Success on the Metro!
September Metro Club met at Dunn Loring, practiced adding money to the fare kiosks, and traveled together on the Orange and Silver Lines to Olive Garden and back. Some participants also used MetroAccess for the first time. Experiences like these demonstrate how individualized travel training can help people learn to navigate destinations independently while building confidence throughout the DMV area.
ALT: ECNV Metro Club posing together for a group photo at McClean Station.
ECNV at Reston Multicultural Festival
On Saturday, 09/19/26, ECNV's Travel Trainer, Margarita attended an outreach event at the Reston Multicultural Festival along with her daughter.
Be sure to check out our calendar of events.
ALT: Margarita and her daughter.
A Special Testimonial to ECNV
On 09/05/26, ECNV staff provided 37 vaccines at the Korean Community Service Center.
ECNV's Joint Social Club Game Night Fun!
On July 31st, ECNV hosted a lively game night for the RAMP Summer Camp and it was a blast! Everyone came together to socialize, have fun, and forge new connections. It truly was a memorable evening! Don’t forget to keep an eye on ECNV's calendar for our monthly Social Group outings, which happen on the last Friday of every month, along with other exciting group activities!
RAMP Competed in the 2026 Cardboard Boat Regatta
On August 8th, Kevina Brown, and the RAMP team competed for the second year at the Reston Cardboard Boat Regatta. RAMP students take on the project of drafting, building and floating the boat.
Incoming Flu Vaccination Season
Working together to build healthier communities, Rosalia Fajardo, Director of Disability Strategic Partnerships at ECNV, is proud to partner with Walgreens to provide free flu vaccines to members of the multicultural diaspora who serve on the Fairfax County Health Department’s Multicultural Advisory Council (MAC).
ECNV Submits Public Comments Opposing Medicaid Work Requirement Rule
ECNV has submitted formal comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) opposing the Interim Final Rule on Medicaid community engagement requirements (Docket ID CMS-2026-2047), signed by Executive Director Dominique Dunford and submitted July 31, 2026.
ADA Disability Rights: The Series en Español - Accommodations Education
Accommodations in Education: This session explains about disability rights under the ADA, focused on accessibility, invisible disabilities, and the transition from school to college, vocational training, employment, and adult life. The speakers explain what the law protects, how accommodations work in practice, and why self-advocacy becomes especially important after high school, with particular attention to the needs and cultural barriers often faced by Latino families.
ADA Disability Rights: The Series en Español - Employment Equality
Employment Equality: The session explains the protections offered by the law, how to request accommodations during the hiring process and on the job, and provides practical examples regarding visible and invisible conditions such as ADHD, diabetes, epilepsy, depression, autism, and PTSD. It also clarifies that the ADA does not replace legal requirements for employment but does protect against discrimination and promotes accessibility and equal opportunity in the workplace.
ADA Disability Rights: The Series en Español - General Overview
‘Know Your Rights’ in Español
General Overview: This session explains what the law protects, who is covered, what reasonable accommodations are, and why using person-centered language is key to combating stigma surrounding visible and invisible disabilities. It also previews upcoming installments on employment, accessibility, school transition, and assistive technology, with time set aside for audience questions.
ADA Disability Rights: The Series en Español
The Mid-Atlantic ADA Center teamed up with ECNV for a new webinar series, “ADA Disability Rights,” which was presented entirely in Spanish. In this series, they discussed the “Americans with Disabilities” (ADA), how it protects us and how to enforce it. Click on the following links to review study guides, and watch accompanying videos.
Hill Visits
Wednesday, July 22, 2026, was "Hill Day." Many ECNV staff members visited the Capitol and met with their respective members of Congress to advocate on behalf of the organization.
ALT: Group photo 1 (left to right): Eddy, Congressman Walkinshaw, Laura, Jimena, Elaine, Andrew.
Group photo 2 (left to right): Eddy, Ana Bradic, Laura, Jimena, Andrew and Elaine.
ECNV Staff at the NCIL
ECNV was well-represented at this year's NCIL conference. Travel trainer Joe Postow, Lead Community Activist Jimena Barron, Policy & Advocacy Coordinator Laura Kim, travel trainer Karla Nativi, Community Transition Liaison Vanessa Romero, Lead, Disability Justice and Strategic Innovation Cherie Takemoto and Information & Referral Specialist (and DME) Alexa Mavroidis!
ALT: Left to right front row: Joe, Jimena, Laura, Carla.
Second row: Heidi, Vanessa, Natali, Roman.
Third row: Cherie, Aida, Alexa
Travel Training Adventure
On 07/14/26, Travel Trainer, Karla, and Sharin traveled to the Smithsonian and stopped by the Springfield Metro Station so Sharin could receive her Senior SmarTrip® card. Every trip builds confidence, independence, and the skills to navigate the community with greater ease.
ALT: Travel Training student Sharin poses with her new Senior SmarTrip® card.
Cherie Takemoto Receives Judy Heumman Award
On Monday, July 20, 2026, ECNV Lead, Disability Justice and Strategic Innovation, Dr. Cherie Takemoto, proudly celebrated on receiving the Judy Heumann Award. This prestigious honor recognizes her outstanding leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing disability rights, particularly for immigrants with disabilities. We are grateful for Cherie's dedication, advocacy, and the lasting impact she continues to make in our community. Congratulations, Cherie, on this well-deserved recognition!
ALT: Photo Collage (Left to Right): Photo 1 - Dominique Dunford-Lack, Rebecca Cokley and Cherie Takemoto posing with their awards, and Rosalia Fajardo; Photo 2: Rebecca Cokley and Rosalia Fajardo; Photo 3 on bottom center: Cherie Takemoto and Rosalia Fajardo.
ECNV Staff Join the 2026 NCIL March
On 07/21/26, ECNV staff, Roman and Karla, attended the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) 2026 Annual Conference, to march to the Capitol. The theme was “Protect. Persist. Prosper.”, focusing on defending independent living, advancing the movement, and building a thriving future for the disability community.
ALT: Karla and Roman at the NCIL March!
Arlington County Board Honors ECNV
On Tuesday, July 21, 2026, JD Spain Sr. from the Arlington County Board presented a Proclamation honoring Disability Pride month and recognizing disability nonprofits serving Arlington including The Arc of Northern Virginia, SPecially Adapted Resource Centers - SPARC, and ECNV - ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia!
ALT: ECNV represented at the Arlington County Board meeting, from left to right: Rosalia Fajardo, Laura Kim, Jimena Barron, (non-ECNV staff, JD Spain, Sr.), Cherie Takemoto and Dominique Dunford-Lack.