ECNV’s Be in the Know August 2025
Here is news of interest for the disability community!
Stay Informed: Monthly Awareness Highlights
All Month: Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month
All Month: National Immunization Month
08/17/25: National Nonprofit Day Donate to ECNV
08/21/25: National Senior Citizen Day
Transportation News:
WMATA Summer Track Work Continues, Shifting to the Green Line!
Summer track work on the Blue Line concluded on July 26, 2025. Crews updated the train control and signaling system, renewed rails and ties for a smoother ride, and repaired lighting for better visibility.
On Saturday, August 2, 2025, construction moved to the southern end of the Green Line and will last through August 31. This construction will affect Naylor Road, Suitland, and Branch Av. Free Shuttle service will be available between Branch Av, Suitland, Naylor Road, and Southern Av every 8-10 minutes. An express shuttle will also be available for service between Branch Av and Southern Av every 8-10 minutes. Parking garages/lots remain open with free parking.
WeDriveU and MetroAccess
On Tuesday, July 22, 2025, WeDriveU MetroAccess workers at Central Ave and Hubbard Rd voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if necessary in order to win a better contract.
Then, on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, MetroAccess workers operating under WeDriveU voted with an overwhelming 97% majority to ratify a transformative master contract!
For the first time, workers have gotten a contract that treats workers at all three work locations the same, raises wages, and ensures retirement security. Paratransit workers are vital and ATU Local 689 are so proud that our MetroAccess WeDriveU members banded together to win this contract!
Follow ATU Local 689 for Updates ››
The National Council on Disability Celebrating the 35th Anniversary
The National Council on Disability is celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act with a six-part virtual policy briefing series. NCD’s series will run July 23 through August 27, focusing on its forthcoming advisement to federal policymakers titled, Ground Transportation for People with Mobility Disabilities 2025: Challenges and Progress.
The series will be livestreamed on Zoom for Government. The briefing series will start at 2 p.m. EDT each Wednesday. CART and ASL will be provided.
See the upcoming topics for the last two sessions:
Wednesday, August 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM (30 minutes)
Paratransit and microtransit
Wednesday, August 27, 2025 at 2:00 PM (30 minutes)
Rental cars and shuttle service
ADA35 Series: Register Today ››
Legislative Updates:
New Executive Order “Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets"
On July 24, 2025, the Executive Order titled “Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets" was released.
In the 1999 Olmstead v. L.C. decision, the Supreme Court upheld that people with disabilities have the right to be free from unnecessary institutionalization. All of us have the right to due process before we can be detained against our will.
This Executive Order calls on the Attorney General of the United States to reverse these hard-earned protections. It makes civil commitment of people living with mental illness, simply because they are unhoused, the explicit policy of the United States government.
Learn more.
ASAN Denounces Executive Order Criminalizing Disabled & Unhoused People ››
EO Will Lead to Civil Commitment of Unhoused Disabled People ››
National Disability Groups Condemn Executive Order Taking Away Civil Liberties ››
ASAN Troubled by Recent Vaccine Policy Changes
Vaccines help keep people from getting sick. Some people think vaccines cause autism. This is not true!
More News to Explore:
Disability Culture Lab Fellowship
Disability Culture Lab is a nonprofit disability media and narrative lab, by and for disabled folks. DCL exists to dismantle ableism and celebrate disabled communities and culture. They are searching for nine brilliant disabled leaders for their transformative, one-year Disability Rising Fellowship.
They are looking for Fellows across movements — labor, workers rights, climate, arts, gender justice, transit, racial justice, immigrant justice, and beyond. This of course includes fellows rooted in disability justice, disability rights, and health equity movement work. This is a huge opportunity to shift the face of our movement to match the base.
Ready to shift the narrative on disability from pity to power?
More details on the fellowship ››
Deadline: August 22, 2025, 11:59 p.m. ET
Questions? Email Hello@DisabilityCultureLab.org
Disability Voting Rights Week, September 8-12, 2025
2025 Disability Voting Rights Week is coming soon! This year, it will start on Monday, September 8 and run through Friday, September 12, 2025! This campaign is a nationwide, nonpartisan, cross-disability movement to celebrate the disability community, advocate for accessible futures, and build power.
Disability Voting Rights Learn More ››
Amplify the Disability Vote: Statewide Candidate Forum – Fall 2025
This fall, The Arc of Virginia, The Arc of Northern Virginia, the Autism Society of Northern Virginia, and REV UP Virginia are co-hosting a virtual Statewide Candidate Forum focused on disability issues—and we want you to be a part of it.
