E-newsletter: October 2023
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) celebrates the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities past and present and showcases supportive, inclusive employment policies and practices that benefit employers and employees. ODEP has chosen "Advancing Access and Equity" as its theme for NDEAM 2023
ECNV Recognizes Dr. Sergio Rimola During Hispanic Heritage Month
Originally from Guatemala, Sergio migrated to the United States in 1985 during the civil war unrest in the Central American Country. He graduated from Medical School at the University of San Carlos in Guatemala and completed a residency program in Obstetrics and Gynecology before migrating to the United States. Once in the US he learned English and passed the requirements for foreign medical graduates, enrolled and finished a residency program in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Sisters and Charity Hospital affiliated with SUNY at Buffalo.
Welcome to the ECNV Family! We're excited to introduce new staff at ECNV!
Maura Schmidt (She/Her/Hers) is a Program Facilitator and Independent Living Specialist at ECNV. Maura graduated from George Mason University with a Bachelor of Social Work. She has worked in many different aspects of the disability field since graduating including group homes, employment development, autism services, special education, and inclusion programming. Maura has a passion for walking alongside individuals with disabilities to help them achieve the life they envision and to push society towards inclusivity in all areas. She was born and raised in Pennsylvania and has lived in the DMV for the past ten years. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, the live music scene of DC, watching football, actively participating in social justice movements, and traveling to learn about new cultures. She is excited to be a part of the ECNV team!
Margarita Baquero is officially joining the ECNV as a Independent Living Specialist / Travel Trainer. Margarita is not new to ECNV—she provided a great deal of assistance with our COVID-19 Outreach initiative as well as with our I Am Self-Advocacy program. All of us at ECNV couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome her to the team as a full-time employee.
Suraksha Attila Surio is currently a George Mason University senior majoring in Social Work and pursuing his Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). He is expected to graduate in Spring of 2024. At the moment, he is doing an internship at ECNV in Arlington, VA. Attila says that the staff at ECNV are fantastic, and he is genuinely appreciates and is grateful for the chance to learn the ropes and soak up all their wisdom. His dream is to learn as much as possible during his internship and succeed as a social worker. With the guidance he is getting, he is sure to make his dreams come to fruition!
Adventures in Loudoun
In the late summer, Andrew Shaw provided instruction to Liza Unverzagt in how to successfully use the bus in Loudoun County to areas such as Downtown Leesburg, One Loudoun, and finally the Metrorail that had opened in Ashburn and how to use it.
Thriving Solo: Fall 2023 Session
ECNV is offering a new training series for people with disabilities who want to live on their own. These classes will help participants build skills and understanding in the key areas of living independently: cooking and meal preparation, daily routine, stress management, travel training, budgeting and money management, self-advocacy, and more! Classes will be led by ECNV’s Independent Living Specialists and include both classroom instruction, group activities, and hands-on experiences and field trips. These classes are led by and for people with disabilities and participants will also participate alongside peers and develop social skills and build relationships as they work through the course.
Week 1: Nov 6 - 8
Week 2: Nov 13 - 15
Mondays – Wednesdays 2:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Use our Online Registration Form to sign up today! Registration closes Oct 15, 2023.
ECNV's I Am Self-Advocacy Program: End of Summer 2023
The IASA 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.
I Am Self-Advocacy End of Summer 2023 Update ››
What's Going on with RAMP?
For those readers who do not yet know what RAMP is, RAMP stands for the Ready to Achieve Mentoring Program. It is a career-focused mentoring program for students with disabilities, aged 14-22, that is funded by the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) and will be offered during the 2023 – 2024 school year to eligible students residing in Fairfax County and referred by both the Fairfax and Alexandria DARS offices.
It’s an exciting time for RAMP as ECNV gears up for yet another fantastic year!
Disability Awareness Days
October buzzes with activity in the realm of awareness, featuring a variety of days and month-long acknowledgments. ECNV stands ready with a wealth of resources and collaborations with many organizations. Should you require assistance or more information please contact us at 703-525-3268.
