ECNV’s Be in the Know October 2025
Here is news of interest for the disability community!
Stay Informed: Monthly Awareness Highlights
All Month: National Disability Employment Awareness Month
All Month: Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Acceptance Month
All Month: Down Syndrome Awareness Month
All Month: Dyslexia Awareness Month
All Month: Learning Disability Awareness Month
All Month: National Disability History Month
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and DARS is marking the occasion with a series of Workforce Wednesday events. The month also features the Champions of Disability Employment Awards Ceremony on Oct. 15, recognizing employers and partners across Virginia. Registration details and the full schedule are available here: https://dsa-virginia.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/bav8Ab5WTmKL7w4d7JLYQA#/registration
Grant News:
Bienvenidos Webinar Series
Save the Date: November 8, 2025 for the next Bienvenidos Todos webinar!
Join us for an informative session on “THE TRANSITION JOURNEY: FROM THE SCHOOL TO THE ADULT LIFE.” ECNV's Rosalia Fajardo and Jimena Barron will share information about the acceptance, rights, resources and opportunities for students with disabilities to prepare them for adult life.
Attend virtually or IN-PERSON, presented entirely in Spanish.
Where: Sacred Heart Center, 1400 Perry St., Richmond, VA, 23224
Time: 10:00am - 1:00pm
Transportation News:
Metro Weekend Track Work from Now Until September 2026
On Thursday, October 9, 2025, Metro announced on Twitter: "We’re previewing all upcoming planned work, so customers, businesses and tourists can better plan their future travels. While planned work is not ideal, it’s a necessary part of our continuous improvements to maintain the safety and reliability of an almost 50-year-old system."
That means there will be ongoing track work maintenance throughout the system at various stations. If you ride Metro, check which stations are affected and plan travel accordingly.
Review the Schedule of Planned Work and Affected Stations ››
Proposed CUE Bus Routes
New routes are proposed with shorter waits. Visit Engage Fairfax to see the proposed routes and share your feedback. Three CUE routes with better frequencies are proposed to replace the existing Green and Gold routes. Additionally, Metrobus(External link) and Fairfax Connector(External link) have recently added service in the city. Between the proposed CUE routes and other bus services, getting around by bus will be easier.
CUE Bus Transition Plan and Comments ››
Loudoun County to Launch New Bus Pilot Program, Starting October 20th!
Loudoun County Transit will launch a commuter bus service pilot program connecting Frederick County, Maryland, and Prince William County, Virginia, to employment centers within Loudoun County, beginning Monday, October 20, 2025. The commuter bus service is planned to operate five days a week, Monday through Friday. Buses will have departures in the morning between 4:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. and in the evening between 3:00 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.
Loudoun County Commuter Bus Program ››
MTA SEE Say App
On October 6, 2025, Maryland Transit Administration launched a new transit app, MTA See Say. It is a free app that makes it easy to report transit safety concerns quickly, discreetly and effectively. If you see something, say something! Report through the SeeSay app or text 410-888-0675. Tap into feeling safer on transit. Download See Say today!
Download from Google Play Store ››
Maryland Mobility Certification Office is Open Again
On October 6, 2025, Maryland Mobility Certification Office announced on their Facebook page: "Our Mobility teams have worked diligently to restore systems and reopen Mobility Certification service. Beginning on Monday, October 6, the office will be open and resume normal operations. To schedule an appointment, call 410-764-8181, option 6. Please note walk-ins may take longer and priority will be given to those with scheduled appointments."
Maryland Transit Administration Facebook ››
Voting Information:
Rides to the Polls
The 2025 Lyft Up Voting Access Program will help provide access to the polls by sharing critical voting access information and providing free and discounted rides to the polls. Some counties have ‘Rides to the Polls' programs.
Accessibility Tools to Help You Vote in November
2025 is a general election year in which Virginians elect the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and all of the Virginia House of Delegates.
If you are a US Citizen, aged 18 years or older, you can vote - regardless of disability. There are several tools to help persons with a disability make sure they are ready to vote on Election Day.
