E-newsletter: May 2023
In this Edition: Disability Community Mourns the Loss of Ed Weiss, ECNV’s I Am Self-Advocacy, and more!
Disability Community Mourns the Loss of Ed Weiss
By Ruchika Lalwani
The passing of Ed Weiss, an ECNV employee, friend, and advocate to the disability community is a great loss for all of us who knew him. Ed was not only a dedicated employee but also a passionate advocate for individuals with disabilities. He worked tirelessly to ensure that their voices were heard and their rights were protected.
Ways to Find Work
Thursday May, 18th
1:00-2:30PM
Are you looking for work but are not sure where to start? The Alexandria Workforce Development Center and the Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitation may be able to help. ECNV is hosting two introductory sessions about these public workforce assistance programs, especially for immigrants who are learning to navigate these systems.
Click here for Online Registration >>
ECNV Is Coming to Loudoun Disability Resource Fair!
There will be a Disability Resource Fair at Rust Library in Loudoun on Friday, May 12 from 10:00am - 4:00pm. ECNV will be participating!
Anyone with an interest in learning more about options for people with disabilities should attend!
NACA Homeownership: Take the First Step Toward Home Ownership
ECNV is partnering with NACA to provide a free homebuyer workshop. NACA is committed to helping the underserved build generation wealth through access to affordable mortgages and financial assistance. Register here
Money Matters: A five-part training series to help you understand how to manage your money.
ECNV is offering a new training series to help people with disabilities understand and manage money. Money Matters will help people understand what money is, how they can use it to pay for things they need, and how to decide what things are most important to pay for. This training will be perfect for you if you are a person with a disability who is learning how to live on your own and spend your own money.
Course schedule: June 7 – July 5 Wednesdays, 4-5pm
Click here for Online Registration >>
ECNV Receives Grant for Vaccination Outreach to Aging and Disability Communities
ECNV has funding from USAging’s Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative to continue our work to provide vaccinations for older adults and people with disabilities. This funding will allow us to distribute COVID-19 test kits at community outreach events and with our partners. We will also host COVID-19/flu vaccine clinics in partnership with Neighborhood Health and Giant Pharmacy. We are also delighted to be working with Loudoun Volunteer Caregivers who will help bolster our work in Loudoun County.
ECNV Upcoming Calendar
May 12 – TGIF Social Group at Delhi Dhaba, 2424 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201 from 5:00–7:00 pm*
May 17 – ECNV Board Meeting from 5:00 – 6:30 pm
May 19 – The ENDependents Social Group (virtual) from 4:00 – 6:00 pm*
*The social groups are run by ECNV Staff. These fun gatherings are a great time for connecting, sharing and often take place over a good meal. Perhaps you'll make a new friend, and with lots of pandemic mandates being lifted, it's a perfect time to come back out. For more information, contact Ruchika Lalwani
What’s Going On With RAMP?
The Virginia Ready to Achieve Mentoring Program (RAMP) is a career-focused mentoring program for students with disabilities, aged 14-22, funded through the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). The 8 students participating in this pilot year were referred by their DARS counselor from the Fairfax DARS office and have been busy learning about what careers they are interested in and what resources are out in their communities.
ECNV’s I Am Self-Advocacy Program: In-School Update and Spring Session 2023
ECNV has been busy offering 2 models of their I Am Self-Advocacy (IASA) Program, one virtual and one in-person. For those of you who aren’t familiar, the IASA Program is a Pre-Employment Transition Service (Pre-ETS) focused on helping students with disabilities, ages 14-22, hone their skills in self-advocacy through a combination of individual and group sessions. Funded by the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), this program is offered to students referred by the Fairfax, Alexandria, Leesburg, and Manassas DARS offices.
Be in the Know!
Here is news of interest for the disability community!
May Is a Busy Month!
May is a busy month with the celebrations for Mental Health Awareness, Better Hearing and Speech and also Older Virginians Month!
Disability and Mental Health
Connecting with others supports mental health and this is especially important for persons with disabilities. There are many support groups out there, but where can you find them? ECNV can help!
Stay happy, stay healthy!
Metro Access Fares Will Be Capped At $4!
For the first time, Metro Access fares will be capped at $4! ECNV has always played an active role in advocating for the rights of individuals who have disabilities in Northern Virginia and at state and federal levels.
