ECNV's Be in the Know: March 2025
Here is news of interest for the disability community!
Stay Informed: Monthly Awareness Highlights
All Month: Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month
All Month: Brain Injury Awareness Month
March 9-15: 2025: MS Awareness Week
Bienvenidos Todos Webinar Series
Save the Date: April 10, 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:
Fairfax Mulls Providing Free Metrobus Rides to High School Students
Fairfax County transportation planners are considering enabling more secondary schools to participate in a program giving students free Metrobus rides in Northern Virginia.
The free-ride initiative covers many, but not all, Metrobus routes in Northern Virginia. Free rides are available throughout the day, except between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Frederick County MD to Loudoun County Commuter Bus Bus Pilot Program
Loudoun County Transit and Commuter Services are working on a new pilot commuter bus route to make your daily travel easier and more efficient—but they need your input! Take their short survey and help shape a faster, more convenient transit option into Loudoun County. Your feedback will directly influence routes, schedules and stops. This will connect commuters between Frederick County in Maryland to Loudoun County, VA!
The survey is open until March 21, 2025!
Be a part of the change—help us create a better commute!
Legislative Updates:
VA General Assembly Wraps Up!
The 2025 General Assembly session is a wrap. Here is a run down of what accomplished this cycle:
Approved Funding, $8.7 Million for Priority 1 - Additional Support Coordinators
Passed Legislation:
HB2746/SB765 - Voting Protections Under Guardianship
HB1804 - Medicaid Works Program Planning
Reconvened Session is scheduled for April 2, 2025.
More News to Explore:
Protect Medicaid!
The federal budget proposal is currently calling for devastating cuts to Medicaid. Medicaid is the lifeline that keeps disabled people in their homes and communities—yet Congress is considering proposals that would slash funding, impose work requirements, and limit access to critical services like personal care and home and community-based services (HCBS).
These changes would force many people with disabilities into institutions, undermining the core principles of independent living.
Contact your members of Congress today and tell them to oppose any cuts and work requirements.
You can contact your members of Congress using NCIL’s Advocacy & Action Center: https://bit.ly/4hIXI4b
Protect the Department of Education
Without an appropriate education, students with disabilities face higher rates of poverty, unemployment, poor health, and social isolation. The Department of Education is crucial for students with disabilities:
• It holds states accountable when they’re not meeting the needs of students with disabilities.
• It funds critical programs to increase the supply of special education teachers.
• It provides parents with information on how to navigate the education system for their child with a disability.
Act now and tell Congress that the Department of Education must be protected.
President Trump won't sign executive order to dissolve Department of Education today
The White House on Thursday, March 6, 2025 pulled the expected signing of the executive order to dismantle the Department of Education. Behind the scenes, there was concern among top administration officials about the blowback the order would receive and the lack of messaging in place ahead of the rollout.
Education experts suggested that shutting the Department of Education could gut public education funding and disproportionately impact high-need students across the country who rely on statutorily authorized programs, such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Title I, which provides funding for low-income families.
The Virginia Board for People with Disabilities Strategic Plan
The Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD) is creating a strategic plan that will guide their work for the next five years! It's crucial that Virginians with disabilities help to identify what they should work on. If you are a person with a developmental disability or their family member, please consider sharing your thoughts!
You can attend an in-person town hall in Brunswick County or Dinwiddie County, or join over zoom!
Friday, March 21, 2025, 12pm - 1pm (virtual)
Saturday, March 29, 2025, 11am-12pm (virtual)
https://bit.ly/Mar29TownHall
Thursday, April 3, 2025, 6:00-7:00pm (virtual)
https://bit.ly/Apr3TownHall
Or, you can also complete a survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VBPDInputSurvey
The last day to take the survey is Sunday, April 27, 2025.
Disability Camp Options
Clover Leaf Wealth Strategies recently posted in their newsletter, "Camp Search Tools" for persons with disabilities.
Youth Leadership Academy (YLA) Classes
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:
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
March
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.
Explore our Newsletter Archive to access all of our current and past newsletters!
