Travel Training
We are excited about a new project coming to ECNV! Travel Training – we will provide free, comprehensive, individualized travel training for people with disabilities through a multi-day program, where you’ll learn how to:
- Get a Reduced Fare Program ID card
- Create a plan on how to get where you want to go and back
- Communicate with Metro to obtain travel information
- Board trains and buses
- Pay fares while traveling
- Access features for people with disabilities
- Travel safely on public transportation and more.
You’ll learn everything you need to know to plan, pay for, and take trips on Metrorail and Metrobus, as well as other local buses and trains in the region.
The Comprehensive Individualized Level of Travel Training: A Regional Initiative (CIL Project), is a federal grant project, in partnership with the D.C. Center for Independent Living (DCCIL), ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia (ECNV), and Independence Now (IN) of Maryland. Additional project associates will include the Arc of Northern Virginia and the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services.
A major portion of the project will focus on helping individuals with significant disabilities learn how to travel to and from places they want go. This could be learning how to get to work, go shopping, or go to the mall to hang out with friends using the transit systems.
ECNV has hired two full-time travel trainers, Robyn Bernardy and Rick Luckett to provide individualized travel training for individuals with disabilities who require more than the one-day Metro system orientation currently provided through the Metro Department of Access Services.
An important component of the project will be the provision of Metro Train the Travel Trainers Workshops for the ECNV staff. This is to ensure sustainability of comprehensive travel training services throughout the region beyond the two-year project period.
ECNV and Metro will conduct extensive outreach to consumers with disabilities to make them aware of the travel training options available throughout the region. ECNV will provide the comprehensive, long-term,+ individualized travel training and referrals will be made to Metro for the one-day individual and group Metro system orientations.
We look forward to arming individuals with disabilities with the knowledge and skills to independently utilize and successfully navigate accessible public transportation.
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From the Editor
On January 20, ECNV and the other 15 Centers for Independent Living in VA went to the General Assembly in Richmond to talk to senators and delegates about cuts in the proposed budget that would affect people on Medicaid Waivers.
It’s too early to tell if our advocacy was effective, but we’ll be able to say within a month.
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Hands Off Medicaid Waivers
“You have the option of moving into a nursing home or a family member can quit there job and stay with you in your own home.” These are two real options given to many people who are elderly or who are living with disabilities. Those who are entitled to Medicaid institutionalized care but opt for a Medicaid Waiver (choosing to receive assistance in their homes with Medicaid money—hiring a personal assistant or home health care assistance), may be running out of luck.
This years Governor’s Budget has called for cuts in Medicaid Waiver programs and a freeze on others waivers. ECNV staff along with many of its consumers spent days and nights in January appearing before state senator and delegate hearings in Arlington, Alexandria, Annandale, Fairfax, and Loudoun insisting that these waivers be restored and that the waivers be not among this year’s budget cuts.
On January 20th ECNV joined with the other fifteen VA Centers for Independent Living (250 people) at the General Assembly Building in Richmond to bring this message to all of the senators and delegates.
Sadly, without giving a great deal of thought, cutting the waivers sounds like a money saver. In reality, studies have proven again and again that if one goes into a nursing home or other institutionalized care it will cost the state up to three times what in-home waiver service cost. Please join us in contacting your delegates and senators and ask them to do please do the math.
ECNV Staff met with State Delegate Ken Plum (center back row) in
his General Assembly office in Richmond.
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2009 ECNV Annual Meeting/Holiday Party
At the ECNV Annual Meeting/Holiday Party on Dec. 15, 2009, over 100 members and friends joined in the election of 2010 board members and acceptance of the 2010 budget.
This was followed by the thank you awards to volunteers. A couple of community partner awards were also presented. One as a Small Business Recognition Award was given to Café Amity, located at 1000 N. Randolph St. in Arlington. The owner Vijay Kumar and staff were recognized for their outstanding efforts in providing customer service to individuals with disabilities.
The new Arlington Aquatic Center also received a Community Partner Recognition Award for its accessibility features for people with disabilities. Clarence E. Stukes, the Assistant Superintendent for Facilities and Operation along with Dr. Emma Violand-Sanchez, Arlington School Board Member, accepted the award. Located at Washington-Lee High School, therapeutic and recreational swimming is available for people with disabilities. You may contact Helena Machado, Aquatics Coordinator at 703-228-6263 or by e-mail at: hmachado@arlington.k12.va.us.
The remainder of the evening had background music by acoustic guitarist Gary Ferguson as everyone enjoyed holiday food, beverages and friendships.
2010 ECNV Board Members
(l. to r.) Michel Bagbonon, Lee Jones,
Marcie Goldstein, Bryna Helfer, Erica Opper, Steve Yaffe and Matt Barkley. Missing are:Jessica Hunt, Susan Kalish, Lenore Levin,
Suzanne Mitchell and Elizabeth Priaulx
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LEND Happenings
Loudoun ENDependence has been making great strides in the outreach department and is looking forward to another year full of promising impacts being made throughout the Loudoun County disability community.
In the latter part of 2009, we hosted two input sessions for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing (d/HoH) population. These sessions were a lot of fun and discussed the continuing barriers the d/HoH population faces.
In 2010 we will be looking to expand and host other meetings for more populations. We're also looking to make our presence known in rural areas such as Middleburg, Lovettsville, and Purcellville.
We know there are many untapped and unserved persons and LEND is trying to uncover that. As we have sought to reach out to others, our goals have been building strategic partnerships with similar agencies, tapping various professionals and aligning their strengths with ours; this year we will seek the business community to get on board and help promote LEND's missions.
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Meet Our New Faces
Rick Luckett
Rick Luckett has worked for 20 years helping persons with disabilities find employment in the DC area; the last 13 with MVLE in Springfield.
Rick has his BA in Church Ministries from Warner University in Lake Wales, FL where he met his wife, Carol.
Rick was diagnosed with Diabetes at 11 and had a stroke in 2004.
Carol & Rick live in Centreville and have three adult children, two of whom have developmental disabilities.
Robyn Bernardy
Robyn Bernardy was born and raised in Minnesota and greatly enjoys the “cold” weather in No. VA. She earned her BA from the College of St. Benedict and MSW from George Mason University.
As a travel trainer, Robyn will help people with disabilities build skills so they can get where they need to using public transportation.
Because transportation is such a key need for all people, the new Travel Training Program at ECNV will help empower people with disabilities live independently.
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