Virginia June Primary Election!
Get your voting plan ready because the June Primary Election 2023 is right around the corner! Here are some important dates and other information to remember:
First day of in-person early voting at your local registrar's office: Friday, May 5, 2023.
Deadline to register to vote, or update an existing registration: May 30, 2023 (Voters may register after this date, through Election Day, and vote using a provisional ballot).
Deadline to apply for a ballot to be mailed to you: June 9, 2023. Your request must be received by your local voter registration office by 5:00 p.m.
The last day of in-person early voting at your local voter registration office: Saturday, June 17, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.
See who is on your ballot by viewing the candidate lists.
Register to vote or apply for an absentee ballot online using the Citizen Portal.
Sexual Health Resource Hub
The Arc of Harrisonburg and Rockingham partnered with the Disability-inclusive Sexual Health Network (DSHN) and The Arc of Augusta to release an accessible sexual health resource hub for those with IDD.
Sexual Victimization of I/DD Populations
Sexual Assault is a critical issue for the disability community, and particularly for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). While the statistics vary, people with I/DD are between 2-7 times more likely to be victims of sexual violence.
Dateability!
After years of facing discrimination and rejection due to her disability, co-founder Jacqueline Child, along with her sister created Dateability, the dating app designed for people with disabilities and chronic illness.
The Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023
On Wednesday, April 26, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2811, The Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023, which includes radical new work requirements for Medicaid enrollees in exchange for lifting the debt ceiling. This Medicaid benefit test will harmfully transform our country’s primary health care for people with disabilities, deepen health inequities experienced by people with disabilities, and do little to boost employment.
The Autism Society of America signed on to a letter along with more than 160 other disability and aging organizations urging Congress to not make cuts to Medicaid.
The Arc has posted a Call to Action!
Virginia Summer Camps for DHH, VI, and Deafblind
The Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind recently posted Virginia Summer Camps for DHH, VI, and Deafblind students ages 2-22. The list will be updated as new camps are announced. If you have any questions, email robin.bliven@vsdb.k12.va.us.
Repeat COVID Infections Increase Your Risk of Long COVID
The more often you get COVID, the higher your risk for Long COVID. A recent study found that patients with more than one COVID infection were more than 3x as likely to have Long COVID symptoms -- affecting the lungs, heart and blood -- than patients with only one COVID infection. Find free updated vaccines at vaccines.gov. #WeCanDoThis
[Image: Diagram highlighting the effects of Long-COVID on the human body].
CDC Now Allows Additional Covid-19 Shots For Older Adults And Immunocompromised Adults
Because the protection provided by the COVID-19 vaccine fades much more quickly for people 65 and older and people who are immunocompromised, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its COVID-19 vaccine recommendations to allow an additional a dose of the updated (bivalent) vaccine for these populations.
Volunteer Research Study Opportunities!
Do you experience recurrent urinary symptoms? If so, you may be eligible for a Urinary symptoms research study. Individuals 18 years & older with a spinal cord injury, Multiple Sclerosis, or Spina Bifida with a concurring diagnosis of neurogenic bladder who can intermittent catheter can participate and will receive an honorarium. The purpose of the study is to compare the effectiveness of saline vs. probiotic bladder wash to reduce urinary symptoms. If interested, please contact Emily Leonard, PhD at Emily.M.Leonard@Medstar.net, or call 202-877-1844.
Events for Learning, New Opportunities and Advocacy
May
From Checklist to Culture Shift: Crafting an Anti-Ableism Training, (virtual) 5/10/23, 3:00pm - 4:00pm. This event is $10 for non-members; free for members.
Special Education Workshop Series: Anatomy of an IEP, (virtual) 5/10/23, 6:30 pm EST. This event is free.
Ability Job Fair, (virtual) 5/11/23, 1:00pm - 5:00pm EST.
Developing Workplace Readiness Skills, (virtual) 5/11/23, 6:30 pm EST. This event is free.
Disability Resource Fair, (in-person), 5/12/23, 10:00am - 4:00pm at Rust Library.
Special Art Sundays, (virtual), 5/14/23, 4:00pm to 5:00pm EST.
Disability Career Fair, (virtual) 5/17/23, 9:00 am - 6:00 pm EST. This event is free.
