AIVRTTAC Weekly

Update

AIVRTTAC Updates and Announcements

National Council on Disability and U.S. Access Board Tribal and Rural Community Town Hall (Nov 9th)

NSEN Kickoff: Key Components of Successful Self-Employment Initiatives (Nov 10th)

Support for Native American Women with Disabilities and the Medical Forensic Examination (Nov 12th)

Strategies for a Good Life: A Peer Support Workshop for Self-Advocates (Dec 1)

Come Together for Brain Injury Awareness! (March 8-11)

NASHIA Focus Forum: Advancing Responses to IPV and Brain Injury (March 11)

Join the National Council on Disability and the U.S. Access Board for a Tribal and Rural Community Town Hall in Phoenix, Arizona.

Date: Nov. 9, 2026

Time: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (MST)

Location: Ability 360, 5025 E. Washington St. Phoenix, AZ 85034

Provide your public comments on Housing, Employment, Education, Independent Living, Healthcare, and Transportation. Virtual attendance is also available. Lunch is provided for in-person attendees.

Space is limited so register today.

NSEN Kickoff: Key Components of Successful Self-Employment Initiatives

Tuesday, November 10, 2026

3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time (ET)

November is National Entrepreneurship Month, and DETAC is celebrating the unique and valuable opportunities that self-employment presents for people with disabilities. Addressing challenges that entrepreneurs with disabilities face requires collaboration among disability, workforce, business development, and entrepreneurial support partners. Join the NSEN as we bring together national, state, and local stakeholders to explore the key components of successful self-employment initiatives to strengthen self-employment pathways for people with disabilities.

National self-employment experts from NSEN conveners will share resources, promising practices, and scalable strategies for launching, growing, and sustaining successful businesses. The NSEN’s Entrepreneur Advisors from John’s Crazy Socks will share lessons learned from their business journey, highlighting key elements that have contributed to their success. Attendees will leave with practical insights, resources, and connections to strengthen self-employment pathways in their own states and local communities.

Support for Native American Women with Disabilities and the Medical Forensic Examination

Thursday, November 12th, 2026

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. MST

Join us for an important conversation on how Native American women with disabilities who experience violence face unique health disparities, barriers to care, and risk factors that can affect their safety, well-being, and access to appropriate services. This session will explore these challenges through a trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and disability-inclusive lens. Participants will examine forensic healthcare case scenarios to strengthen their ability to recognize appropriate assessment, documentation, and evidence collection practices. The session will also highlight the importance of culturally safe care and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Questions? Contact Agnes Attakai at agnesa@arizona.edu

Strategies for a Good Life: A Peer Support Workshop for Self-Advocates

This is a safe place.

Join us for a day of healing, connecting, and sharing our stories.

Tuesday, December 1, 2026

10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. MST

Flinn Foundation

1802 N. Central Ave.

Phoenix, AZ 85004

During this workshop, participants will have the chance to share about difficult experiences. Some of the topics may be sensitive. Our experienced workshop leaders will create a safe space to talk about trauma and practice peer support. Please reach out if you have any questions!

Join the brain injury community in the Washington, DC, area March 8–11 for four days of learning, connection, and advocacy in recognition of Brain Injury Awareness Month.

These events offer an opportunity to connect across states, organizations, and disciplines and to bring the experiences and needs of people with brain injury into the national conversation.

March 8–9 | BIAA Annual Conference

The Brain Injury Association of America’s annual conference will be held March 8-9 at the Hilton Arlington National Landing in Arlington, VA. To learn more, you can visit their website.

March 10 | Brain Injury Awareness Day

March 11 | NASHIA Focus Forum: Advancing Responses to 

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and Brain Injury

Hosted by the NASHIA IPV Special Interest Group

8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. ET

Continue the week with a national workshop exploring the intersection of IPV and brain injury. Participants will gain practical strategies and tools while exploring work involving children and youth, Indigenous communities, and people experiencing human or labor trafficking.

All events outside of the Hill Day and ACL meeting will take place at the Hilton Arlington National Landing. A room block at the hotel is available. We encourage participants to book their hotel as soon as they are able as space is limited.

Links to recent editions of the AIVRTTAC Weekly Update are now available

on the AIVRTTAC.org website.

The contents of this newsletter were developed under a grant from the Department of Education (PR/Award #H250Z150002). However, the contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3 and 3474)