August 2025 E-Newsletter
ECNV's NCIL Conference Photo Gallery!
The 2025 NCIL Conference has concluded, and many ECNV staff attended this week-long event. ECNV Training & Mobility Manager Andrew Shaw and ECNV Communications and Publications Specialist Elaine Shaw participated in the NCIL March on Monday, July 21, 2025! The original plan was to just take a few photos and videos before the march started and then they ended up staying in line and actually participated in the march to the Capitol.
This year's guest speaker at the rally was Senator Bernie Sanders!
View the various photo galleries below!
RAMP Summer Program to Take Sail at Reston Boat Race
ECNV's Kevina Brown (Coordinator), and Ready to Achieve Mentoring Program (RAMP) participants will be attending and participating in a fun and unique event at the Lake Anne Cardboard Boat Regatta. The RAMP team has been working hard on building their cardboard boat where they will sail on the water and see how far they can go. Come out to support ECNV's RAMP program and enjoy a day full of fun!!
When: Saturday, August 9, 2025 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Where: Reston Museum, 1639 Washington Plaza North; Reston, VA, 20190
Come cheer on the RAMP Team ››
Upcoming Classes!
Shape Your Future: Join RAMP
Ready to Achieve Mentoring Program (RAMP) - This is a Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) program designed to help youth and young adults develop the skills necessary to further their education and/or secure employment by participating in job and community exploration activities, skill-building exercise, and enrichment opportunities. We will begin onboarding our 2025-2026 RAMP program participants in September and will be setting our initial referral deadline on August 31, 2025. This 9-month program will run through June 2026 and is accommodating to student availability throughout the year. All referrals must come from DARS.
For questions, please contact Kevina Brown at kbrown@ecnv.org.
The ENDependents Social Group Rides Again!
If you've been waiting for ECNV's social group to start back up, we're excited to announce that the ENDependents Social Group will ride again starting this July. If you're interested in joining us, please email us at info@ecnv.org and mark your calendars for Friday, August 29, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. Come join us to chat about anything you'd like including current events, what's happening with you, exciting summer plans and anything else you'd like to chat about in a fun and safe environment over a delicious meal.
Where: TBD
If you need reasonable accommodation to participate let us know.
Welcome to the Aging Solo Collective
Aging Solo doesn’t mean aging alone! The Aging Solo Collective is a BRAND-NEW welcoming, monthly gathering where we share experiences, challenges, and triumphs of navigating life on our own terms. This group also welcomes all who have previously taken the Aging Solo six-week class offered by ECNV as well as other organizations. Whether you're thinking about the future, seeking community, resources, support and simply navigating this season, or are curious about living your best solo life, this group is for you.
Each month, we’ll meet virtually with a facilitator to guide insightful and engaging discussions on topics like longevity, independence, estate planning, community resources, building social connections, and making aging an adventure. Join us each month or pop into a meeting as your schedule permits. We will also have a guest speaker at various meetings; learn from subject matter experts you'd like to hear from and join us. Meetings will be virtual but may have a meet up component in various local areas. Be sure to register to join us. The Collective meetings begin October 6, 2025.
When: Oct 6, 2025 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Money Matters 101 Fall Registration is Open
ECNV offers a five-part training to help people with disabilities understand and manage money. Money Matters will help people understand what money is, how they can use it to pay for things they need, and how to decide what things are most important to pay for.
Use our Online Registration Form to sign up! Registration closes Sep. 15, 2025.
Training Schedule
Mon, Oct 20, 4-5pm
Welcome, Introductions, and What is Money?
Tue, Oct 21, 4-5pm
Understanding Wants, Needs, and Obligations
Wed, Oct 22, 4-5pm
Bank Accounts and Credit
Thu, Oct 23, 4-5pm
Protect Yourself and Your Money
Fri, Oct 24, 4-5pm
Review, Money Game, and Conclusion
Thriving Solo Winter Registration is Open
Thriving Solo is the perfect class for people with disabilities who want to learn more about living on their own. Upcoming classes are scheduled for: Dec 8-10 and Dec 16-18 Mondays – Wednesdays from 2:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Sign up today on the Online Registration Form! Registration closes November 15, 2025.
