ECNV's Be in the Know: October 2024
Here is news of interest for the disability community!
Stay Informed: Monthly Awareness Highlights
Bienvenidos Todos Webinar Series
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 ››
Voting Information:
Lyft Providing Discounted Rides to the Polls on Election Day
The 2024 Lyft Up Voting Access Program will help provide access to the polls by sharing critical voting access information and providing free and discounted rides to the polls.
The program will:
Offer discounted rides to the polls on Election Day (November 5, 2024) across the country.
Donate free or heavily discounted ride codes to nonprofit partners whose communities traditionally face barriers getting to the polls.
Help riders, drivers, and team members register, prepare to vote, and understand voting ID requirements, with partners like When We All Vote, the League of Women Voters, and VoteRiders.
2024 Lyft Up Voting Access Program ››
OneVoteNow Campaign
On September 2, 2024, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities launched their onevotenow.org campaign. NACDD will provide resources, materials, and voting education to ensure you're fully prepared before casting your ballot. #YourVoiceYourVote
Elections Are About Mental Health
Elections are about more than parties and politics -- elections are about mental health. Your vote matters for people affected by mental health. Learn more, spread the word and take the pledge to #Vote4MentalHealth at www.vote4mentalhealth.org.
Accessibility Tools to Help You Vote in November
2024 is a Presidential Election Year! Everyone over 18 years old can vote - regardless of disability. There are several tools to help persons with a disability make sure they are ready to vote on Election Day.
Read the Report Accessibility Tools to Help You Vote in November ››
Transportation News:
ACL Announces Accessible Transportation Resource Center
The Accessible Transportation Resource Center works to develop and promote strategies that make transportation services more accessible for people with disabilities, older adults, family caregivers, and others in their support networks.
This year’s theme, “Every Voice Matters,” echoes the fundamental belief that every individual has a unique perspective and contributes to the rich tapestry of our school communities.
Courthouse Mobility Hub Project
Do you spend time in the Courthouse neighborhood?
Arlington County is looking into improvements to better integrate existing transportation options, make transfers easier, help orient people, and create a more enjoyable public space through the Courthouse Mobility Hub Pilot project.
Share your feedback online and help the project team develop a concept design! The last day for feedback is Sunday, October 27.
Arlington's Transportation Future Initiative
Arlington County has launched Arlington's Transportation Future, a new initiative to create a refreshed Transportation Plan that will better address the community's transportation needs; help create a safe, equitable, accessible, easy-to-use, and sustainable transportation network; and guide community investments in the years to come.
Don't miss your chance to help plan for the future of transportation in Arlington!
For more information and to participate in person or online by November 15, visit arlingtonva.us/TransportationFuture.
Uber Is Empowering Riders with Disabilities
On October 10, 2024, Uber announced accessibility updates to their app: Rider self-identification. If a rider chooses to share this information, their driver will be notified of how the rider self-identifies and their communication preferences after they accept a trip request and at pickup. With these new features, it is the company's hope is to create a more efficient way of communicating needs and preferences for both riders and drivers from pickup to drop
In addition to this, Uber is training their drivers about how to handle service animals.
People on the Go Maryland Transportation Survey
People On The Go of Maryland has prepared a survey for people with disabilities to share their experiences with transportation.
Your feedback will help People On The Go of Maryland advocate for better transportation options that actually work for all Maryland.
Apps to Help People with Disabilities Travel
Wired.com recently published an article highlighting different phone apps that are specifically designed to help persons with disability travel safely and with confidence!
AccessibleGO - Allows you to book accessible flights and hotels across the United States. Then, a team member calls each of the vendors to confirm they can meet your needs.
AccessNow - Allows people to search for and discover the accessibility of places and experiences all around the world.
iAccessLife - Allows its users to rate, review, and research locations based on accessibility.
WheelMap - Allows members of the community have access to make their own modifications as they visit locations and experience each place’s level of accessibility. Users can mark their findings with either a green symbol denoting fully wheelchair accessible places; orange, which means partially wheelchair accessible; or red, indicating the place is not accessible.
Be My Eyes - Gives people who are blind or have low vision virtual access to sighted volunteers over a video call. The volunteers give real-time descriptions of what they see through the phone's camera.
More News to Explore:
Social Security COLA Update!
More than 72.5 million Americans will get a 2.5% increase in monthly #SocialSecurity benefits and #SSI payments in 2025.
Check SSA blog for more information ››
Vacancy on the State Special Education Advisory Committee
The Virginia Board of Education seeks nominees for a vacancy on the State Special Education Advisory Committee (“SSEAC”).
The SSEAC provides advice and recommendations to the state Board of Education through the Virginia Department of Education on the unmet needs of students with disabilities. The majority of members of the SSEAC are parents of students with disabilities or individuals with disabilities. SSEAC recommendations can help shape policies that will improve the long-term outcomes for students who receive special education services.
Apply now and let your voice be heard! Nominations can be made using the nomination form at the link above. Deadline: Friday, October 25, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.
Moving on to Life Community Resource Fair
Fairfax County Public Schools Career & Transition Services are hosting their annual Moving on to Life in the Community Resource Fair! Save the date for November 13th and come find our table to say hello and learn about our supportive resources such as Transition POINTS, Tech for Independent Living, and our Special Needs Trust along with many other great organizations!
When: Wednesday, November 13, 2024, from 6:30pm - 8:30pm.
Where: Fairfax High School Cafeteria, 3501 Lion Run, Fairfax, VA 22030. Enter through Door 1.
This event is designed for students with development and intellectual disabilities who will need continuing support after they exit FCPS.
FCPS Career and Transition Services Sign up here ››
Fairfax County Sensory Room Days!
Did you know that Fairfax County has sensory friendly rooms? They are now offering two sensory friendly days for small children. Register today!
Register for Friday Sensations ››
Register for Saturday Sensations ››
Order Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests from USPS
Every U.S. household can order free at-home COVID-19 tests through a partnership between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and the United States Postal Service (USPS). These tests will detect the currently circulating COVID-19 variants and are intended for use through the end of 2024. Each order will include four tests.
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 2025 Register today! ››
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
October 2024
Skills for Getting and Keeping Jobs, (virtual), 10/23/24, 6:30pm - 7:30pm.
Medicaid + Medicare: How to Navigate Dual Special Needs Plans, (virtual), 10/24/24, 9:30am - 10:30am.
Comprensión de la Educación Especial, (in-person), 10/25/24, 10:00am - 12:00pm, ALLY Advocacy Center at The Arc of Loudoun.
I Can Use Social Media: Tips for Using Social Media Safely, (virtual), 10/29/24, 6:00pm - 7:00pm.
November 2024
Introduction to Supported Decision Making, (virtual), 11/6/24, 10:00am - 11:00am.
Neurodiversity Career Fair, (virtual), 11/14/24, 11:00am - 3:00pm.
CAREERS & the disABLED Job Fair, (virtual), 11/18/24, 11:00am - 4:00pm.
Explore our Newsletter Archive to access all of our current and past newsletters!
