ECNV’s TGIF Social Group
On Friday, November 3, 2023, staff members led the TGIF social group at Dos Amigos. 15 ECNV consumers participated.
TGIF social group, group photo.
Wings for All!
On Saturday, October 28, 2023, ECNV Travel Trainer Hunter Cardwell, and Outreach Coordinator Pansy Walker, attended the Wings for All event sponsored by Arc of Northern VA. This event , which took place at the Reagan National Airport, gives families and aviation professionals the confidence to take to the skies with ease by providing an airport rehearsal as well as a presentation on the aircraft and in-flight safety protocols.
Collage: “Wings for All” check-in sign; Pansy Walker and Hunter Cardwell at ECNV’s outreach table at the Wings for All event.
Agents of Change: News Spotlight
On Wednesday, November 15, 2023, ECNV’s Disability Justice Agents of Change team graduates, Victor Wear (Isaiah and Tiffany Hamilton) were featured on WUSA9 Shop Small Feature. Victor Wear helps employ and empower The Autism Community.
On Thursday, November 16, the Arlington Three (Huan Vuong, Ben McGann and Emma Budway) posted an online petition “Inclusion in Arlington Public Schools.” This is an advocacy project by the Ford Foundation Disability Justice grant for the Agents of Change team the Arlington Three. Sign and help spread the word!
Collage (left to right): Screenshot from ECNV’s Disability Justice Agents of Change team graduates, Victor Wear (Isaiah and Tiffany Hamilton) were featured on WUSA9 Shop Small Feature. Victor Wear helps employ and empower The Autism Community video segment; The Arlington Three, (left to right) Huan Vuong, Ben McGann and Emma Budway.
Carlin Senior Housing Vaccine Clinic
On Tuesday, November 28, 2023, Program and Training Coordinator Andrew Shaw and ECNV Communications and Publications Specialist Elaine Shaw hosted a vaccine clinic at Carlin Senior Living in Arlington. Elaine, a pharmacist from Walgreens was on hand to provide COVID-19 and flu vaccinations to over twenty residents. On site staff Josephine Koroma helped coordinate the flow of residents receiving vaccines. Elaine Shaw also picked up other resource material for independent living in Arlington. This was a successful event and most residents they interacted with were grateful to be vaccinated and happy to participate in our demographic survey which helps provide for our funding.
Collage: The Two Elaine’s, Elaine, the pharmacist from Walgreens and ECNV’s Publications Specialist Elaine Shaw; Program and Training Coordinator Andrew Shaw assisting a consumer fill up a vaccine survey; Andrew giving a purple goodie bag to a consumer, in the background, Elaine Shaw and Josephine Koroma.
5th Annual Healthcare Disparities Conference
On Tuesday, October 3, 2023, ECNV Outreach Coordinator / Peer Counselor Tracee Garner attended the 5th Annual Healthcare Disparities Conference – A Call for Connection: Cultural Humility and Allyship.
[Image: Tracee Garner].
Loudoun County Caregivers Van
On Wednesday, November 1, ECNV Outreach Coordinator/ Peer Mentor Tracee Garner attended the dedication ceremony for Loudoun Volunteer Caregivers van, which provides transportation for frail elderly and disabled adults who are not able to use other public transportation options.
Image: Tracee Garner, a longtime advocate for services that provide more independence for Loudoun's disabled residents, is lifted into the new wheelchair accessible van operated by Loudoun Volunteer Caregivers during a November 1, 2023 dedication ceremony.
Hispanic Health Fair
On Saturday, October 14, 2023, ECNV hosted a COVID-19 and flu clinic at the Hispanic Health Fair in Alexandria, VA. Director of Multicultural Families Rosalia Fajardo and ECNV's new travel trainer Margarita Baquero also attended.
Collage: Two women two in traditional Mexican dresses, Rosalia is in the center; Margarita Baquero ECNV travel trainer specialist in pink jacket with an African American woman in grey sweater and little girl in pink blouse; a Muslim family a mother wearing pink scarf light blue blouse and black pants and two little boys.
LGBTQ Hispanic Halloween Party
On Sunday, October 29, 2023 Rosalia attended a Halloween Party, hosted by Impacto, an LGBTQ Hispanic organization.
Collage: A group of people posing together for a Halloween gathering; ECNV purple table cloth with COVID-19 test kits; a Hispanic man wearing a bright orange work blazer and work hat.
Walter Reed Senior Center Vaccine Clinic
On Tuesday, October 31, ECNV hosted a clinic for seniors at Walter Reed Senior Center in Arlington, VA with help from our vaccination partner, Walgreens.
Collage: a Latina woman signing up to receive her COVID-19 vaccination; Rosalia Farjardo (left) and Miranda Cobbs (right), PharmD area 67 supervisor from Walgreens; a pharmacist wearing a white jacket, Miranda Cobbs and Rosalia, posing in front of a Walgreens red table.
