Victor Wear Employment & Empowerment Expo
ECNV is a proud fiscal sponsor for the Victor Wear Employment & Empowerment Expo to be held October 18, 2025 from 10-4 at the Hyatt Regency in Crystal City. We seek exhibitors and volunteers to help make this first expo a success.
Image: Victor Wear Expo, October 18, 2025, Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport, 2799 Richmond Highway, Arlington, Virginia, United States, 22202, Register Today.
ECNV Interviews Big Ocean (K-Pop Band)
ECNV is excited to share the finalized interview conducted with Big Ocean, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing K-pop Band by Cali Willcockson, that was recently highlighted for a RAMP career exploration unit. With ECNV’s support Kevina and Cali also brought some of the RAMP students to the concert. As you know, this event was an incredible opportunity for the students to explore a unique and inspiring career path and to witness first-hand how individuals with disabilities overcome challenges, receive accommodations, and can thrive and succeed in the entertainment industry. This collaboration was incredibly empowering for our students, seeing people like themselves be global successes.
In addition to the band, we also highlighted their management company, Parastar, which is currently the only talent agency in South Korea solely representing people with disabilities—from musicians to Paralympians. Their commitment to disability inclusion and empowerment was a powerful message for our RAMP students.
Big Ocean generously provided ECNV with three press passes for both the concert and the interview. We want to acknowledge Dan Kolanky, a volunteer photographer who did an exceptional job capturing the event and moments with the RAMP students.
Adult Social Club Visits the International Spy Museum
On Friday, August 15, 2025, ECNV travel trainer Mindy Niland took a group of students for another social group outing. On this outing, they hopped onto the Yellow Line to visit the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C.
Image: Travel trainer Mindy Niland takes a selfie with a female Adult Social Club member.
Big Congratulations to Our Very Own Kevina Brown!
On Wednesday, August 13, 2025, the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) awarded Kevina with the RAMP Coordinator Award !!!
Image: (Left to Right) Director of Programs Hannah Roberts, Manager of Youth Programs Paul Whitney, RAMP Program Coordinator Kevina Brown, and Peer Mentor Carlos Marquez. Kevina is holding her award.
2025 Virtual Special Education Summit in Spanish
On Saturday, August 16, PEATC, in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Education, held the 2025 Virtual Special Education Summit in Spanish. This virtual event, which was presented entirely in Spanish, brought together parents of students with disabilities and professionals to better understand special education and discover resources that help meet the needs of our community.
(Left): A flyer of the event reading in Spanish “Cumbre Education Especial.” ; (Right): a picture of the speakers of the event, including Rosalia Fajardo.
(Bottom): Jimena Barron wearing a red blouse and glasses.
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church’s Multicultural Celebration & Health Fair and Back to School
On a beautiful sunny Saturday, August 16, ECNV staff Margarita Baquero and David Aguayo attended St. Mark’s Lutheran Church’s Multicultural Celebration & Health Fair and Back to School event hosted by Fairfax County Community Services and Health Department. Testing/screenings were provided by the Fairfax County CareVan. ECNV sponsored the Bienveniodos Todos Project for this back-to-school event.
(Left): Davis Aguayo from ECNV providing information to a female in a pink pant floral blouse; (Right): Javier Alarcon, a Caucasian man in a blue t-shirt and brown shorts, Rosalia Fajardo, Claudia Thomas from Fairfax County Public Schools in a blue blouse and jeans.
Minnie H. Peyton Community Center Back-to-School Event
On Saturday, August 9, 2025, ECNV participated in a successful Back-to-School event at Minnie H. Peyton Community Center at Bailey's Crossroads area of Falls Church. This event was organized by Fairfax County Community Services and Health Department, and had around 700 attendees. Partners distributed 400 backpacks at this “Back to School” event!
