Own Your Own Path: Navigating Your Disability with Confidence and Clarity
ECNV offers this six-part training series in self-advocacy to help people explore and prepare for future opportunities. Through lectures, group discussions, worksheets, tutorials, case studies, and role play, this class will help you learn how to ask for disability-related services and confidently take part in conversations about your disability.
ECNV is a Center for Independent Living led by people with disabilities who provide advocacy and services to people with disabilities in Northern Virginia.
Training Curriculum
Module 1: Learn more about disability and understand your wants and needs
Module 2: Learn how to participate in your IEP meetings, secure accommodations through Disability Services, and workplace accommodations
Module 3: Explore when and how to share your disability status
Module 4: Explore assertive communication when discussing your disability and needs
Module 5: Role-play scenarios to practice disclosing, participating in IEP meetings, and requesting accommodations
Module 6: Use self-determination to create a plan for learning more about your disability, securing accommodations, and practicing disclosure conversations
Participants will learn to:
Understand how their wants and needs relate to accommodations and modifications.
Navigate IEP Meetings, interact with Disability Services at College, and request workplace accommodations while exercising skills in self-advocacy.
Understand disability disclosure, environments where it may be necessary, and why it is a personal choice.
Communicate assertively when advocating for their wants, needs, and future goals.
Use self-determination in creating SMART goals as they plan for their future.
Target Audience
Own Your Path is perfect for people with disabilities who want to learn how to ask for disability accommodations and feel confident in participating in conversations about their disability.
Accessibility & Accommodations
Own Your Path is held in person. Training locations will vary depending on the request for group training. Reasonable accommodations may be requested. Any questions about the program or accessibility are welcome at info@ecnv.org.
How to Participate in the Class
At this time, this class is only available to DARS-funded groups. We are focused on expanding our capacity to provide this important class to others later this year. Please stay tuned!
If you are interested in participating in a class, please reach out to your DARS counselor or complete this Interest Form and one of our staff will follow up with you.
If you are a DARS counselor interested in scheduling a class for a group of your clients, please reach out to Hannah Roberts at hannahr@ecnv.org.