All of October-ADHD Awareness Month
All of October-Down Syndrome Awareness Month
All of October-Spina Bifida Awareness Month
10/02/2023-World Day of Bullying Prevention
10/06/2023-World Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day
10/10/2023-World Mental Health Day
10/12/2023-World Sight Day
10/15/2023-Blind Americans Safety Day/White Can Safety Day
We would love to hear from you!
At ECNV we value the work we do. We are dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of individuals and communities we serve. We are reaching out to you, our valued supporter, because we would love to hear about the successes and achievements you have experienced through your involvement with ECNV. Scan the QR Code to take survey or click HERE to take a survey.
Get your yearly dose of confidence from ECNV. We've got you!
ECNV has joined the Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative, led by USAging, to launch its “You’ve Got This” initiative with the goal of reaching million COVID-19/flu vaccinations within 17 months. This initiative aims to remove common barriers prohibiting older adults, people with disabilities and vulnerable populations from getting vaccinated by providing local and audience specific support. To achieve this goal, we will provide vaccine-related services such as:
Local vaccine clinics
Onsite consultations from a healthcare expert
If you’re aged 60+ or a person with a disability, protect yourself and your loved ones. Add the COVID-19 and flu vaccines to your list and we'll help you check it off. The Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative, powered by USAging, has partnered with Giant Pharmacy to make getting your annual shots/COVID-19 and flu shots easy.
Bookmark our ECNV Vaccination Events page on our website to learn more information about upcoming events in your area
ECNV Upcoming Calendar
October 6 – TGIF Social Group at Delhi Dhaba, 2424 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201 from 5:00pm – 7:00 pm
November 15 – ECNV Board Meeting from 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
*The social groups are run by ECNV Staff. These fun gatherings are a great time for connecting, sharing and often take place over a good meal. Perhaps you'll make a new friend, and with lots of pandemic mandates being lifted, it's a perfect time to come back out. For more information, contact Ruchika Lalwani
Be on the lookout for a distinct "Be in the Know" email, which will be distributed within the next few weeks.
ECNV Around Town
ECNV was active in the cities promoting our COVID-19 home test distribution program, vaccination clinics, and other community outreach.
ECNV Meets with Mark Madrid
On Thursday, August 31, 2023, ECNV discussed the importance of support for entrepreneurs and business owners with SBA Assistant Administrator, Mark Madrid and his great team.
BIPOC Disability Justice Summit: Our Presence is Our Power Brunch
On September 6th, 2023, staff members, Cherie, Emily and Kevina attended BIPOC Disability Justice Summit: Our Presence is Our Power Brunch hosted by The NAMED Advocates. We had the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, share stories, and further our collective mission towards inclusion and equity.
Community Day at Stony Brook Apartments - Route 1 Alexandria Corridor
On Saturday, September 9, 2023, ECNV sponsored a Community Day celebration at Stony Brook Apartment, located in the Route 1 corridor of Alexandria. It was a celebration full of resources, free COVID-19 home tests were distributed, plenty of food, and games for residents!
A Wellness Wednesday Fair
On September 19-21 2023, ECNV Director of Multicultural Families Rosalia Fajardo was invited by Televisa/UNIVISION event sponsor to attend the largest gathering of Latino leaders in the country - the CHCI 2023 Leadership Conference and 46th Annual Awards Gala taking place in Washington D.C. during Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM). This year's theme was Our Moment in History. The CHCI HHM events are a celebration of the invaluable contributions Latinos have made and continue to make to the fabric of our nation in all fields. The Leadership Conference is a call to action to continue to build on that progress. ECNV is a proud part of that history!
Other Events
On September 30, 2023, ECNV attended the Hispanic Heritage Month at Culmore. The event was a blast! ECNV staff distributed COVID-19 home test kits to families and event attendees.
