ECNV's Be in the Know: February 2025
Here is news of interest for the disability community!
Stay Informed: Monthly Awareness Highlights
02/10/2025: International Epilepsy Day
All Month: Low Vision Awareness Month
All Month: Black History Month
Bienvenidos Todos Webinar Series
Save the Date: March 13, 2025 is the next Bienvenidos Webinar!
Bienvenidos Todos will host webinar presentations about disability resources and services especially for Latinos with disabilities, their families, caregivers, advocates, and those who serve Latinos. Monthly webinars will cover disability topics especially as they pertain to Latinos and their different residency statuses.
These webinars will be held the second Thursday of the month from 1:00 – 2:00 pm in English only and from 7:00-8:30 pm in Spanish only. We will ask you for optional demographic information so we can report to the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities as our funding source. Once registered, we will send you email updates as reminders for each webinar.
Register Today for Bienvenidos ››
Transportation News:
NV Rides
NV Rides supports a network of volunteer driver programs who make transportation for seniors possible in the Northern Virginia area. NV Rides’ charge is to increase capacity for existing volunteer driver programs and to expand volunteer transportation options throughout Northern Virginia.
When your organization joins NV Rides, you become part of this thriving network. You receive a plethora of resources at no cost to you.
Working in partnership with Fairfax County and the Jewish Council for the Aging (JCA), NV Rides is housed at The Pozez Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia (The J).
Legislative Updates:
It’s Time to End Marriage Penalties!
Everyone should have the right to marry the person they love—but for many people with disabilities, getting legally married can mean losing access to critical services.
Marriage penalties are unfair rules that cut off or reduce benefits and limit savings for married people with disabilities who rely on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or other Social Security benefits. Because many people with disabilities rely on SSI or Social Security for access to health care, benefits like home and community-based services can also be cut off.
We MUST change this!
Tell Congress that NO ONE should have to decide between marriage and getting the support they need to live in their community.
Medicaid Is a Lifeline for People With Disabilities!
Millions of children and adults with disabilities rely on Medicaid for the support they need to live in their communities and their health care coverage.
In 2025, Congress has to make big decisions about what our nation’s priorities should be and how to pay for them. Some policy makers think there is money to spare in the Medicaid program. We know that’s not true.
Contact your members of Congress now and ask them to support Medicaid!
More News to Explore:
Loudoun Tax Relief Seminars Announced for Older Adults and Residents with Disabilities
2025 Tax Relief Seminars, Learn about Loudoun's real estate and car tax relief programs for older adults and residents with disabilities.
Tuesday, February 25: Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Potomac Falls
Friday, February 28: Rust Library, 380 Old Waterford Road NW, Leesburg
Wednesday, March 5: Purcellville Library, 220 East Main St., Purcellville
Friday, March 7: Sterling Community Center, 120 Enterprise St., Sterling (Spanish)
Monday, March 10: Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn
All sessions begin at 10:30am. No appointments needed.
loudoun.gov/TaxRelief ››
IRS-certified tax preparers help millions of people keep more of their money
The IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals. The VITA program has operated for over 50 years. VITA sites offer free tax help to people who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns, including:
People who generally make $67,000 or less
Persons with disabilities; and
Limited English-speaking taxpayers
Find a VITA or AARP Tax Aide site in your area ››
White House Pauses Federal Grants
The White House Office of Management and Budget late Jan. 27 issued a memo directing federal agencies to temporarily pause federal grants, loans and other financial assistance programs implicated by President Trump’s recent executive orders.
Various CILs are aware of the situation and have started putting together advocacy efforts.
Take action at the NCIL Advocacy & Action Center: https://bit.ly/4g8sx0X . Select “Protect the Independent Living Funding: Stop the Freeze on Federal Programs”.
Share this Action Alert.
Tell Congress and the Trump Administration to resume funding for the Independent Living Program.
If you receive any guidance from your state or from the federal level, contact NCIL and share what you are hearing.
In addition, NCIL is working on guidance for CILs on how to respond if this freeze remains in place and are considering options for opportunities for CIL and SILC directors to come together to discuss impact and response. If you have any questions or have any information you can share, please contact NCIL Director of Advocacy and Public Policy Jessica Podesva by email at jessica@ncil.org or by phone 202-864-4251.
The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) has put together a resource guide Explaining the Impact of the Federal Funding Pause on People with Disabilities and encourages constituents to reach out to their governors, state representatives and Congress. Scroll down to the bottom of AAPD's guide for more information.
The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) has also put out a press release and ways to reach out.
Request for Information Regarding the Impact of Ageism in Healthcare
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
is seeking information regarding the impact of ageism in health care. This request is open to the public and is part of an effort to better understand and quantify the impacts of ageism on health care quality, including aspects related to safety, timeliness, patient-centeredness, equitable distribution, and care outcomes. They are also seeking to understand how the effect of ageism differs across population groups and are interested in identifying efforts and innovative strategies and programs that address and mitigate ageism to optimize older adults' health.
