[Image: ECNV new logo with the organization's full name "The ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia" spelled out on the bottom].

In this edition: ECNV’s 40th Anniversary – We Have Work To Do!!, ECNV’s I Am Self-Advocacy, #TheDisabledBlackMagellan blog and more!

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ECNV’s 40th Anniversary – We Have Work To Do!

[Image: ECNV Executive Director, Dominique Dunford-Lack].

By Dominique Dunford-Lack, Executive Director

ECNV celebrated our 40th Anniversary on March 3, 2023. Here are remarks from ECNV’s Executive Director, Dominique Dunford-Lack reflecting on where we have come and where we are going. You can celebrate with us by viewing a two minute Thank You for Celebrating ECNV’s 40th Anniversary video.

Every day, I am inspired by the work of ECNV and I am inspired by you. I think about the history of ECNV often and imagine what it was like for the founders of ECNV when, in the spring of 1981, people with disabilities and community activists from Northern Virginia, wrote a proposal for an Independent Living Center, now known as ECNV.

The vision was to establish a community resource for individuals with disabilities, then realized in the spring of 1982 when ECNV celebrated its grand opening. And, 40 years later, thanks to you, ECNV continues its work to empower people with disabilities.

As I approach my one-year anniversary as the Executive Director of ECNV, I want to thank you for your continued support

[Image: ECNV Executive Director, Dominique Dunford-Lack. Photo by Catherine Krebs].

What’s Going On With RAMP?

The Virginia Ready to Achieve Mentoring Program (RAMP) is a career-focused mentoring program for students with disabilities, aged 14-22, funded through the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). The 8 students participating in this pilot year were referred by their DARS counselor from the Fairfax DARS office and have been busy learning about what careers they are interested in and what resources are out in their communities.

To close out Phase One of the program, RAMP mentees finished their community mapping project in February. They explored and presented their own concepts, important assets, and resources within their respective communities. The final project consisted of a community college and combined to represent the communities they reside in within Fairfax County.

Everyone met at the Fairfax Bowl America to celebrate the end of Phase One. Six out of eight mentees attended the celebration, some on their own and others with a parent. Here, they were able to eat, drink, socialize, and have fun celebrating their accomplishments and enjoying time with their peers. The mentees are looking forward to future events.

We are now in Phase Two of RAMP which highlights Career Exploration, focusing on their own personal characteristics, skills, and needs when exploring different careers. Through the Pathful Explore website, mentees are learning more about their chosen career paths, workplace skills, the interviewing process, finances, and soft skills development. They continue to work on goal setting and preparing for the job application process through mock interviews and resume-building activities. The group looks forward to more worksite visits, guest speaker presentations, and opportunities for job shadowing and internships.

On February 23rd, RAMP mentees visited the Workforce Innovation Skills Hub (WISH) Center located in Alexandria, Virginia, to learn about their free training and workshops. The mentees found out that they can attend classes at the WISH Center to introduce them to and teach them about welding and woodworking as well as learn about emerging technologies such as augmented and virtual reality, drones, robotics, and fabrication & prototyping. At the Center, mentees can access certificate programs, jobs that pay $20+ per hour, skill-building workshops (ie. interviewing for employment, resume building), and other support services.

The mentees are currently conducting research related to their chosen careers. They continue to develop their workplace skills, build their resumes, and learn interviewing and employment etiquette. They also interviewed their parents to learn, compare, and develop more insight into other careers. During our interviews, we learned about the parents’ interesting jobs of news editor, pre-kindergarten teacher, real estate agent, software government contractor, and senior contractor.

In the next few months, RAMP has a few guest speakers scheduled to talk more about financial literacy, different trades and careers, job readiness, and college. In Phase Three, RAMP mentees are looking forward to working on STEAM projects.

[Image: Kevina Brown (RAMP Coordinator), six mentees, and two parents are standing as a group in front of bowling lanes. Two of the six mentees have their arms outstretched and palms up at their sides. Everyone is facing the camera, except for one mentee who is facing to the right].

[Image: Students are seated in a classroom and watching an interactive video, Workplace Essential Skills Video: The Interview, that Is being projected onto the wall. One student is seated next to the projected video wearing a white sweater and assisting Kevina Brown (RAMP Program Coordinator)].

[Images: Kevina Brown (RAMP Coordinator), six mentees, and two parents are standing as a group in front of bowling lanes. Two of the six mentees have their arms outstretched and palms up at their sides. Everyone is facing the camera, except for one mentee who is facing to the right; Students are seated in a classroom and watching an interactive video, Workplace Essential Skills Video: The Interview, that Is being projected onto the wall. One student is seated next to the projected video wearing a white sweater and assisting Kevina].

