ECNV's Be in the Know: September 2024
Here is news of interest for the disability community!
Deaf Awareness Month
Deaf Awareness Month is held during the month of September, and it is a time to showcase and inform others how the deaf communities around the world come together to celebrate, and bring awareness of deaf-related issues, their culture and language that are unique to the deaf and hard-of-hearing people.
11 Ways You Can Celebrate Deaf Awareness ››
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.
Fairfax Review of Modified Accessible Parking Requirements: Proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment
On September 26, 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved a Board Matter directing staff to evaluate the effect of newly adopted parking regulations (Parking Reimagined) on accessible parking supply. Accessible parking is required with any construction of parking for land use. To ensure that the accessible parking supply is maintained at pre-2024 levels, staff evaluated and considered modified requirements for accessible parking. On July 23, 2024, staff presented an update on this project to the Board of Supervisors Land Use Policy Committee. In response to this presentation, the Board directed staff to draft a Zoning Ordinance Amendment that ensures stability in the supply of accessible parking.
Cell Phone-Free Education
On July 9, 2024, the Governor issued Executive Order 33 to help bring cell phone-free education to Virginia schools. Draft guidance for this executive order was issued by the Virginia Department of Education on August 15, 2024. The guidance has information concerning students with disabilities.
2024 House Congressional Forum
The Autism Society of Northern Virginia and the Arc of Northern Virginia will host the "2024 House Congressional Forum" on Monday, October 7, 2024 from 6:00m - 7:30pm. Hear from Congressional House of Representatives candidates covering districts 7, 8, 10 and 11. This eveny will have ASL interpretation and will focus on disability policy.
Transportation News:
DOT Phasing Out DC Circulator
The Department of Transportation will be phasing out the DC Circulator starting October 1st. The program downsizing and shutdown are part of the District's Fiscal Year 2025 Budget and Financial Plan.
The following route adjustments will be implemented on October 1st:
Termination of Rosslyn-Dupont Circle (RS-DP)
Elimination of late-night service on Woodley Park-Adams Morgan (WP-AM) and Georgetown- Union Station (GT-US)
Remaining routes will operate on 20-minute headways, a 10-minute increase from current arrival times.
Woodley Park-Adams Morgan (WP-AM), Georgetown-Union Station (GT-US), Congress Heights-Union Station (CH-US), and Eastern Market – L'Enfant Plaza (EM-LP) routes will end service at 9 p.m. daily, rather than midnight.
Rally for DC Circulator Workers & Riders
Join Local 689 and DC Circulator workers for a rally on September 23, 2024 outside the Wilson Building to demand a transition of service to MetroBus! If you haven't yet, be sure to contact Mayor Bowser and DDOT with the message to cut out the games with Circulator!
New Fairfax Connector Route Links Tysons to Bethesda!
Route 798 provides express bus service from Tysons, Virginia to Bethesda, Maryland. Operated by Fairfax Connector, the 798 is a convenient, efficient, and eco-friendly transportation option. It opened September 16, 2024!
This will be a weekday rush hour service only, with a total of five stops.
Tysons West*Park Transit Station
Tysons Metrorail Station
Westfield Montgomery Mall Transit Center
Rockville Pike and South Drive (adjoining Medical Center Metrorail Station)
Montgomery Lane and East Lane (Downtown Bethesda).
Learn more about Tysons to Bethesda››
Springfield Commuter Garage is Now Open!
The Springfield Community Business Center Commuter Parking Garage is a state-of-the-art facility designed to enhance convenience and accessibility in the community. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Sept. 6, 2024, to celebrate the completion of this project. This facility includes a pedestrian bridge, two commuter lots, and a community space on the rooftop. It will be a major Fairfax Connector hub, with almost 20 bus routes!
It officially became open to the public on Saturday, September 14, 2024.
Learn more about Springfield Commuter Garage ››
"Designing for People of All Ages" AARP Workshop
AARP Presents their Livable Communities Workshop: “Designing for People of All Ages.”
Join for a free, two-day, online event October 16 and 17 — 1 to 5 p.m. (ET). Through four core themes — Housing, Transportation, Public Spaces, and Community Engagement — the workshop will share innovative solutions and best practices to design places that benefit people of all ages and abilities. Day 2 features Rebekah Taussig, who is a disability advocate and storyteller. She will discuss the need to think bigger and more critically about who has a seat at the table and the barriers that bar others from inclusion.
Active Fairfax
Help shape the future of the bike and trails network in Fairfax County. Feedback from the open houses and meetings this fall will be added to previous planning initiatives, best practices, and comments collected in Spring 2021 to help develop a multi-modal transportation network that serves residents and visitors of all ages and abilities, values environmental stewardship and works toward equity.
Attend an Open House, Committee Meeting or Virtual Meeting ››
Free COVID-19 Home Tests Coming Late September!
Free at-home COVID-19 tests will be available again by mail in late September, with each household eligible to order up to four tests through COVIDtests.gov. These tests, which can detect newer variants, will remain valid through the end of the year.
The return of free testing follows the FDA approval of updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, which will soon be available for everyone 6 months and older. Vaccination and testing are emphasized as essential tools to prevent infection and control the spread of the virus, especially during the ongoing summer wave of COVID19.
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.
Place Your Order for Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests
Get a COVID-19 test for symptoms or exposure. ECNV serves as a supplier for individuals and organizations. For inquiries, please reach out to us at info@ecnv.org or you can get Free at-home tests from USPS.
Open Comment Opportunity: Impact of AI on Accessibility and People with Disabilities
The U.S. Access Board invites the disability community to send in written comments on the impact of AI on accessibility and people with disabilities. Please note that the period for submitting written comments has been extended to October 31, 2024.
Visit the Board’s AI page for more information on how to submit written comments either over email or via the docket on Regulations.gov.
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).
2024 Assessments of Virginia's Disability Services Systems
Each year, the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD) assesses two main service areas for people with disabilities in Virginia. They give a summary of the two service systems and propose how to make services for people with disabilities better.
This year, their assessments focused on Inclusive Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery and the Information Ecology of the Disability Services System.
Events for Learning, New Opportunities and Advocacy
September 2024
The new Virginia Alternate Assessment Program (VAAP) Participation Decision-Making Tool, (virtual), 9/18/24 or 9/19/24, 6:30pm - 8:00pm.
Fostering Healthy Relationships and Abuse Prevention for Adults with Disabilities, (virtual), 9/19/24, 10:00am.
Disability and the Care Economy, (virtual), 9/19/24, 1:00pm - 2:00pm.
Celebrate Communication (in-person), 9/28/24, 11:00am - 3:00pm, Springfield Town Center.
October 2024
dLCV 2024 disAbility Rights and Resources Summit, (virtual), 10/10/24, 9:00am - 5:00pm.
Helen Keller Services Virtual Accessibility Symposium & Awards, (virtual), 10/22/24, 12:00pm.
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