Women Giving Back Event
On Friday, October 6, ECNV staff, Outreach Coordinator/ Peer Mentor, Tracee Garner and Director of Multicultural Families, Rosalia Fajardo attended Women Giving Back’s Referral Partner Open House and Community Resource Fair.
Collage: Outreach Coordinator/ Peer Mentor, Tracee Garner and Director of Multicultural Families, Rosalia Fajardo posing together in front of a table with a purple table cloth, and further right, a line of women with green bags picking up information related to ECNV’s services; Rosalia Fajardo giving a blue bag to an African-American woman with a black shirt.
ECNV’s TGIF Social Group
On October 6, 2023, staff members, Ruchika and Carlos lead the TGIF social group in Delhi Dhaba with 13 of ECNV consumers participating. We encourage other adults interested in attending to join the next group on 11/03/23 at Dos Amigos at 535 E Braddock Rd, Alexandria, VA 22314 at 5:00 pm.
TGIF social group, group photo.
ECNV Honored
On Wednesday, October 4, ECNV Executive Director Dominique Dunford-Lack, Deputy Executive Director Tim Fuchs and Heather Sailes attended the Department for the Blind and Visually Impaired Awards. ECNV was awarded at the event because Heather came to ECNV as an intern through DBVI and then was hired permanently. Heather won an award and ECNV won an award celebrating Ability in the Workplace.
Collage: Rick Mitchell, Commissioner of DBVI (Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired in front of a podium; Executive Director Dominique Dunford-Lack, Deputy Executive Director Tim Fuchs and Heather Sailes, pictured with awards.
ECNV’s I Am Self-Advocacy Program: Fall 2023 Update
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.
[Image: Three circles overlapping each other with words Self Advocate in the center and words Motivated, Committed, and Passionate on each circle].
Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment for 2024 Period
On Friday, November 3, ECNV staff, Director of Multicultural Families, Rosalia Fajardo, had the great honor of joining the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra along ECNV Board member Dr. Sergio Rimola, Legal Aid Justice Center, Enroll Virginia and Protect Our Care on marking the beginning of 2024 Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Period, making the coverage more affordable. Rosalia thanked Secretary Becerra for making COVID-19 vaccines available for all!
Collage: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra posing with Rosalia Fajardo; a tall gentleman wearing glasses, Rosalia, Dr. Sergio Rimola, and a blonde woman.
COVID-19 Vaccine Partnership with Walgreens
On Tuesday, October 31, 2023 ECNV started a new partnership with Walgreens thanks to the Bridge Access Program, which is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services. This partnership enables ECNV to provide free vaccines to the community of people with all disabilities who do not have medical insurance.
Image: Walgreens red logo
Bailey’s Community Center Vaccine Clinic
On Friday, October 27, 2023, ECNV hosted a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Bailey's Community Center in Falls Church, VA.
Collage: An African-American man wearing a white t-shirt and pants, sitting down, a cane is also visible; an African-American senior woman also receiving a vaccine; Rosalia pictured with a dwarf person.
Wingler House Apartments Vaccine Clinic
On Friday, October 27, 2023, ECNV also hosted a vaccine clinic for seniors at Wingler House Apartments. Fourteen residents were vaccinated.
Collage: a senior wearing a grayish t-shirt receiving a vaccination; a male senior citizen also getting a vaccination; an over all view of the clinic with various staff wearing green scrubs.
Latino American Festival
On Sunday, October 15, 2023, ECNV staff, Director of Multicultural Families, Rosalia Fajardo, Independent Living Specialist / Travel Trainer Margarita Baquero and Communications and Publications Specialist Elaine Shaw attended the Latino American Festival in Arlington. ECNV distributed COVID-19 home tests to fair attendees, as well as gave information about other ECNV programs such as travel training and workshops.
Collage: Two women two in traditional Mexican dresses, Rosalia is in the center; Margarita Baquero ECNV travel trainer specialist in pink jacket with an African American woman in grey sweater and little girl in pink blouse; a Muslim family a mother wearing pink scarf light blue blouse and black pants and two little boys.
What’s New with RAMP?
For those readers who do not yet know what RAMP is, RAMP stands for the Ready to Achieve Mentoring Program. It is a career-focused mentoring program for students with disabilities, aged 14-22, that is funded by the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) and will be offered during the 2023 – 2024 school year to eligible students residing in Fairfax County and referred by both the Fairfax and Alexandria DARS offices.
Image: A past participant in the RAMP program is presenting his experiences within the program to a room full of mentees and their parents at the 2023-2024 RAMP Kick-Off event at the Vienna Community Center.
Rosalia Featured on Telemundo
During Hispanic Heritage Month Telemundo highlighted the work of ECNV's Rosalía Fajardo, who has dedicated her fight to advocate for people with disabilities.
Image: Rosalia Fajardo.