E-newsletter: August 2024
ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia (ECNV)
The Mission of ECNV is to empower people with disabilities to live independently.
Learn About August Celebrations and Awareness Highlights
All Month: Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month (video)
08/17/24: National Nonprofit Day
08/21/24: National Senior Citizens Day
ECNV Participates in 2024 NCIL Conference
ECNV is thrilled to announce its participation in the 2024 NCIL Conference on Independent Living, which took place July 22 to 25 in Washington, DC, this year's conference theme was "Back to the Future."
The event had a lineup of 25 in-person workshops, offering opportunities for learning and networking. ECNV staff eagerly attended these sessions, gaining valuable insight into the latest developments in independent living and disability rights. We look forward to implementing the knowledge and connections gained at this great event to future our mission of empowering people with disabilities to live interdependently.
Be on the lookout for photos and updates!
Welcome Starr Robertson, Our New Manager of Independent Living Services
Starr Robertson has joined ECNV as our new Manager of Independent Living Services. Starr brings over 20 years of direct service experience with people with disabilities, seniors, children, and families to ECNV. Most recently Starr served as the Pathways to Success Coordinator with Employ Prince George's, a successful community re-entry program for individuals returning to the community from incarceration. Starr led the program, managed the budget, and supervised a team of six+ staff, in addition to her own caseload of 218 individuals. Her career has also included 12 years as a Senior Services Coordinator with Alexandria Redevelopment & Housing Authority and 2 years as a Vocational Rehab Counselor. Welcome Starr!!
ECNV’s new RACE (Realizing Arlington’s Commitment to Equity) to Rebuilding Trust and Community
One of our newest projects at ECNV intends to attack racial inequity along with a significant, but often invisible group facing discrimination, stigma, and inequity: Arlingtonians with disabilities+ other marginalized BIPOC/immigrant/socioeconomic identities.
Back to School Preparation
Tips and resources for students with disabilities as they prepare for the upcoming school year.
The transition from summer break back to school can be tough for everyone; but for families of children with disabilities concerns about the back-to-school transition can be even more intensified.
Back to School: Freedom to Travel the Metro
ECNV’s Travel Training program can help you travel independently! With a bit of orientation and training, you can plan trips, use transit safely, and enjoy more freedom. To join our program, you need a Disability Reduced Fare, Metro Access, or Senior Smart Trip card (for those 65+). Don’t have one? We’ll help you apply. If you’re new to ECNV, we’ll also help set independent living and travel goals. Partnering with WMATA, we offer individualized training on using Metro Rail, Metro Bus, and local bus systems. Contact ECNV to sign up and start your journey to travel independence!
Aging Solo is Back!
Registration for the Fall session for our wildly popular Aging Solo course is officially open! ECNV can help you put your plans in place! The Aging Solo 6-Week Workshop series is a national, award-winning online learning opportunity designed to help you take charge of your aging. As we get older, health decision-making and end-of-life planning becomes inevitable. Aging Solo will help you reflect on your priorities, map out your support network, and think of the many plans you need to put into place now.
Please register to save your spot and get access to all course materials including the participant workbook and the recordings of each session. There is no fee to participate. Classes start Monday, September 30, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. EST., and will run through November 7, 2024.
If you have any questions please reach out to info@ecnv.org , or call 703-525-3268.
Summer Youth Training Series
Virtual sessions for Virginia students with disabilities (ages 14-22)
REGISTER HERE: bit.ly/4eY4jqf
August 15: Building Self-Advocacy Skills - Self-advocacy (speaking up for yourself) is important for students with disabilities. Letting others know your likes, dislikes, hopes, dreams, and fears plays a part in planning for life after high school. Join us for a live Zoom training to learn ways to use your self-advocacy skills and to prepare for the future you want!
August 22: Planning for Your Future - Do you have an Individualized Education Program (IEP)? Learn how to become involved in your IEP meeting. You are the focus of your IEP and we want to help you feel comfortable in participating in your IEP meetings. Nothing about you without you! Join us for this live Zoom meeting to learn different ways that you can work with your team to plan for your future.
These sessions are for youth participants. They will be held via Zoom and will not be recorded.
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ECNV Youth Programs and Support
Read about our programs and supports aimed to empower youth with disabilities to lead fulfilling lives, pursue their aspirations, and actively participate in their communities.
Check Out ECNV's Cool Swag Available on Zazzle
Support ECNV by purchasing and wearing some of our unique clothes and accessories with the ECNV logo. There are lots of choices and five percent of the proceeds go back to ECNV to continue the awesome and meaningful work we all are doing for disability advocacy and justice in the northern Virginia area.
COVID-19 Test Kits
Do you require a COVID test kit? ECNV is a COVID test kit supplier for individuals and organizations. For inquiries, please reach out us at info@ecnv.org
ECNV Upcoming Calendar
ECNV Around Town
Vaccines for All!
During the month of July, ECNV has continued with its community vaccination campaign and distribution of COVID-19 home tests in Northern Virginia, thus fulfilling the mission of caring for diverse communities, guaranteeing access to vaccines and being able to access them for free COVID-19 home tests. In addition to these activities, ECNV also participated in other events related to our mission.
Rosalia presents at USAging Conference
On July 8-11, 2024, Rosalia Fajardo, presented for a panel at the USAging Conference on "Reaching Diverse and Hard-to-Reach Communities With Vaccinations" focusing on ACL's Vaccine Uptake Initiative. Her presentation was called: “Why One Size Does Not Fit All -Outreach to Diverse Aging populations.”
UnidosUS Conference
On July 15-17, 2024, ECNV's Director of Disability Equity Strategic Partnerships, Rosalia Fajardo attended UnidosUS, at the MGM Grand in
Las Vegas! UnidosUS, previously known as NCLR (National Council of La Raza) is the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization. Through our unique combination of expert research, advocacy programs, and an Affiliate Network of nearly 300 community-based organizations across the United States and Puerto Rico, UnidosUS simultaneously challenges the social, economic, and political barriers that affect Latinos at the national and local levels.
2024 NCIL Conference
On Monday, July 22, 2024, Doris Ray, ECNV Director of Advocacy and Tony Coelho, the visionary architect of the Americans with Disabilities Act and former California US House of Representatives at the NCIL Conference in DC! #NCILConference2024
2024 NCIL Conference - Awards Luncheon
ECNV staff at the NCIL Conference, Tuesday, July 23, 2024. It is an empowering experience that reinforces our commitment to fostering an inclusive community. #ncilconference2024 #ECNV
ECNV Presenting at NCIL
On Wednesday, July 24, 2024, our Executive Director, Dominique Dunford-Lack, and our Director of Disability Equity & Strategic Innovation, Cherie Takemoto, who sat on panels at the NCIL Conference. #ncilconference2024
Explore our Newsletter Archive to access all of our current and past newsletters!
Be on the lookout for a distinct "Be in the Know" email, which will be distributed within the next few weeks.