Empower:
A Youth Advocacy
Fellowship
A twelve-month leadership experience for young people with disabilities
Engage·Empower·Excel
For young people ages 14–26 in Northern Virginia and Washington, DC who are ready to find their voice and for the families and communities who believe in what becomes possible when they do.
Application Deadline
October 10, 2026 · Rolling Acceptance
12
Month Program
14-26
Age Range
15
Fellows Per Cohort
Nov ‘26
Program Begins
Why This Fellowship Exists
Self-advocacy isn't a soft skill. It's a life skill.
For young people with disabilities, learning to advocate for themselves shapes how they navigate education, employment, healthcare, housing, and community. It determines whether they succeed — or fall behind. It is, in many ways, the foundation on which a full and self-determined life is built.
ECNV's Empower Fellowship was created for young people who are ready to find their voice and for the families and communities who believe in what becomes possible when they do.
This is not a program that teaches participants what they can and cannot do. It is a program that equips them to decide that for themselves.
What the Fellowship Includes
Four integrated experiences,
one transformative year.
Nov 2026 – Jan 2027
I Am Self-Advocacy (IASA)
An 8-week structured curriculum that builds the foundational skills of effective self-advocacy. Fellows explore self-awareness, disability disclosure, self-determination, rights and responsibilities, assertive communication, allies, and leadership, meeting weekly in both one-on-one peer mentoring sessions and virtual group settings.
Nov 2026 – Oct 2027
Peer Advisory Committee (PAC)
Fellows take on a real leadership role by participating in ECNV's Peer Advisory Committee, providing input, feedback, and direction on programs that serve the disability community. Across four structured phases, fellows engage with ECNV leadership, and drive a year-long group project that is presented to ECNV's Board of Directors.
Jan 2027 – Oct 2027
Individualized Mentoring
Each fellow is matched with a dedicated peer mentor for the full program year. After the IASA curriculum, fellows will meet twice a month with their mentors. Mentoring sessions are personalized to goals identified through a transition assessment, spanning areas like career exploration, money management, transportation, communication, and more.
July 2027
NCIL Annual Conference
Fellows attend the National Council on Independent Living Annual Conference in Washington, DC, a four-day national gathering of disability rights advocates, leaders, and policymakers. The experience includes workshops, advocacy panels, Hill visits, exhibit fairs, and a March & Rally at the U.S. Capitol. All conference expenses are included in the program cost.
2026–2027 Program Year
How the year unfolds.
Aug 18 – Oct 10, 2026
Application Window
Applications accepted on a rolling basis beginning August 18, 2026. Acceptance is confirmed within 24–48 hours of the intake screening call. Cohort is capped at 15 fellows; subsequent applicants are placed on a waitlist.
Nov 2, 2026
Fellowship Begins — IASA Curriculum Kicks Off
Virtual group sessions meet every Monday at 4:30 PM. Weekly individual sessions are scheduled based on your availability.
Nov 18, 2026
First Board of Directors Meeting
The board meets every other month and Fellows will attend to learn how nonprofit boards operate and will play an increasing role to update the board on the Peer Advisory Committee activities.
Nov 19, 2026
First Peer Advisory Committee Meeting
PAC meets monthly on the third Thursday of each month, 4:30–6:00 PM in person. Phase One: Orientation to ECNV services, staff, and funding structures. Board of Directors meetings attended virtually in November, January, March, May, July, and September.
Jan 11, 2027
IASA Curriculum Concludes — Portfolio Presentations
Fellows present their self-advocacy portfolios at the final IASA group session. Individual mentoring shifts to twice-monthly in-person sessions (Jan–Oct 2027), with virtual sessions available as needed.
July 2027
NCIL Annual Conference, Washington DC
Four-day national advocacy conference. All costs — conference admission, transportation from ECNV's Crystal City office, and food — are fully covered. Exact dates will be announced once the conference schedule is released.
Oct 21, 2027
Fellowship Concludes — PAC Presents to ECNV Board of Directors
Fellows present their year-long Peer Advisory Committee project to ECNV's Board of Directors. Graduates receive a certificate of completion, a referral letter, and a featured bio on ECNV's website.
Program Outcomes
What Fellows carry with them
beyond the program year.
A confident, practiced voice
Fellows leave knowing how to articulate their needs, rights, and goals across a range of settings — from one-on-one conversations to structured meetings to public forums.
National perspective
Having attended the NCIL Summit, Fellows leave with a grounded understanding of the broader disability rights landscape and their own place within the independent living movement.
Real leadership experience
Through the Peer Advisory Committee, Fellows contribute meaningfully to an organization and see the direct impact of their perspectives on real decisions made by ECNV leadership.
A trusted mentor relationship
The mentoring partnership offers personalized support from someone with shared lived experience, a relationship that can shape how a young person approaches challenges long after the program ends.
A peer network that lasts
The cohort model creates lasting relationships with peers who share similar lived experiences — a network built on genuine understanding that extends well beyond the program year.