Week 1
Monday, Dec 8, 2:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Kick-off, Stress Management, and Daily Routine
Tuesday, Dec 9 2:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Groceries, Meal Prep, and a Trip to the Grocery Store
Wednesday, Dec 10, 2:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Hands-on Cooking Class
Week 2
Monday, Dec 15, 2:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Advocacy & Empowerment
Tuesday, Dec 16, 2:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Travel Training and Metro Trip
Wednesday, Dec 17, 2:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Money Management and Graduation
ECNV Programs and Support
Read about our programs and support aimed to empower people with disabilities to lead fulfilling lives, pursue their aspirations, and actively participate in their communities.
Personal Assistance Services (PAS)
Coming Soon
New Support Group: The Aging Solo DMV Collective: Aging Solo doesn’t mean aging alone! The Aging Solo DMV Collective is a BRAND-NEW welcoming, monthly gathering where we share experiences, challenges, and triumphs of navigating life on our own terms. This group also welcomes all who have previously taken the Aging Solo six-week class offered by ECNV as well as other organizations, and if you're taking it for the first time. A link will be provided to all who register or email info@ecnv.org for more information.
Money Matters 201
Community Guide
Peer Support Group Open House Peer Support Group Interest Form
Fill out the ECNV interest form to be contacted about the above classes.
Adult Social Club Outing—Friday, August 15th!
Join us for a fun and educational day out at the Spy Museum!
Date: Friday, August 15th
Time: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Meeting Location: King Street Metro
We will hop on the Yellow line and stop at L'Enfant Plaza and walk to the International Spy Museum.
This outing will also include:
Introduction to all Metro lines
Demonstration on how to use a SmarTrip Card
Overview of safety features on the bus
Taking the Metro back to King Street Metro
Service dogs are welcome! Please bring your own SMARTrip Cards, Lunch and tickets for the Museum.
Grant Updates:
Bienvenidos Todos Webinar & Seminar Series on Summer Break
Our Bienvenidos Todos Project team would like to thank you for participating in our webinar series. This series will be taking a pause for summer break and will resume in September. Please check out our Bienvenidos Todos Project page for past webinars and fact sheets.
Check Out ECNV's Zazzle
Support ECNV by purchasing and wearing some of our unique clothes and accessories with the ECNV logo. There are lots of choices and five percent of the proceeds go back to ECNV to continue the awesome and meaningful work we all are doing for disability advocacy and justice in the northern Virginia area.
ECNV Upcoming Calendar
Check out our updated calendar page with the latest information and events.
ECNV Around Town
ECNV Around Town
In 2025, ECNV will continue with its community vaccination campaign and distribution of COVID tests in Northern Virginia, thus fulfilling the mission of caring for diverse communities, guaranteeing access to vaccines, and accessing free COVID home tests. In addition to these activities, ECNV also participated in other events related to the implementation of the Bienvenidos Todos Project and RACE project.
ECNV continues with its free vaccination program for people from multicultural communities! We will be providing flu vaccines throughout at different events and health fairs.
ECNV's Adult Social Club Takes Flight!
On Friday, July 11, 2025, ECNV's Adult Social Club Outing took to the metro for lunch, 7/11 slushies and to see the new Superman movie.
DME Donations!
On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, Emily and Samantha received nine donated rollators from Verizon in Ashburn, VA. Two recipients of the rollators, Amanda and Robin, joined to take home their new wheels.
NCIL March
On Monday, July 21, 2025, ECNV staff Andrew Shaw and Elaine Shaw participated in the NCIL March to the US Capitol. This year's conference was her third time participating and first time participating in the march itself. Disability Outreach Coordinator Lorena Granados and ECNV intern, Laura Kim, also participated.
ECNV Honored During Disability Pride Month
On Tuesday, July 22, 2025, The County of Arlington honored ECNV during a board meeting, in which they recognized ECNV's contributions to the disability community at large. ECNV Strategic Partnerships Rosalia Fajardo accepted this award on ECNV's behalf.
NCIL Hill Visits
On Wednesday, July 23, 2025, ECNV staff visited Rep. Don Beyers office and met staff Julia Kravitz (ECNV staff members Tim, Laura, Lorena, Samantha, Joe Albert) also pictured with state delegate Alfonso Lopez.
ECNV ENDependents
The ECNV ENDependents had fun on Friday, July 25, 2025 at the Arlington Chipotle. If you're looking for a place to gather and chat with your peers, come join us for the next one at Pentagon City on Friday, August 29, 2025, 6:00 p.m. Our meeting spot and more info will be shared prior to the meeting but be sure to sign up here so you don't miss it, ECNV ENDependents Social Group Sign Up