(Left): ECNV Travel Trainer Margarita Baquero, in a blue t-shirt and pants, Rosalia Fajardo in a black blouse, white pants and Jimena Barron wearing a white ECNV t-shirt and black pants; (Right): Bienvenidos organizer Jimena Barron, in a white blouse and black pants, interacting with attendees.
(Bottom): Rosalia Fajardo in a black blouse and white pants, posing with an African American boy using a wheelchair.
Bienvenidos Fall 2025 Updates
El proyecto Bienvenidos Todos tiene como objetivo promover la igualdad de acceso a los derechos, servicios y oportunidades de las personas con discapacidad para los latinos de Virginia con discapacidades y sus familias. Este proyecto demuestra un compromiso compartido tanto por el Centro de Endendencia del Norte de Virginia (ECNV) como por la Junta de Virginia para Personas con Discapacidades (VBPD) para garantizar la igualdad de acceso para múltiples comunidades marginadas, incluidas aquellas cuyo idioma principal es el español. Este proyecto sirve a las comunidades latinas en el norte de Virginia, Virginia Beach/Hampton Roads, Roanoke, Harrisonburg y Richmond.
Hemos estado ocupados preparándonos para un otoño completo de ofrendas. Para obtener más información, visite la página del proyecto Bienvenidos.
RAMP Makes Waves at the Reston Cardboard Boat Regatta!
On August 9, 2025, RAMP participants went out to the waters and competed in the Reston Cardboard Boat Regatta. RAMP's boat stayed afloat and all stayed dry!!
Image: RAMP participants rowing and competing in the Reston Cardboard Boat Regatta.
Dreamers Mothers in Action Informational Luncheon Meeting
On Tuesday, August 5, 2025, Dreamers Mothers in Action, DMIA in partnership with ECNV, hosted an informational session with community leaders at the luncheon meeting, with the support of several communities that work directly with immigrants affected by the increase in criminalization and detention policies. We were pleased with your presence for this informational session with eight general Latin American consuls who provided useful information about services for their communities.
(Left): A group of Consuls, male and female; (Right): Margarita Baquero and Rosalia Fajardo. (Bottom): Lenka Mendoza in a pink t-shirt next to her Margarita Baquero ECNV travel Trainer wearing an ECNV T-shirt and black jeans.
Disability Rights Podcast Interviews ECNV Travel Trainers
The Disability Rights Podcast interviewed various groups of persons with disabilities at the NCIL Conference! Surprise, surprise! Two of ECNV travel trainers, Mindy Niland and Karen Arnett were interviewed and talked about travel training!
Photo: ECNV travel trainers, Mindy Niland and Karen Arnett.
ECNV Partners with Fairfax County for Health and Wellness Fair
On Saturday, July 12, 2025, ECNV partnered with Fairfax County to co-host a health and wellness fair. We had a great opportunity to serve and provide resources to the Latino and other communities residing in the Berkdale Apartments. We provided a lot of great service and information to the residents and community.
(Left), Participants at the health fair and Rosalia Fajardo surrounded by attendees; (Right) Center image description: a white woman in a light blue blouse, a boy in a grey t-shirt, Rosalia Fajardo, a mother in a grey sport t-shirt and two Latina women in purple blouses.
Tecnología de Asistencia en Virginia: Herramientas que Abren Puertas
Tal vez fue el asistente de voz de tu teléfono recordándote una cita, o unos audífonos con cancelación de ruido que te ayudaron a concentrarte. Para millones de personas, estas comodidades cotidianas forman parte de un mundo mucho más amplio: el mundo de la tecnología de asistencia (TA).
ALT: “La tecnología de asistencia abre puertas a la independencia.” The background is a close-up view of a hispanic boy weathering a grey cochlear implant.
ECNV ENDependents
The ECNV ENDependents had fun on Friday, July 25, 2025 at the Arlington Chipotle.
Collage: (Top Row) A group photo of ECNV ENDependents; (Bottom), Lorena with two ECNV ENDependents; Samantha Wentling with ECNV ENDependents.