Enrollment
Ready to apply?
The Empower Fellowship is a private enrollment program. Cohort space is limited to 15 fellows — families are encouraged to apply early. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Eligibility
Young people with disabilities, ages 14–26
Residing in Northern Virginia, Washington DC, or the greater DC metro area (Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, Loudoun, Prince William)
Dedication to participate in each aspect of the program
No prior self-advocacy experience required
High school and college students are welcome; sessions are scheduled outside school hours
Application Process
Complete the online application form
ECNV staff will contact you to schedule a screening call
Acceptance confirmed within 24–48 hours of your screening call
Applicants who apply after capacity is reached will be placed on a waitlist
Apply to the 2026–2027 Cohort
Use the link below to access the online application. If you have any difficulty accessing the form, contact us directly — we'll assist you.
Application deadline: October 10, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know.
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ECNV is a cross-disability organization, and this philosophy extends to all our programs. Our definition of disability aligns with the ADA: a physical or mental condition that significantly restricts a major life activity; a history of such an impairment; or being perceived as having one. If you're wondering whether your disability qualifies — you probably are eligible. We do not require proof of documented disability. Please feel free to call and ask.
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Yes! All group and individual meetings are scheduled outside of typical school hours. The NCIL Conference takes place in late July, when most students are not in school.
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Apply online using the application form linked on this page. The deadline to register is October 10, 2026. If you have any difficulty accessing the form, contact Paul Whitney at 571-517-8199 for assistance.
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Yes. After submitting the application, an ECNV staff member will reach out to schedule a brief intake/screening call. Acceptance is confirmed within 24–48 hours of that call. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis starting August 18, 2026.
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Before the Fellowship year begins, there will be a questionnaire covering your preferences in a peer mentor, your interests, communication styles, and general availability. The screening call also provides additional context that helps us facilitate meaningful pairings.
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Yes! All of our peer mentors are people with disabilities — including physical, developmental, and other mental health diagnoses — and all have mentoring experience within ECNV's existing programs.
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The year-long program costs $7,500. A monthly payment plan is available — please refer to the payment plan page for details. At this time, we are unable to provide scholarships.
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We do not provide transportation assistance to in-person mentoring sessions or PAC meetings. For the NCIL Conference, ECNV covers all public transportation costs from our office in Crystal City.
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The committee is structured across four phases: (1) orientation to ECNV services and structure; (2) in-depth program and service analysis with meaningful feedback; (3) brainstorming and developing a committee project; and (4) completing and presenting that project to ECNV's Board of Directors. There is also some light weekly work between meetings to support committee initiatives.
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Yes. Monthly reports will be sent to parents, guardians, and payers throughout the Fellowship year. Families are also free to observe sessions and are welcome to attend ECNV Board of Directors meetings when fellows are present.
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We hope fellows stay connected with each other and with ECNV. Alumni are encouraged to participate in advocacy events, social groups, and a wide range of ECNV services. Alumni interested in serving as peer mentors for future cohorts are encouraged to reach out. All alumni receive a certificate of completion, a referral letter, and a featured photo and bio on ECNV's website.
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No prior self-advocacy experience is required. The only expectation is that participants put in meaningful effort throughout the year to get the most out of the program.
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Absolutely! Current ECNV consumers are welcome and encouraged to apply.
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We will be enrolling 15 fellows in the 2026–2027 cohort year. Once capacity is reached, subsequent applicants will be notified they have been placed on a waitlist.
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Yes, but the participant must be present during the screening call. We want to ensure that everyone participating in this program wants to be there.
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During the IASA curriculum (November 2 – January 15), fellows meet virtually once a week with their peer mentor for one hour, with holiday breaks the weeks of November 23, December 21, and December 28. After the curriculum, fellows meet twice a month, primarily in-person, with virtual sessions available as needed.
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We can always assign a new peer mentor upon request. Your comfort and growth are the priority.
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We will do our best to accommodate all requests, which may include ASL interpretation, schedule flexibility, communication adjustments, and more. Support persons or aides are welcome to accompany fellows to any session. Please do not hesitate to request any accommodation.
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Virtual mentoring sessions are generally accessible for AAC device users. For any accessibility concerns that arise throughout the year, we will work together to ensure meaningful participation.
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The conference is held annually, typically in late July. Official dates for the 2027 conference have not yet been announced, but will be communicated to fellows as soon as they are available.
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Fellows meet on the third Thursday of every month during the Fellowship year, 4:30–6:00 PM in person. Meetings may be rescheduled due to holidays or other conflicts. Fellows also attend select ECNV Board of Directors meetings virtually (6:00–7:30 PM) in November, January, March, May, July, and September.
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We encourage family involvement as much as possible. Throughout the year, resources and updates will be shared with parents and families. However, during one-on-one mentoring sessions, we encourage fellows to attend independently to build self-advocacy skills.