Special Education Workshop Series: Measurable IEP Goals, (virtual) 5/17/23, 6:30 pm EST. This event is free.
Transition Lunch & Learn, (virtual) 5/17/2023, 12:00pm.
Chat with an Attorney about Special Education, (in-person and virtual), 5/18/2023, 9:00am - 3:30pm.
2nd Annual Disability Inclusion Day at the Diamond, (in-person), 5/21/23, 1:30pm at Diamond Stadium in Richmond. This event is free.
First Annual OSG 5K/10K Supporting Persons with Disabilities, (in-person), 5/21/23, 9:45am - 12:30pm at Lake Accotink Park in Springfield, VA.
100 Ways to Use Supported Decision Making, (virtual), 5/2/23, 10:00am -11:00am.
Special Education Workshop Series: Ins and Outs of IEP Meetings, (virtual) 5/31/23, 6:30 pm EST. This event is free.
Recently Archived:
Final Episodes of the Heumann Perspective
Religion & Disability with Amy Kenny, Mona Minkara & Rabbi Lauren Tuchman
Pakistani Disabled Women-Led Activism With Abia Akram & Zahida Hameed Qureshi
Developmental Disabilities Committee: Employment Services: A Listen and Learn Event
Sticks and Stones: Empowering Youth to Address Bullying and Intimidation
Solving for Homelessness Among Older Adults, People with Disabilities and Other Groups
Federal Employee Benefits and Their Impact on Adults with Disabilities
FCPS Family Resource Center 2023 Special Education Conference
ECNV Around Town
ENCV was active in the cities promoting our COVID-19 home test distribution program, vaccination clinics for people with disabilities, and providing emergency assistance to prevent eviction for Alexandria City residents.
Eaton Square Apartments in Alexandria
On April 7, 2023 Rosalia Fajardo provided emergency rental assistance to Latina mothers with chronic disease conditions, and children with disabilities in the Eaton Square apartments.
ECNV and the Korean and Hispanic Community
On April 8, 2023, Rosalia Fajardo, Director of Multicultural Families, participated in the community health and resource fair organized by Korean of the Presbyterian Church and Legal Aid Justice Center for the Korean and Hispanic communities.
ECNV at Arlington Central Library
On April 10, 2023, ENDependence Center of Northern VA staff (Pansy Walker, Ruchika Lalwani and Rosalia Fajardo pictured with families) spent time at the Arlington Central Library to bring awareness to the programs and services being offered by ECNV to the disability community and families. This opportunity was supported by Library Associate, Victoria Dale.
Culmore Resource Center
On April 13, ECNV staff participated in the health and resource fair held at the Culmore Resource Center organized by Second Story, distributing COVID-19 home tests.
ECNV Donates COVID-19 Tests to BPSOS at Eden Center
ECNV partnered with BPSOS for a vaccination clinic at the Eden Center on April 21, 2023. We donated COVID-19 home tests to be distributed to older adults within the Vietnamese community.
Rosalia Fajardo Recognized As La Mujer Maravillia by the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement
On Friday, April 21, Rosalia Farjardo was recognized as La Mujer Maravilla (Wonder Woman) by the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE). This Chicago, Illinois national nonprofit is dedicated to the employment, development, and advancement of current and aspiring Latino professionals.
The FCPS Flash Forward Post Secondary Options Fair
Rosalia Fajardo and Pansy Walker attended the FCPS Flash Forward Postsecondary Options Fair at Woodson High School on April 26, 2023. This event is designed to provide students with disabilities seeking a standard or advanced diploma (and their families) an introduction to options available after high school.
Let’s Zumba!
On April 27, we went Zumba dancing! ECNV distributed home tests for COVID-19 to a group of Latinas who for more than a decade have carried out dance and health activities to combat obesity, stress and help maintain a healthy community through Latin dance.
Find out more ››
Ruby Tucker Barbeque
Alexandria City began its Spring outreach activities with their traditional BBQ. ECNV participated in their community events which took place at the Ruby Tucker apartments April 25, 2023, and at Princess Square Apartments on April 27, 2023. There was entertainment, resources and of course the COVID-19 home test kits that ECNV distributes for free. About 500 people were at the event.