Workshops

Camp Arc2Independence

In-person Camp w/The Arc of Loudoun:

July 8-12, 2024

In-person Camp:

July 29-August 2, 2024 (FULL)

August 12-16, 2024

This summer, the Tech for Independent Living Team is hosting multiple Camp Arc2Independence events! Attendees will partake in enjoyable activities, socialize, and develop independence skills, all with the guidance of the Arc2Independence app. Developed by The Arc of Northern Virginia’s Tech for Independent Living team, this app encourages inclusive community engagement for individuals with IDD. Camp participants will receive hands-on training with the app and gain access to a range of virtual lessons covering transportation, employment, safety, and daily living skills.

Past participants have praised the camp, with one attendee remarking, “This was one of the best transition sessions I have attended. The information was relevant, fairly easy to use, and the support given by instructors was amazing.” Another shared, “It was a great session that boosted morale and instilled a sense of independence, a ‘can-do-it’ attitude in the campers.”

Join us for a 5-day experience on Zoom or in-person! See below for more information.

Weekly Schedule: We will take a closer look at each category!

• Monday: Arc2Independence Introduction and Daily Living
• Tuesday: Travel and Transportation
• Wednesday: Safety
• Thursday: Employment
• Friday: Metro Travel Training w/ECNV

Camp Arc2Independence Options:

In-person Camps:

• Dates: July 29-August 2 and August 12-16
• Time: 10:00-12:30 PM each day
• $35 Registration Fee
• Location: The Arc of Nothern Virginia Office
• Participants with intellectual and developmental disabilities must be 14 years and up.
• Mandatory – A dedicated caregiver (18 and over) who commits to full participation for the entire week.
• A tablet or smartphone is required for the in-person camp.

Transition Lunch & Learn

Wednesday, July 3, 2024

12:00 noon

Live, online virtual meeting on Zoom

Planning for the transition from school to adult services can be an overwhelming task. Once your child exits the school system, adult services are based on eligibility criteria and funding availability. These twice-monthly, small group sessions are an opportunity to discuss the challenges and discover resources the help in creating a plan for the future.

It’s never too early to plan; you don’t have to wait until your student is close to graduation. Also, these Lunch & Learns would be a great way for families who started the process but got overwhelmed or stuck to find the motivation to restart the process and press forward.

The Transition Lunch & Learns are held virtually on Zoom. All of The Arc of Northern Virginia’s webinar events are FREE to attend, but pre-registration is required.

Sesión de Preguntas y Respuestas de las Exenciones (Waiver Q and A in Spanish)

Tuesday, July 9, 2024
7:00 p.m.

Live, online virtual meeting on Zoom

 ¡Únete a nosotros para una Sesión de Preguntas y Respuestas organizada por The Arc of NoVa! Este evento, realizado en español, se centrará en el importante tema de las Exenciones y tendrá lugar el martes 9 de julio a las 7 PM. Estamos encantados de tener a Wendy Asmen como nuestra invitada, quien abordará algunas de las preguntas más frecuentes de nuestra comunidad. Majo Flores moderará la sesión, guiando la discusión con Wendy. Al final de la sesión, tendrás la oportunidad de hacer tus propias preguntas. ¡No te pierdas este evento informativo! Comparte con otros y ayuda a correr la voz.

Join us for an exciting Q&A Session hosted by The Arc of Northern Virginia! This event, conducted in Spanish, will focus on the important topic of Waivers and will take place on Tuesday, July 9th, at 7 PM. We are thrilled to have Wendy Asmen as our guest, who will be addressing some of our community’s most frequently asked questions. Majo Flores will moderate the session, guiding the discussion with Wendy. At the end of the session, you’ll have the opportunity to ask your own questions. Don’t miss this informative event—please share with others and help spread the word! 

Air Travel Resource Webinar

Tuesday, July 16, 2024
12:00 noon – 2:00 p.m.

Live, online virtual meeting on Zoom

The Arc of Northern Virginia’s Tech for Independent Living team is excited to partner with Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and United Airlines to host an informative webinar for families and their loved ones with disabilities and to those with a disability who are traveling independently.

This online presentation will feature various departments associated with the airport as they present the many available disability resources. These programs and services will be available to families when traveling with persons with disabilities and to those with a disability who are traveling independently.

Metro Travel Training

Friday, August 2, 2024

Friday, August 16, 2024

10:00 a.m.

Dunn Loring Metro Station, Gallows Road, Merrifield

Interested in travel training? Come join our Tech for Independent Living (TFIL) team on a metro trip!

Individuals with disabilities and a designated adult are invited to join our TFIL team on a short Metro trip. During this practice trip, individuals with disabilities will learn basic travel skills and will become more comfortable traveling on the Metro. SmarTrip cards will be provided.

These in-person travel training events are FREE to attend, but pre-registration is required.

Transition Lunch & Learn

Wednesday, August 7, 2024

12:00 noon

Live, online virtual meeting on Zoom

Planning for the transition from school to adult services can be an overwhelming task. Once your child exits the school system, adult services are based on eligibility criteria and funding availability. These twice-monthly, small group sessions are an opportunity to discuss the challenges and discover resources the help in creating a plan for the future.

It’s never too early to plan; you don’t have to wait until your student is close to graduation. Also, these Lunch & Learns would be a great way for families who started the process but got overwhelmed or stuck to find the motivation to restart the process and press forward.

The Transition Lunch & Learns are held virtually on Zoom. All of The Arc of Northern Virginia’s webinar events are FREE to attend, but pre-registration is required.

Lunch. Learn. Inspire.

Thursday, November 7, 2024

11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Live, online virtual meeting on Zoom

Facilitated by Gary Shulman, MS. Ed.

Join us and advocate Gary Shulman for one or all of our 2024 two hour sessions where you can share issues and challenges you’re facing as a parent or caregiver to someone with a developmental disability. Gary and our team will provide resource ideas, stories, empathy, and connection with the other families present. It is a resource discussion with heart.

The substance of each session will come from the participants and will therefore have different content for each session. We will address questions and concerns from registrants, then facilitate interactive discussions so both host and group participants can explore strategies, options and possible solutions to the concerns raised. The goal is to give participants the tools needed to conquer current and future barriers confronting their family member with a developmental disability and their whole family.

These sessions are about hope. Nobody has a crystal ball foretelling the future so all we can do is empower ourselves with information and share inspiration for the best possible futures for our families.

Quarterly Bus Travel Training

Wednesday, September 4, 2024
10:30 a.m.

Alexandria (Braddock Road) Station

Need to ride the bus but are afraid to?

The Arc of Northern Virginia is partnering with professionally trained travel trainers from ECNV to offer individuals with disabilities bus travel training trips! These trips will be offered quarterly throughout the year. Through these trips we hope individuals with disabilities will become more comfortable and confident riding the bus. Individuals with disabilities will also get an opportunity to meet one-on-one private travel trainers from ECNV and may choose to sign-up for private travel training lessons.

These in-person travel training events are FREE to attend, but pre-registration is required.