In this edition, Register for upcoming virtual workshops that include technology, resources for parents and financial counseling. Our socials have gone virtual! Spotlight Blog post by Ollie Cantos : With Deep Gratitude for the Frontline. Updated COVID-19 Resources
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Sponsored by: Microsoft
Date: May 27th and May 28th
Time: Various
Description:
The Ability Summit brings together people with disabilities, allies, and accessibility professionals to Imagine, Build, Include, and Empower the future of disability
inclusion and accessibility. And for the first time we will share content virtually!
This event will be held over two days. All are encouraged to attend both days for
this free virtual event.
Please Note: Registration for the Ability Summit will close on Friday, May 22
at 5:00PM PT
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Presented by: VCU Autism Center for Excellence
Virginia Commonwealth University Autism Center for Excellence (VCU- ACE) is working to provide resources for families. Weekly, VCU- ACE will provide an opportunity for parents to join them for Lunch and Learn. An interactive and secure Zoom meeting that will address different topics each week. There will be a short presentation with a time for Q&A. Previous webinars are available for viewing.
Lunch and Learn: Practical Ideas for Maintaining and Creating Structure at Home
Date: May 21, 2020
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 pm ET
Lunch and Learn: Promoting Self-determination through Goal Setting at Home
Date: May 28, 2020
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 pm ET
Lunch and Learn: Communication Strategies for Families
Date: June 4, 2020
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 pm ET
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Hosted by First Home Alliance
Date: Registration starts June 1, 2020
Time: Various
Description:
The 2020 Northern Virginia Housing Expo launches June 1, 2020, as a free, virtual event for the entire month of June. The virtual experience, geared to first-time homebuyers and renters, will replicate the three key aspects of the housing expo: an exhibit hall with dozens of exhibitors, free online workshops for first-time homebuyers and renters and personal financial counseling sessions. Beginning June 1, 2020, the 2020 Northern Virginia Housing Expo will open the virtual exhibit hall as well as the online registration for workshops and the financial counseling sessions.
The virtual workshops will be held Saturdays throughout the month of June, beginning June 6, 2020, and continuing every Saturday through June 27, 2020. They will be live-streamed at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and replayed on Facebook at 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. The workshops will focus on first-time homebuyer programs in Loudoun and the other jurisdictions, market overviews, being ready to buy, rental assistance programs, and understanding and improving credit scores. The financial counseling sessions will also be available throughout the month of June.
The 10th Annual Northern Virginia Housing Expo is hosted by First Home Alliance in cooperation with the counties of Arlington, Prince William and Loudoun, the cities of Alexandria and Falls Church, as well as the Virginia Housing Development Authority.
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Presented by: EARNST ILANG-ILANG II, MSW, LGSW
When: September 17th 2020
Where: ONLINE
Description:
Meaningful community participation is important for increased social interaction, access to services, and overall quality of life. Transportation plays a critical role in providing individuals access to such services and activities. Conversely, public transportation can act as a barrier to integration for those who are unable to independently utilize it. This webinar will discuss transportation services, challenges, and remedies for individuals living with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The presentation will include general topics such as:
Safety
Security
Boundaries
Travel Training
Specific information will also be offered for those living in the DC Metro Area:
Transportation options
WMATA Services
Training Services at ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia
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Social / Support Groups
TGIF Social Group
(Virtual Via Zoom)
When: June 5, 2020
Where: Zoom Online Social 4pm - 5pm
Description:
We will have our first virtual social hour May 1st at 4pm. Once you rsvp to Ruchika Lalwani ( [email protected] | 703-719-1369)
you will get a zoom invitation with password the morning of the event.
The TGIF Group is a chance for local non-disabled and disabled people to relax together after a long week and feel the energy of the disability culture (yes, there IS such a thing!)
Our goal in hosting these get-togethers is to further the mission of ECNV; for individuals with disabilities to improve the quality of their lives,determine their own lifestyles,participate in all aspects of society and secure their human and civil rights.
Sometimes, the greatest barrier is attitude. These get-togethers are an attempt at lowering this barrier by socializing together and creating opportunities to develop friendships in our community that might not otherwise happen!
