On Thursday,  March 13, 2025, Bienvenidos Todos offered an informative session on waivers, an important topic frequently requested by families and individuals with disabilities seeking support services. In this seminar, Majo Flores from the Arc of Northern Virginia did an extraordinary job explaining what a waiver is, the eligibility criteria, and the complete process to obtain a waiver.  

Margarita Baquero travel trainer, wearing an ECNV t-shirt, Rosalia, Jimena Baron and Lorena Granados.

El autismo, o trastorno del espectro autista (TEA), es una condición neurobiológica compleja que afecta la manera en que una persona percibe el mundo e interactúa con otros. Aunque el autismo es un desafío de por vida, con apoyo y comprensión adecuados, muchas personas con autismo pueden alcanzar un alto nivel de bienestar y funcionalidad.

Entender las exenciones es crucial para acceder a los servicios de apoyo esenciales en Virginia. Esta guía completa te ayudará a comprender qué son las exenciones, sus beneficios y cómo aplicar exitosamente, con un enfoque en los recursos disponibles tanto para las comunidades de habla inglesa como española.

On Thursday, February 13, 2025, Bienvenidos Todos hosted “Know Your Rights” presented by Legal Aid Justice Center. This webinar discussed immigrant rights at home, work, school, hospitals, and public spaces; planning for emergencies; and supporting loved ones – especially for those with disabilities.

Image: ECNV Disability Outreach Coordinator Lorena Granados in a light blue striped blouse and black pants, Director, Strategic Partnerships Rosalia Fajardo wearing a gold vest, tan sweater and black pants and Jimena Baron in a brown blouse and dark navy jacket.

Este artículo profundiza en los derechos fundamentales de las personas con discapacidades en Virginia, destacando la importancia de conocer y ejercer estos derechos para garantizar la igualdad, la inclusión y el acceso a oportunidades esenciales.

On Saturday, December 14, 2024, Bienvenidos Todos organizadora  Jimena Barron made an outstanding presentation about Acceptance within the disability community. 

Collage: (Left) Travel Trainer/Independent Living Specialist Margarita Baquero, Bienvenidos Todos Organizadora, Jimena Barron, ECNV Director of Disability Equity Strategic Partnerships, Rosalia Fajardo, and ECNV Disability Equity Outreach Coordinator Lorena Granados; (Right), Lorena, Margarita, Rosalia, David Aguayo, and Jimena.

Navegar la transición de los entornos educativos al mundo laboral es un viaje crítico para los jóvenes adultos, pero presenta desafíos únicos para aquellos con discapacidades. Esta transición es crucial para la inclusión social y económica completa, requiriendo no solo la colocación laboral; se necesita una preparación integral y sistemas de apoyo establecidos. El papel de organizaciones como ECNV.org y recursos como los de The Arc of Northern Virginias o el Departamento de Educación de Virginia son fundamentales en el apoyo a este viaje.

On Thursday, November 21, 2024, Bienvenidos Todos Organizadora, Jimena Barron, ENDependence Center for Northern Virginia (ECNV), in partnership with Walgreens,  offered free flu vaccines at the Mason District Healthcare Town Hall, hosted by Supervisor Andres Jimenez in partnership with Fairfax Health Department.

Collage: (Left) A group of Mason district multicultural residents waiting to be vaccinated; (Right), Bienvenidos Todos Organizadora, Jimena Barron in an ECNV white t-shirt with an Asian female Walgreens pharmacist.

On Thursday, November 21, 2024, Rosalia Fajardo traveled to Virginia beach to present to a group of Latino parents for a workshop on Special Education and Transition.  This event was  hosted by Bienvenidos Todos organizadora Ana Catellanos in partnership with Matias Hope Foundation /Executive Director Lesly Lancaster.

Collage: (Left), Rosalia Fajardo posing with other Hispanic attendees; (right), a wide angle photo of the workshop.

On Thursday, November 14, 2024 the Bienvenidos Todos team hosted ADA webinar.  More than 500 hundred attendees learned how the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination in the workplace and requires reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities, as well as ensure that state and local government services are accessible to people with disabilities, includes places like restaurants, hotels, stores, and entertainment venues, and requires relay services for people with hearing or speech impairments.

Collage: (Left), ECNV Disability Equity Outreach Coordinator Lorena Granados, Director, Disability Equity Strategic Partnerships, Rosalia Fajardo and Bienvenidos Organizadora Jimena Barron; (Right), Lorena and Jimena sitting in front of a laptop computer and trying to coordinate the Bienvenidos webinar.

On Thursday,  November 21, 2024 ECNV participated in the Immigrants in Fairfax County: Challenges and Opportunities, which was hosted by Interfaith Fairfax Immigration Forum at Little River United Church of Christ with Karol Escalante Karol Escalante Director of Immigrant Community Affairs Office of the County Executive Fairfax County. 

Collage: (Left) Rosalia Fajardo with Karol Escalante; (Right) event attendees; (Center Bottom) Rosalia giving away free COVID-19 home tests to a consumer wearing a lime green sweater.

Bienvenidos Todos Organizadora, Jimena Barron, was the ECNV host at the vaccine clinic at the Berkdale Apartments in Herndon, on Saturday, November 16, 2024. ECNV vaccinated 37 mostly uninsured people, - primarily Latino, Arabic, and non-Hispanic - at the partnership with Fairfax County and Walgreens pharmacy.

Image: Bienvenidos Todos Organizadora, Jimena Barron stands behind recently-vaccinated mother and son.