I Am Self-Advocacy Updates

ECNV is just about to start its second Spring Session of the I Am Self-Advocacy (IASA) Program! For those of you who aren’t familiar, 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.

Typically, this program is offered virtually and runs 8 to 10-weeks 4 times throughout the year. However, ECNV launched a 16-week in-school program session in February at Alexandria City High School that runs in tandem with the virtual program sessions. In this program model, 5 peer mentors are meeting with the students in-person during school hours for their one-on-one sessions. Group sessions are conducted every other week and facilitated by Paul Whitney, who is spearheading this in-school program while providing in-service training for the peer mentors.

Paul observed: Reflecting on these first five weeks of the in-school program, it is apparent this model works on multiple levels. The familiarity the students have with the school and with each other contributes to a greater level of interaction during sessions. This has also been a rewarding vocational opportunity for our peer mentors. I’m excited about the skills they are sharpening and the opportunity to invite additional peer mentors to future program sessions. Finally, we are building valuable community partnerships by working with schools. By catching these students at a critical, transitionary point in their lives, our hope is that this snowballs to providing a greater level of support to those in our community that could really use it. Currently, this model is only offered to Alexandria City High School students. Not only does this model allow for in-person interactions, but it also alleviates the stress of scheduling after school or work hours for these busy young adults and their families.

Regardless of the program model, students work with their peer mentor at a speed and level that is individualized and conducive to their learning. During the weekly group sessions, they take what they have learned and delve deeper into program topics, participating in group activities and debates with their peers. By the end of the program, the students will have put together their own self-advocacy portfolio to include things they learned regarding self-awareness, disability awareness, self-determination, disability rights and responsibilities, how to be assertive, and how to engage allies and be an ally to others.

Students interested in participating in the IASA program should talk to their special education teacher or Employment and Transition Representative (ETR) at their school for assistance. Alternatively, reach out to your local DARS office to get started. All referrals must come from DARS. If you need help making the connection to DARS or have questions, contact the Program Coordinator, Hannah Roberts at hannahr@ecnv.org or call us at ECNV 703-525-3268.

[Image: Three circles overlapping each other with words Self Advocate in the center and words Motivated, Committed, and Passionate on each circle.]

Ways to Find Work

Are you looking for work but are not sure where to start? The Alexandria Workforce Development Center and the Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitation may be able to help. ECNV is hosting two introductory sessions about these public workforce assistance programs, especially for immigrants who are learning to navigate these systems.

Session 1:

In English with Language Interpreters Available

Thursday, April 20, 2023

1:00 – 2:30 pm

Session 2:

en español (in Spanish)

Thursday, April 27, 2023

1:00 – 2:30 pm

WHERE?

NEW Department of Community and Human Services

4850 Mark Center Drive – 8th Floor

For more information contact the ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia (ECNV) info@ecnv.org or call 703-525-3268.

No One Wants to See That

(Unless They Want a Picture): Hanoi

A nighttime view of Hanoi, Vietnam overlooking the river.

By D’Arcee Neal, Agent of Change

This is the sixth #TheDisabledBlackMagellan blog by Agent of Change, D’Arcee Neal who is a fellow in ECNV’s Ford Foundation Disability Justice Initiative. This year, D’Arcee will share his thoughts and experiences about disability and intersectionality with BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and other marginalized identities.

I find myself still reeling at Candace Owen’s callous commentary this past weekend when she decided to rail against Kim Kardashian for using a model with a disability for her Skim’s campaign. Now among the most egregious things she had to say (and with Owens, that’s pretty much everything) was this idea that “no one wanted to see that,” and that the diversity call had in fact gone too far with the idea that you could see disabled people dressed up sexily and showing off their bodies. While the internet has rightfully criticized dear Candace including a wonderful rebuttal from the actress Christina Applegate who herself has recently joined the disability community, I’d still argue that many, many people feel like she was totally right because let’s be honest: when’s the last time you ever saw a woman with a disability in a pair of a lacy bra and panties?

Spring2ACTion

On April 26, 2023, ECNV will participate in Spring2ACTion, a 24-hour giving event.

We’re counting down the days to April 26th and Spring2ACTion. We need your help to make our campaign a success, and we’ve included a few easy ways that you can support us.