Endependents Social Group (Virtual Via Zoom)
When: June 19, 2020
Where: Zoom Online Social 4pm - 5pm
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Young Adult Knights (ages 18-30)
When: TBA
Where: Zoom
Description:
Young Adult Knights has gone virtual. If you are between the ages of 18-30 and want to make connections and friends in a relaxed fun atmosphere then please join us. We will meet once a month via Zoom. So far we have had so much fun playing online games and having virtual movie nights. RSVP to Michelle Williams if you are interested!
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Blog Post by: Ollie Cantos former board member
As we continue to come together by staying apart, we must concurrently give thanks for and to all those who keep things running even as the rest of us remain in our homes, safe and sound.
These everyday and all too frequently unsung heroes include the doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel who put themselves at risk every single day as they directly tend to the sick and to other vulnerable populations in hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes. There are the scientists who work around the clock to bring this unfolding tragedy to an end as well as those who run the coronavirus tests to determine the presence or absence of infection. Overlooked champions also include first responders, fire fighters, military personnel, law enforcement, and others who voluntarily run toward and not stray away from danger and who help keep us safe. Plus, there are the workers at pharmacies, farms, factories, warehouses, grocery stores, utility providers, gas stations, and restaurants, who collectively ensure that we are able to receive food, medicine, and other supplies as we essentially shelter in place during this pandemic. And, what would we do without the mail carriers, delivery drivers, and others who get us what we need? This is in addition to the janitors, building maintenance staff, and other essential folks who keep on contributing even as most of us must remain in residence. Not to mention, there are countless armies of Good Samaritans, who reach out to lend a helping hand to individuals in particularly significant need during these challenging times. And, of course, there are our nation’s teachers who educate our kids from a distance and college and university professors who keep on moving forward to prepare the rising generation of adult leaders who are soon to take their place in our global workforce at all levels and in every sector.
For my family and me, gratitude that we have for the front line folks hits home most particularly, since my blind triplet 20-year-old sons Leo, Nick, and Steven tested Positive for the coronavirus. In addition to personal updates to our friends on Facebook, our journey ended up being covered by various media outlets at the local and national levels:
Ultimately, as we each do our part to get through the current pandemic, we may draw strength from the disability rights movement of which we are all a part.
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Ollie Cantos is a three-time presidential appointee and a former Board Member of ECNV. He and his sons Leo, Nick, and Steven reside here in Arlington. Leo serves as Member of the Disability Advisory Commission as appointed by the Arlington County Board of Supervisors.
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We are all in this together. Our team at ECNV is continuing to stay connected with each other, our consumers and partners. We have a working document to bring you up to date resources during this pandemic. Please email [email protected] if you have resources you would like to add to this list.
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Traveling to the DC Metro Area and need a personal assistant? ECNV maintains a PAS registry which is a list of individuals who are available to provide personal assistance. The registry offers consumers and social workers in different counties a resource for finding providers. Many of them have home health care training and are willing to work at a mutually agreeable rate that can be lower than prevailing rates charged by home care agencies. The registry, which is updated on a regular basis, may be obtained by request from the PAS Coordinator. Assistants listed in the registry have completed an application that provides information about their experience and qualifications including personal references. The applicants are then required to attend a training workshop, orienting them to the philosophy of consumer-directed services before being added to the registry.
If you wish to apply to be a personal assistant please fill out the
application and submit to Ruchika Lalwani. Her information is below.
Please contact Ruchika Lalwani at [email protected] or (703) 525-3268 for further information about the PAS registry.
ECNV does not conduct background or reference checks but encourages consumers to do so before hiring a provider. ECNV does not offer personal assistant management training to consumers.
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Click here for more information about our program, how to donate and to view many of the equipment we have in our inventory.
HOSPITAL BEDS AVAILABLE** Pediatric Nasal Cannula 6 ***
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If you have received any services from the ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia (ECNV) or LEND, we’d like your feedback. Your input helps improve the quality of our services and ensures we are meeting your needs.
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