Flash Forward Postsecondary Options Fair
On Friday, April 26, 2024, Fairfax County Public Schools hosted their Flash Forward Postsecondary Options event.
Collage: Maura Schmidt and Rosalia Fajardo holding up a white frame with text; Maura Schmidt talking with a consumer; (bottom) Rosalía Fajardo posing with a man using a rollator. / Collage: Maura Schmidt y Rosalía Fajardo sosteniendo un marco blanco con texto; Maura Schmidt hablando con un consumidor; (abajo) Rosalía Fajardo posando con un hombre usando un andador.
Fairfax County Public Schools Summit
On Saturday, April 20, 2024, ECNV participated in the Fairfax County Public Schools Summit that brought together various departments within FCPS.
Staff members from ECNV talking with a visitor; staff members from ECNV posing with Dr. Michele Reid, Superintendent of FCPS; Miembros del personal de ECNV hablando con un visitante; miembros del personal de ECNV posando con la Dra. Michele Reid, superintendente de FCPS.
Word of Life Hope Expo Vaccine Clinic
On Saturday, April 13, 2024, the Word of Life Church family, invited ECNV to Hope Expo.
Collage: Margarita Baquero, a travel trainer from ECNV wearing a blue shirt and black pants providing info to a senior female in white blouse and black pants; a young disabled consumer with her mother speaking with Margarita; Rosalia Fajardo wearing a pink blouse and David Aguayo surrounded by a Latino family. / Collage: Margarita Baquero, entrenadora de viajes de ECNV con camisa azul y pantalón negro brindando información a una mujer mayor con blusa blanca y pantalón negro; una joven consumidora discapacitada con su madre hablando con Margarita; Rosalía Fajardo luciendo una blusa rosa y David Aguayo rodeado de una familia latina.
ECNV’s I Am Self-Advocacy Program: May 2024
The IASA (I Am Self-Advocacy) 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].
Shirlington Employment and Education Center Graduation Ceremony
On Tuesday, April 2, 2024, ECNV was invited by partner agency Shirlington Employment and Education Center in their graduation ceremony for a group of Latinas (os) entrepreneurs who successfully finished the Latinx in Business program.
Collage: A group of Latino entrepreneurs who graduated from the SEEC Latinx in business program; ECNV table with COVID home tests and bags. / Collage: Un grupo de emprendedores latinos que se graduaron del programa SEEC Latinx in Business; Mesa ECNV con pruebas caseras y bolsas COVID.
ECNV Employee Spotlight!: Salifu "Sal" Kamara
ECNV Employee Spotlight: Salifu "Sal" Kamara!
Finding Qualified Caregivers for Those You Care About
Come and learn about the transition of students with disabilities going from High School to college or directly to work; you’ll also learn about the Americans with Disabilities Act ADA, advocacy and useful resources.
Money Matters: A Five-Part Training Series to Help You Understand How to Manage Your Money
ECNV offers this five-part training to help people with disabilities understand and manage money. Money Matters will help people understand what money is, how they can use it to pay for things they need, and how to decide what things are most important to pay for.
ECNV updated, plain logo
Thriving Solo Workshop
ECNV is offering a new training series for people with disabilities who want to live on their own.
(Image) white female in wheelchair, wearing a white sweater and black dress with design at open oven door checking on food.
The way to transition from school to adult life
Come and learn about the transition of students with disabilities going from High School to college or directly to work; you’ll also learn about the Americans with Disabilities Act ADA, advocacy and useful resources.
Empowering Independence: Shamarke's Travel Training Adventure to Panera
ECNV's travel trainer, Margarita, recently (3/25/24) accompanied Shamarke to Panera Bread in Alexandria to get lunch via metro bus and back to Springfield metro. During the journey, Shamarke successfully learned to use the Smart Trip card independently.
A triptych collage of Shamarke at Panera Bread.
More Travel Training with the Arc of Northern Virginia
On Thursday, March 21, 2024, ECNV travel trainers Andrew Shaw and Hunter Cardwell led a group of persons with disabilities from the Arc of Northern VA on a travel training trip from Ashburn to Tysons metro. There were 30 attendees.
Collage: Travel trainer Andrew Shaw explains the basics of travel training; a look inside a metro car while in transit; meeting at the Ashburn station; travel trainer Andrew Shaw explains how to enter and exit a metro station.
Travel training can help transport you to a galaxy (gallery) far far away…
On Friday, March 1, 2024, ECNV Travel Trainer Andrew helped Pete S. take the metro to the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
Image: Pete and ECNV Travel Trainer, Andrew Shaw (right) posing for a photo with iconic droids, C-3PO and R2-D2 from Star Wars movies at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
ECNV and the Arc Travel Train in Loudoun
On Wednesday, February 28, 2024, travel trainer Andrew meets with a group from The Arc of Loudoun to use the Loudoun Transit bus to One Loudoun.
Collage: ECNV Travel Trainer Andrew Shaw explains to a group from the Arc of Loudoun how to read a metro bus schedule map, at an indoor bus stop; The Arc travel training group waiting for a bus; Andrew, center, posing with the travel trainees from the Arc of Loudoun.
Travel Trainer, Andrew Shaw and Pete S. Featured in Incl(US)ion Adventures, February 2024 Newsletter
ECNV Travel Andrew Shaw and Pete S. were featured in the February 2024 Newsletter.
Andrew Shaw from the Endependence Center of Northern Virginia and Pete discussing travel training.
Connecting with Students at Mason Life
On Wednesday, March 20, 2024, ECNV Training & Mobility Manager Andrew Shaw spoke to Mason Life students at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. He presented to students from all grades, from freshmen to seniors about travel training.
ECNV Training & Mobility Manager Andrew Shaw presents to college students from the Mason Life Program at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA.
Dreamer Mothers in Action Celebrate International Women's Day!
On Friday, March 8, 2024, ECNV and Dreamer Mothers in Action hosted an International Women's Day night.
Collage: Latina mothers who attended the celebration; a group of Latinas leaders holding diplomas (bottom center), Rosalia Fajardo at the ECNV table.
ECNV Welcomes New Director of Administration: Juan Castaño
ECNV Welcomes new Director of Administration: Juan Castaño!
RAMP March is Dedicated to Interviewing Professions
During March, Mentees, Mentors, and Parents participated in activities geared toward gaining and practicing interviewing skills. Mentees participated virtually and in person to learn about different careers and opportunities.
Collage: RAMP students and mentees pose for a group photo at Enabled Intelligence; (bottom left), Mentees and Parents are introduced to Cloud Careers; (bottom right), Mentees and parents observe the planet, which shows Facebook users worldwide.
Salvadorian Mobile Consulate Vaccine Clinic
On Saturday, March 23, 2024 ECNV hosted a COVID-19 vaccine clinic with Salvadorian Mobile Consulate and organizations from Fairfax County governments. ECNV staff distributed COVID-19 home tests as well as provided vaccine shots.
(Top): Rosalia Fajardo in a purple blouse and black pants with a Latina female senior woman wearing; Intern David Aguayo male in grey and black shirt and black pants with a Latina female wearing black pants and red blouse holding covid homes test and ECNV bag. (Bottom): Walgreen Pharmacist administering a vaccine to a female patient wearing a red blouse; ; ECNV staff sitting at a long table with Walgreens pharmacists.