Share and share alike. Online days of giving are successful because of our own networks. Help us grow our network by sharing our donation page to your network and ask your friends to do the same.
Be socially (media) active. Use your social media networks: post on Facebook, tweet about Spring2ACTion, and share your love for your ECNV. Ask others to do the same.
Become a fundraising champion. Everyone loves a champion, including us! We really need fundraising champions to help drive people to our Spring2ACTion profile on April 26th. Early giving will begin on Wednesday, April 12, 2023 and run through Tuesday, April 25th at 11:59 PM.

Thank you in advance for your support!

Good to Know

Here is news of interest for the disability community!

DOJ Consent Decree Settlement Update

The consent decree is set to expire at the end of this year, even though Virginia has not met all the requirements in the original decree. This is a call to action issued by The Arc of Northern Virginia.

More than a decade ago, the Commonwealth of Virginia entered into a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to ensure Virginians with developmental disabilities had access to high quality community-based services. The Consent Decree between the DOJ and Virginia was originally set to expire on June 30, 2021. But because Virginia had failed to meet all the requirements set forth in the decree, the federal court extended the date to December 2023.

On March 9, 2023, Kyle Smiddie, Trial Attorney in the Special Litigation Section, Civil Rights Division of the the Department of Justice shared updates on the settlement progress, including plans for the agreement to formally end at the end of this year.

Do you feel all of your needs have been met and we’re ready to end the settlement? If not, we encourage you to reach out to Judge Gibney, the judge who oversees the settlement to share your concerns on ongoing needs.

Letters should be mailed to:

The Honorable John A. Gibney Jr.

701 East Broad Street,

Richmond, VA 23219

Help with Accessibility Modifications

Rebuilding Together Arlington/Fairfax/Falls Church (RT-AFF) makes critical home repairs and accessibility modifications at no charge for low-income homeowners in Arlington and Fairfax Counties. Homeowners who meet the income cap of $63,000 for one person ($72,000 for two) can apply online or call 703-528-1999. RT-AFF has a pilot project to make relatively simple accessibility modifications such as installing grab bars and double stair rails for low-income tenants, subject to an agreement signed by both the landlord and tenant. For additional information, please email donryanemail@gmail.com.

FCC Proposes To Expand Audio Description Regulations To All Remaining Markets

The Federal Communications Commission proposed to expand audio description regulations to all remaining market areas where the requirement does not already apply. Audio description inserts narrated descriptions of a television program’s key visual elements during natural pauses in the program’s dialogue. The proposal would ensure that video programming is more accessible to individuals who are blind or visually impaired, helping them be more connected, informed, and entertained by television programming.

Therapeutic Rec Camps

Local therapeutic recreation programs offer affordable summer camp experiences for people (ages 5-22) with developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, physical disabilities, emotional disabilities, learning disabilities, and/or attention deficit disorders. The summer will be packed full of special events, art activities, sensory play, games, sports, outdoor play, music activities and more.

There are camps available in Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax, and Loudoun. Enrollment is also open for Camp Great Rock, a fun, safe environment for children & teens with epilepsy.

Become a Fair Housing Tester In Your Community

Regina Chainey, Senior Community Engagement Specialist, from HOME shared information about their Fair Housing Tester Program at our All-Staff Meeting.

Testers help uncover illegal housing discrimination and hold housing industry professionals accountable. They are vital to enforcing fair housing laws by uncovering discrimination that may be difficult to recognize and holding housing industry professionals accountable for the discrimination.

To perform a test, the testers take on various roles and profiles. They gather information, much like anyone on a housing search or when seeking a loan, and observe how a housing provider treats prospective tenants, mortgage applicants or home buyers. After each test, the tester completes a detailed account of what occurred during the test and submits it to HOME.

Tests can occur in the rental, sales, insurance or lending markets of a housing transaction. A tester is not trying to trick or trap a housing provider into discriminating. They are similar to restaurant critics in that they observe and record their experiences. Testers are sometimes referred to as “secret shoppers” or “auditors.”

If you have any questions, feel free to contact them at tester@HOMEofVA.org or 804.354.0641.

[Image: Testing relationship graphic.]

Volunteer Research Study Opportunities!

Do you experience recurrent urinary symptoms? If so, you may be eligible for a Urinary symptoms research study. Individuals 18 years & older with a spinal cord injury, Multiple Sclerosis, or Spina Bifida with a concurring diagnosis of neurogenic bladder who can intermittent catheter can participate and will receive an honorarium. The purpose of the study is to compare the effectiveness of saline vs. probiotic bladder wash to reduce urinary symptoms. If interested, please contact Emily Leonard, PhD at Emily.M.Leonard@Medstar.net, or call 202-877-1844.