ICYMI: 2025 Statewide Candidate Forum
ECNV was a sponsor in the virtual forum held on September 15, 2025 featuring candidates running for the offices of Governor, Lt. Governor, and Attorney General in Virginia. The candidates discussed their past work on issues important to the disability community, as well as:
Protecting Medicaid
Employment Opportunities
Inclusive and Affordable Housing
Voting Rights and Accessibility
Throughout September and October, there were also House Candidate Forums featuring candidates running for seats in the Virginia General Assembly representing northern Virginia. You can view the recording of the statewide candidate's forum and house candidate forums for various northern Virginia districts on The Arc of Northern Virginia’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@VideosatTheArcofNoVA
Tell the Election Assistance Commission to Reject a Proposal Requiring People to Show a Passport to Vote
The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is considering a proposal that would make it harder for millions of Americans — especially people with disabilities, Black voters, young people, and unhoused voters — to register to vote.
The America First Legal Foundation has asked the EAC to change the National Mail Voter Registration Form to require documentary proof of citizenship, such as a passport, in order to register or update your voter registration.
The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) opposes this change because it would create additional barriers to registering to vote, making our democracy less accessible. People with disabilities are less likely to have documents like passports or updated driver’s licenses and often face challenges in obtaining or updating these documents, such as limited access to public transportation.
Legislative Updates:
Autism Community Reacts to Trump's Announcement
On Monday, September 22, 2025, President Trump, along with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid chief Dr. Mehmet Oz, said that autism rates are up because pregnant women are taking the medicine that is often used to treat pain and fever.
Read more from the disability and autism community reactions:
The Maryland Department of Disabilities ››
Autistic Self-Advocacy Network ››
Autism Society of Central Virginia ››
American Association of People with Disabilities ››
Read reactions from the medical community:
American Medical Association ››
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists ››
Special Education Staff Decimated After Trump Administration Shutdown Firings
On Friday, October 10, 2025, on the second week of the federal government shutdown, The Trump administration landed another body blow to the U.S. Department of Education, this time gutting the office responsible for overseeing special education, according to multiple sources within the department.
Don't Turn Back the Clock - Educational Rights of Children with Disabilities are Being Threatened!
In response to the mass firings at the The U.S. Department of Education, the National Down Syndrome Congress has created an Action Alert to contact US Senators and US Representatives.
What else can you do?
Email comments@whitehouse.gov
Join with friends and connect with Members of Congress and/or their staff in their local offices
Use social media to connect with Members and contact your local media
In addition, Disability Rights groups have drafted a letter to the U.S. Department of Education regarding the Reduction in Force (RiF) at the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) and other offices.
Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF) has additional resources.
Supreme Court Case Could Open Door to Executing People With Intellectual Disability
The U.S. Supreme Court will soon hear Hamm v. Smith, a case that will determine how courts apply the death penalty to people with intellectual disability. At issue is whether judges must continue to follow established clinical standards or whether states can rely on a narrow focus on IQ scores.
The Arc of the United States, joined by the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, and the National Disability Rights Network, filed an amicus brief urging the Court to uphold existing precedent and ensure that people with intellectual disability remain meaningfully protected from execution. Oral arguments are scheduled for November 2025.
Read more from Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law ››
More News to Explore:
Federal Shutdown Q&A's, Resources
Due to a lapse in government funding, the federal government entered a shutdown at midnight on September 30, 2025. Below is a short Q&A of what disability services are affected:
Will I continue to receive my Social Security?
A shutdown will not impact Social Security benefit payments, but be aware that benefit verification have ceased, meaning new recipients may see delays in processing their claims.
Will Medicare or Medicaid be interrupted?
Medicare and Medicaid will continue for the foreseeable future, but you may experience difficulty reaching these agencies, as some employees are furloughed. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will be unable to issue Medicare replacement cards, and could slow new enrollment processing.
Can veterans still get treatment at the VA or access other services?
All functions within the Veterans Health Administration will continue, and veterans will continue to receive compensation and pension claims.
I rely on food programs like SNAP and WIC. Will I keep getting my payments?
