I Am Self-Advocacy Program
ECNV offers this eight-week, virtual, peer mentoring program in self-advocacy for transition-aged youth with disabilities. This program will help participants build skills and understanding in the following areas: self-awareness, disability awareness and disclosure, self-determination, disability rights and responsibilities, assertiveness, allies, and advocacy. Weekly group sessions will be led by ECNV’s Program Facilitators. Participants will also meet with their peer mentors once a week for individual sessions. Our peer mentors all have lived experience with disability and can connect with participants on this shared perspective.
ECNV is a Center for Independent Living led by people with disabilities who provide advocacy and services to people with disabilities in Northern Virginia.
Schedule:
Summer 2026
Timeframe: July 6 - August 7
Referral Deadline: June 19
Week 1: July 6th-10th "Self-Awareness" and "Disability Awareness"
Week 2: July 13th-17th "Self-Determination" and "Disability Rights and Responsibilities"
Week 3: July 20th-24th "Assertiveness" and "Allies"
Week 4: July 27th-31st "Advocacy and Goal-Setting" and "Portfolio Presentations"
Make-up Week: August 3rd-7th
Leadership Fridays: In-person, community-based activities to complement student learning throughout the week. These events include guest speakers, field trips, and group activities.
July 10th, 16th, 24th, and 31st
Participants meet twice weekly for individual sessions with their peer mentor. These are scheduled based on the participant’s availability. Additionally, participants will attend two weekly group sessions to complement their learning.
Program Curriculum:
Self-Awareness: strengths, abilities, interests, and ambitions
Disability Awareness: needs and concerns, disability perspectives, accommodations, and disability disclosure
Self-Determination: requesting accommodations, decision-making, and discovering options
Rights and Responsibilities: disability history, laws, IEPs, and workplace accommodations
Assertiveness: problem-solving, communication, how to accept feedback, and identifying different communication styles
Allies: circle of support, how to listen to and work with others, and using empathy to connect with others
Advocacy: goal-setting, making plans, and communication information
Participants will learn to:
Make decisions that correlate to their strengths, interests, and future goals.
Identify the accommodations they need to be successful today and explore accommodations they may need in the future.
Be more active in their educational and career journeys.
Involve people in their lives who can help them achieve their goals and advocate for their needs.
Communicate their goals and needs to others in effective ways.
Target Audience:
I Am Self-Advocacy is perfect for transition-aged students with disabilities who want to build a stronger foundation in self-advocacy skills as they transition to adulthood.
Accessibility & Accommodations:
I Am Self-Advocacy will be held virtually. Participants will need access to a computer, tablet, or smartphone (or other electronic device with audio / visuals) to participate. Reasonable accommodations and computer access may be requested in the Pre-Program Survey. Any questions about the program or accessibility are welcome at info@ecnv.org.
How to Participate in the Program:
If you are interested in participating, please reach out to Paul Whitney at paulw@ecnv.org.
Alternatively, you can reach out to your DARS counselor, special education teacher, or Employment and Transition Representative (ETR) for assistance.
If you are a DARS counselor interested in scheduling a program session with a group of your clients, please reach out to Paul Whitney at paulw@ecnv.org.