Speech Accessibility Project is a new research initiative to make voice recognition technology more useful for people with a range of diverse speech patterns and disabilities. Watch this short video.

Supreme Court Unanimously Sides With Student In

Special Education Case

Earlier this month, The Supreme Court sided unanimously with a student who is deaf and sought to sue his school for damages over profound lapses in his education, a case that experts say could give parents of students with disabilities more leverage as they negotiate for the education of their children.

Central to the case was the story of Miguel Perez, who enrolled in the Sturgis Public School District in Michigan at age 9 and brought home A's and B's on report cards for more than a decade. Months before graduation, Perez's parents learned that he would not receive a diploma and that aides the school assigned to him did not know sign language.

This unanimous decision helps ensure students with disabilities can receive an appropriate education and congratulations to Disability Rights Michigan who started work on this case in 2017 & fought hard for this ruling.

[Image: Miguel Perez, a student who is deaf is at the center of a Supreme Court case].

ACL Updates: COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and Medicaid Enrollment

The federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) and Major Disaster Declaration (MDD) for COVID-19 will end on May 11, 2023, and federally funded programs are returning to normal operations. This will end the temporary, but significant, changes made to Medicaid enrollment and eligibility rules, as well as additional pandemic-specific flexibilities extended to State Units on Aging for programs funded through the Older Americans Act.

What do the aging and disability networks need to know?

DMAS Proposed Rule Regarding Personal Care Aides

The Department of Medical Assistance Services’ (DMAS) proposed a rule regarding “legally responsible individuals” as personal care aides. Under the proposed Medicaid rule, parents of minors and spouses are able to serve as personal care aides for their family members and be paid for their services. Check out dLCV’s fact sheet to learn more about the rule and how you can share your opinion on the rule with DMAS via “public comment.”

You can also view this fact sheet.

Events for Learning, New Opportunities and Advocacy

Recently Archived:

April

Disability Justice in Arts, (virtual) 4/12/23, 3:00pm - 4:00pm. This event is $10 for non-members; free for members.
Helping Parents Thrive Parenting their D/HH Children, (virtual), 4/14/23, 12:00pm - 1:30pm.
SIBSHOPS: a Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs, (in-person) 4/14/23, 9:00am - 12:00pm EST at Providence Community Center. This event is free.
Life In The Community Symposium, (in-person), 4/15/23, 9:00am - 4:00pm EST at Dominion Energy's Innsbrook Conference Center. Paid.
Adaptive Scuba Diving, (in-person), 4/16/23, 9:00am - 11:30am EST at Wakefield High School. To register, contact Rosemary Ciotti at (703) 309-8601 or email rosemary@barrierfreedivers.org.
Transition Lunch & Learn, (virtual) 4/19/23, 12:00 pm. This event is free.
Federal Employee Benefits and Their Impact on Adults with Disabilities, (virtual) 4/20/23, 11:00 am EST. This event is free.
Ways to Find Work, (in-person), 4/20/23, 1:00pm - 2:30pm, NEW Department of Community and Human Services.
#GAconf Europe 2023, (virtual and in-person) 4/24/23 to 4/25/23. Virtual event is free. Two days of talks and networking exploring recent and future advancements in the field of video game accessibility.
Let's Talk About It: Sexual Health and Wellness Training, (virtual) 4/24/23 - 4/25/23. Virtual event is free.
Needs, Wants, Wishes, and Dreams: Finding Affirmation, Motivation & Inspiration Amongst Fellow Families Navigating the Disability Journey, (virtual and in-person) 4/25/23, 10:00am - 12:00pm.
Disability Career Fair, (virtual) 4/26/23, 9:00 am - 6:00 pm EST. This event is free.
Flash Forward: Postsecondary Education and Employment Options, (in-person), 4/26/23, 6:30 pm - 8:30pm EST. This event is free.
Neurodiversity at High School: How Can Families Partner with Schools?, (virtual) 4/28/23, 10:00 am - 11:30 am EST. This event is free.
Using Popular Music to Teach Social and Emotional Learning, (virtual) 4/26/23, 3:00pm - 4:00pm. This event is $10 for non-members; free for members.
Ways to Find Work, (in-person), 4/27/23, 1:00pm - 2:30pm, NEW Department of Community and Human Services.
Neurodiversity at High School, (virtual), 4/28/23, 10:00 am - 11:30 am EST.
18th Annual Special Education Conference, (virtual) 4/29/23, 9:00 am - 12:15 pm EST. This event is free. Registration will open in April!
Anglers for Autism, (in-person), 4/30/23, 12:00pm - 3:00pm at Lake Fairfax Park.