Details on how to submit comments are available in the Federal Register notice.
For additional information, email Jose.Plascenciajimenez@ahrq.hhs.gov or call 301-427-1364.
Public comments are accepted until March 15, 2025.
Submit Comments on the Federal Register ››
Inclusive Volunteering
Recently, Volunteer Fairfax announced the Disability Inclusive Volunteering suite of resources. This initiative is the result of collaboration between VF staff, individuals with disabilities, family members, service providers and advocacy groups. This toolkit includes resources for Nonprofits, Volunteers, Volunteer Training Video and an Inclusive Volunteer searchable database.
Learn More about Inclusive Volunteer ››
Partners in Policymaking (PIP) and Youth Leadership Academy (YLA) Classes
Recruitment is now open for the next Partners in Policymaking (PIP) and Youth Leadership Academy (YLA) Classes!
PIP helps people with developmental disabilities and their family members learn advocacy and leadership skills. YLA helps students with developmental and other disabilities grow as leaders. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 14, 2025.
Download the PIP Application ››
Youth Leadership Academy (YLA) helps students with developmental and other disabilities grow as leaders. This year’s YLA will be held at Virginia State University between Monday, July 14, and Thursday, July 17, 2025. Students from across Virginia will gather to have fun and learn new skills. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 28, 2025. Applicants must be rising high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors as of December 2024.
Download the YLA Application ››
Map Your Future!
Are you or someone you know in school and starting to think about career options? Be sure to consider DARS' Map Your Future event in 2025, designed to help students plan for a successful future and explore their career paths. This program is for students in high school who are deaf, hard of hearing or blind.
Registration deadline is June 2, 2025. Contact Traci Branch for questions.
Map Your Future Register today! ››
Become a Tech Mentor!
Do you use technology in your daily life? Become a Tech Mentor at The Arc of Northern Virginia. You must be at least 18 years old, have a developmental disability, regularly use technology and be supportive of others.
Having a Hard Time Paying Your Heating Bill?
Do you need help to pay your energy bills? ECNV is one of many providers for the Energy Share program. This can help you when paying for heating, cooling and gas prices are high and thus difficult for you or your family to pay. This is a one-time credit directly to your Dominion and Washington Gas bill customers only. When you apply using the link below, include a copy of your bill as an attachment to the form and within 4-6 weeks your account will be credited for $ 500 (or split to Dominion and Washington Gas for $ 250.00).
Please be sure to let us know at the time of application which bill you need support with. This program is on a first come, first served basis and is available once per calendar year. You must have a person who is disabled and/or elderly living in the home and that person's name does NOT need to be on the bill.
Benefits Assistance: Apply Today ››
Research Opportunities:
Accessible Telehealth Study
The Southwest ADA Center is doing a research study to evaluate whether telehealth is accessible to people with disabilities. You are invited to take part in this study as a person with a disability, age 18+, who has previously utilized telehealth.
This study will help Southwest ADA Center better understand
understand how people with disabilities use telehealth,
evaluate the effectiveness of available technology in telehealth as well as identify any barriers to accessibility, and
identify possible solutions to these barriers.
Upper Limb Amputee Research Study
Are you a partial hand amputee, shoulder disarticulation amputee, or work with upper limb amputees? You may be eligible to participate in a research study to help identify two functional tasks that should be added to the BAM-ULA to establish a universal assessment that can measure function for any level of
upper limb amputee.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please contact Alexis Clapper at 571-428-3666, email aclapper@gwu.edu.
MedStar Health Urinary Research Study
Does your bladder bug you?
Do you have a neurogenic/neuropathic bladder and use indwelling or intermittent catheterization for bladder management? If so, we would like to invite you to participate in a study using a probiotic to decrease urinary symptoms.
For more information, please contact: Chris Riegner christopher.r.riegner@medstar.net or 202-877-1560
MedStar Health is looking for participants for a urinary symptoms study (#NCT05230511).
Events for Learning, New Opportunities and Advocacy
February
February Chat with an Attorney about Special Education, (virtual), 2/26/25. Limited slots are available!
March
The Basics of Medicaid Waiver, (virtual), 3/1/24, 12:00pm - 1:00pm.
Metro Travel Training, (in-person), 3/7/25, 10:00am - 12:00pm.
DMV Connect at the Arc of Loudoun, (in-person), 3/21/25, 9:30am - 3:00pm.
Personal Safety for Teens and Adults, (virtual), 3/22/25, 10:00am - 1:00pm.
Neurodiversity Virtual Career Fair, (virtual), 3/26/24, 11:00am - 3:00pm.