Funding for WIC will run out of remaining funding quickly and may be unable to provide food for children and parents in need. SNAP recipients should expect to receive their monthly allotment and retailers will continue to accept SNAP benefits. SNAP applications and the ability for employees at the U.S. Department of Agriculture to send out new benefits could be affected by a shutdown. If the shutdown lasts more than 30 days, there could be bigger impacts on the program.
Transitioning Out of the Federal Government? ››
Resources for Federal Workforce (Loudoun County) ››
Disability and Mental Health
Connecting with others supports mental health and this is especially important for persons with disabilities. There are many support groups out there, but where can you find them? ECNV can help!
Fairfax County Health Department Vaccine Update
On Thursday, October 9, 2025 Fairfax County Health Department announced on their Facebook page, regarding COVID-19 vaccine access:
In Virginia, no prescription is needed for people 3 years and older to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at a pharmacy.
Not all pharmacies vaccinate children. Please confirm with your local pharmacy.
Healthcare providers, including pharmacists, can help patients or guardians make individualized decisions about COVID-19 vaccines.
Previously, on September 11 2025, the Virginia Department of Health issued a standing order for pharmacists to provide the COVID-19 vaccine for certain individuals ages 18+ without a prescription.
For the most up-to-date information ››
Follow Fairfax County Health Department on Facebook ››
Open Comments Opportunities:
Join the American Council for the Blind's Mission to Make Medical Devices More Accessible
Join ACB in urging Congress to make medical devices more accessible!
Too many home-use medical devices — like glucose monitors, insulin pumps, and blood pressure readers — rely on inaccessible digital displays. Without speech output, tactile markings, or audible tones, people who are blind or have low vision are often unable to use them safely and independently.
The Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act would:
Require the FDA to establish accessibility standards for medical devices
Ensure devices are designed with nonvisual access in mind
Give Americans who are blind or have low vision the ability to manage their health with dignity and independence
It only takes a minute to ask your members of Congress to support this critical legislation. Send a message today: https://speak4.app/lp/hn012s8s/?ts=1759237995
ACB Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs Claire Stanley provides a summary on our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/shorts/A7wPIR7wbeA
Research Opportunities:
Brandeis Disability and Sexual and Reproductive Health Study
Brandeis University is doing a study about the things that young people with disabilities think are important for their sexual health. They also want to learn how their family, doctor, school, and/or community can help them take care of their sexual health. There may be things that make it difficult or easy for them to get sexual health services.
To take part, you must:
Have been born in the United States
Live in the United States
Be between 15 and 25 years old
Have a disability
Be able to talk to us in English or American Sign Language over a Zoom call
MedStar Health Urinary Research Study
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.
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).
Events for Learning, New Opportunities and Advocacy
October
Dorm Life and Daily Routines: Preparing Students with Physical Disabilities for College Independence, (virtual), 10/21/25, 6:00pm - 8:00pm. Paid.
Supported Decision-Making in Virginia: An Overview for CSBs and Providers, (virtual), 10/21/25, 9:00am - 10:30am.
Applying with Confidence: Your SSDI and SSI Roadmap, (virtual), 10/23/25, 11:00am - 12:00pm.
OBBBA's Impact on People with Disabilities, (virtual), 10/23/25, 2:00pm.
Digital Accessibility for CILs, SILCs and other Non-Profits, (virtual), 10/23/25, 3:00pm - 4:00pm.
Advancing an Inclusive Workforce in 2025: A Conversation with AARP and Disability Belongs, (virtual) 10/29/25, 1:00pm EST.
Ableism & Democracy: The Road We’ve Traveled and the Future We’re Building, (virtual), 10/28/25, 1:00pm - 2:30pm EST.
November
Becoming a Black Deaf Woman from a Generational Black Deaf Family, (virtual), 11/7/25, 12:00pm - 1:00pm.
Disabled Parents' Adoption Experiences, (virtual), 11/10/25, 1pm.
Ready, Set, Transition: A Guide to Transition Planning for Your Student, (virtual), 11/20/25, 12:00pm - 1:00pm.
Check out ECNV's updated calendar page with the latest information and events.