Their theme, “We Are 1 in 5,” highlights the fact that 1 in 5 people in Virginia have a disability. Together, we have the power to be a game-changing voting bloc—if we show up and speak out. This is a nonpartisan event, and our goal is simple: to ensure disability voices are visible, valued, and heard this election season.
The Forum will be held Monday, September 15, 2025 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. All candidates for statewide office have been invited, and most have already confirmed their participation!
Candidate Forum: Register Today ››
Maryland Works & Maryland Department of Disabilities Employment Webinar Series
Maryland Works & Maryland Department of Disabilities will host webinar series for persons with disabilities looking for employment. This series will be on the 2nd Wednesday of every month through December!
Employment: Register Now for Webinar ››
National Immunization Month
August is National Immunization Awareness Month. It is a good reminder to make sure you and your family are up-to-date on vaccines.
Learn more about vaccination clinics near you!
Having a Hard Time Paying Your Electricity Bill?
Do you need help to pay your energy bills? ECNV is one of many providers for the Energy Share program. This can help you when paying for heating, cooling and gas prices are high and thus difficult for you or your family to pay. This is a one-time credit directly to your Dominion and Washington Gas bill customers only. When you apply using the link below, include a copy of your bill as an attachment to the form and within 4-6 weeks your account will be credited for $ 500 (or split to Dominion and Washington Gas for $ 250.00).
Please be sure to let us know at the time of application which bill you need support with. This program is on a first come, first served basis and is available once per calendar year. You must have a person who is disabled and/or elderly living in the home and that person's name does NOT need to be on the bill.
Benefits Assistance: Apply Today ››
Medicaid Waiver Rates
Did you know that July 1st was the beginning of the 2026 fiscal year? That means, updates are available to the Medicaid waiver rates. Learn more at The Arc of Virginia website.
Developmental Disabilities (DD) Waivers ››
Research Opportunities:
MedStar Health Urinary Research Study
Does your bladder bug you?
Do you have a neurogenic/neuropathic bladder and use indwelling or intermittent catheterization for bladder management? If so, we would like to invite you to participate in a study using a probiotic to decrease urinary symptoms.
For more information, please contact: Chris Riegner christopher.r.riegner@medstar.net or 202-877-1560
MedStar Health is looking for participants for a urinary symptoms study (#NCT05230511).
The National Survey on Health and Disability (NSHD) is an ongoing survey of adults with disabilities, conducted five times previously in 2018, 2019/2020, 2021, 2022, 2023/2024.
Capabilities for Community Living and Participation
ACL is conducting a research study to better understand how the abilities and strengths of older adults, especially those with autism, can be better recognized and supported in the community.
Who Can Participate?
You may be eligible if you:
Are aged 50 or older
Identify as an adult with autism or related developmental disability
Live in the community either on your own, with family, or in an assisted living setting
Participation Deadline: August 25, 2025
Learn more ››
Technology Needs for Persons with Developmental Disabilities
Virginia is studying the technology needs of people with developmental disabilities (DD and ID). Technology is any electronic system or tool that people use to help make their lives better. We want to hear from people with DD who are on a Medicaid Waiver waiting list, are receiving Medicaid Waiver services now, or are interested in using technology to make their life better.
If you have DD (and or ID) and use technology, or if you want to use technology, we hope you will answer the questions in this survey.
If you help support people to use technology or if someone in your family uses technology, we also want to hear from you.
If you have ideas about how technology can help people with DD in VA, we also want to hear from you.
Your answers to these questions will help us learn what types of technology people are using and what technology people need. Your answers will also help us collect information about technology for people with DD that we might not know about.
The survey should take less than 10 minutes to complete. It will close on Monday, September 8th.
Events for Learning, New Opportunities and Advocacy
August
The Basics of Medicaid Waiver, (virtual), 8/28/25, 11:00am - 12:00pm.
September
The Basics of Supported-Decision Making, (virtual), 9/8/25, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Turning 18 in Virginia: What Individuals with Disabilities Need to Consider, (virtual), 9/10/25, 6:00pm.
Real Property & Special Needs Trusts — What You Need to Know, (virtual), 9/19/25, 10:00am - 11:00am.
Ability Games, (in-person), 9/28/25, 1:00pm - 4:00pm, Old 690 Brewery.
Check out ECNV's updated calendar page with the latest information and events.
