedule for the day.
• Scholarship recipients are responsible for the cost of food not provided by the conference.
• No childcare will be provided.
• This conference is for attendees of age 14 and over.
• Individuals and Family Groups: Scholarships may be awarded to single applicants or family groups of up to three (3) people total, covering all attendees listed in the application.
• School Groups: Schools must apply under the “School Group” category. These applications have different and broader limitations than individual or family applications.

To answer the below question, here is information on the Family Transition Navigation program with Diverse Ability Incorporated and Encircle Families. 

Groups traveling from 51 miles away or more from the event venue are eligible to receive lodging and/or mileage reimbursement at $0.67 per mile.

The conference venue:

Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort
7500 E. Doubletree Ranch Road
Scottsdale, AZ, 85258

Election of these benefits as part of your scholarship may require submitting additional forms, like a W-9, or other financial information related to reimbursements.

To answer the below question, here is information on Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS).

Copy the address above into this Google Maps link with a prepopulated desitination for the Grand Hyatt to calculate distance and provide the map link.