ECNV Around Town

The ENCV outreach team were around town promoting our programs and vaccination popups for people with disabilities.

Annandale Community Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Rosalia Fajardo attended the Annandale Community Center ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, March 4, 2023, which featured Braddock District Supervisor James R. Walkinshaw and the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services for the opening of the new Annandale Community Center at 7861-B Heritage Dr, Annandale, VA behind the CVS at Heritage Shopping Plaza. This celebration included community activities, and light refreshments.

[Image: Rosalia Fajardo (right) in a black coat with a Latino support group of mothers with children with Autism; Members Board of supervisors of Fairfax County at the ribbon cutting for the new Annandale Community Center].

Rosalia Fajardo to right black coat with group of Latino support group of mothers with children with Autism.

ACT for Alexandria. Cherie Takemoto (third from left) participated in an ACT for Alexandria focus group on March 9, 2023 with other Alexandria emergency assistance grantees to consider ways they can shift the system to respond to the multiple demands, needs, and stresses experienced by the people who request assistance.

Maya Flores on WJLA7 to Discuss STAR Paratransit. Former ECNV Board President and former ECNV Board Member, Marion “Maya” Flores appeared on WJLA on March 13, 2023 to discuss STAR, Arlington’s paratransit service.

Alexandria Assistance. On Tuesday, March 21, ECNV continued to help Alexandria residents with disabilities by supporting them with rental assistance and access to resources.

Rosalia Fajardo at the White House. Rosalia Fajardo was invited as a part of a national delegation of Latina women to attend the White House presentation on Women’s History Coins on March 24. They later met with Gabriela Cristobal and Sol Ortega from the White House Office on Public Engagement. Rosalia highlighted the needs of Latinas with disabilities and chronic health conditions, her work with Dreamers Mothers in Action and at ECNV.

Alexandria City Women’s Health Fair. Margarita Baquero attended Alexandria City Women’s Health Fair on Saturday, March 25. This event was organized by Kathleen and Eddie Arthur, Alexandria City government agencies and local non-profits.

Latina Women Conference in Fairfax County. On Sunday, March 26, ECNV volunteer Jimena Barron from a Latin support group for children with Autism helped to distribute COVID-19 home tests to more than 200 hundred attendees at the Latina Women Conference in Fairfax County.

Disability and Mental Health

Connecting with others supports mental health and this is especially important for persons with disabilities. There are many support groups out there, but where can you find them? ECNV can help!

NAMI Family Support Group is a support group for family members, significant others and friends of people with mental health conditions. Gain insight from the challenges and successes of others facing similar experiences.
Our Stomping Ground Young Adult Virtual Meet-up
People First and ALLY Toastmasters is an advocacy organization designed for and run by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Deaf Seniors Stay Connected allows ASL college students to meet virtually.
21 Shades of Virginia, is a support group for families expecting or raising an African-American or interracial child with Down Syndrome.
AccessLiving has a regular online Mental Health Peer Support Group for persons with disabilities.
Dis-Queer is a nationwide community group for LGBTQIA+ individuals with disabilities.
Neurodiverse Peer Support Group is a peer-lead, peer-supported safe space for neurodiverse individuals where we share resources, insight, and personal stories.
Infinity ABA Parent Connect is a support group for parents with children with disabilities.
Parenting Disabilities is a group where parents come together to support and empower each other as they raise children with disabilities.

In addition, beginning April 10th, all Fairfax County Public Schools students can access mental health teletherapy services, at no cost to families. Families must first opt-in before requesting service.

All of these are free to join, and we also invite the disability community to let us know if there is a support group out there that is not listed here, to please let us know about it and it can be added to this resource!

Stay happy, stay healthy!

ECNV Calendar

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.

April 21 – The ENDependents Social Group (virtual) from 4:00 – 6:00 pm

May 12 – TGIF Social Group at Delhi Dhaba, 2424 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm

May 17 – ECNV Board Meeting from 5:00 – 6:30 pm

May 19 – The ENDependents Social Group (virtual) from 4:00 – 6:00 pm

[Image: TGIF Social Group gathering at Silver Diner].

www.ecnv.org