Upcoming Webinar and Workshop Topics:
ABLE Accounts and the ABLEnow Program
Beneficios del Seguro Social para Personas con Discapacidades
Opciones de Decisión con Apoyo cuando su Hijo con Discapacidad Cumpla 18 Años
Chat with an Attorney about Special Education
On-going Information & Education Opportunities:
Building Independence with the TFIL Team
Monthly MetroRail Travel Training
Quarterly MetroBus Travel Training
First Fridays Futures Planning – Presented by Special Needs Trust Program
Trust Talk Tuesdays – Presented by Special Needs Trust Program
Thank Goodness It’s Finan¢ial Fitne$$ Friday
Request a Presentation or a Workshops
Click HERE to see a menu of available presentation and workshop topics
Listen to Recordings of Past Workshops:
Click HERE for a full list of past webinar and workshop topics
Upcoming Webinars
Chat with an Attorney about Special Education
Future 2024 Dates To Be Announced
9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
The Arc of Northern Virginia is offering “Chat with an Attorney about Special Education”. Are you struggling to obtain adequate support services at school? Do you have questions about your student’s IEP? Do you understand your rights as a parent? An attorney can help you navigate these issues. Parents can schedule a free 45-minute meeting with an attorney to receive advice and guidance on any number of special education topics for their student including Eligibility, IEP Development, IEP Implementation, Placement, Parental Rights, and School Discipline.
Our legal expert is Patricia Connally, an attorney who spent many years working at Crowell & Moring LLP litigating and mediating commercial disputes, worked at the Department of Justice and clerked for the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
While at Crowell & Moring, she started a pro bono project assisting low-income Virginia families with special education and discipline matters. After her retirement, she volunteered with Legal Services of Northern Virginia, continuing to combine her knowledge of special education with her legal skills to assist low-income special education students and their families, earning the Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award in 2016. She then served as a board member of Legal Services of Northern Virginia, including serving as President of the Board in 2020. Patricia also served on the Board of Trustees of Arlington Community Foundation for many years and continues to serve on its Community Investment and Scholarship Committees.
She graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law and received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from George Washington University. Patricia has extensive experience with nonprofits, strong community ties, and deep involvement in the disability community. She has long admired the work of The Arc of Northern Virginia and is pleased to currently serve on our Board of Directors.
Appointments are limited and preregistration is required.
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ABLE Accounts and the ABLEnow Program
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
11:00 a.m – 12:00 noon
Presented by Brittany Bullock, Senior Marketing Associate
More independence, greater financial security and a better quality of life – that’s the future ABLEnow is building. Join this information session to discover the advantages of ABLE accounts and the national ABLEnow program. In just one hour, we’ll cover the answers to these questions, and more:
• What are ABLE accounts?
• Who is eligible?
• How can I use the money in an ABLE account?
• What are the features and benefits of ABLEnow?
• How can I learn more and open an account?
ABLE accounts are the result of a decade-long, cross-disability advocacy effort. The idea originated with a group of Virginia parents who recognized the inequity of not being able to save in their child’s name for fear of losing essential services and supports.
The Stephen Beck Jr., Achieving a Better Life Experience Act, better known as the ABLE Act, received strong political support across party lines when it passed in 2014. This federal legislation opened the door for ABLE programs, which must be set up and administered by a state.
In 2015, Virginia became the first state in the country to pass ABLE legislation following the federal ABLE statute. The state legislation authorized development of the Virginia-sponsored ABLE program, ABLEnow.
For more information on ABLEnow, please visit ablenow.com.
Remember, all of our workshop and webinar events are FREE to attend, but pre-registration is required.
To Register for this webinar, Click here:
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Beneficios del Seguro Social para Personas con Discapacidades
Miércoles, 6 de Diciembre de 2023
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
En vivo, en línea por Zoom – Y-
En persona en The Arc of Northern Virginia
3060 Williams Drive, Suite 300, Fairfax, VA 22031
En esta presentación, nuestra nueva miembro de Trippett, Wendy Asmen, analizará los conceptos básicos de qué es el Seguro Social, cómo solicitarlo y cómo utilizar los beneficios. Este taller se presentará en español y los participantes pueden asistir en vivo en persona o en línea a través de Zoom.
Recuerde, la asistencia a todos nuestros talleres y seminarios web es gratuita, pero se requiere inscripción previa.
Regístrese para asistir en persona
Regístrese para el seminario web
Social Security Benefits for People with Disabilities (presented in Spanish)
Wednesday, December 6, 2023
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Live, online on Zoom – AND-
In person at The Arc of Northern Virginia
3060 Williams Drive, Suite 300, Fairfax, VA 22031
In this presentation, our new Trippett Fellow Wendy Asmen will discuss the basics of what Social Security is, how to apply, and how to use benefits. This workshop will be presented in Spanish, and participants can attend live in-person or online via Zoom.
Remember, all of our workshop and webinar events are free to attend, but pre-registration is required.
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Opciones de decisión con apoyo cuando su hijo con discapacidad cumpla 18 años
Miércoles, 10 de Enero de 2024
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
En vivo, en línea por Zoom – Y-
En persona en The Arc of Northern Virginia
3060 Williams Drive, Suite 300, Fairfax, VA 22031
Como padre, es posible que le preocupe lo que sucederá cuando su hijo con discapacidad cumpla 18 años. Únase a este seminario web para conocer las opciones para los tipos de autoridad legal, incluida la tutela y las alternativas. Únase a nosotros en persona en The Arc of Northern Virginia o participe virtualmente en Zoom.
Recuerde, la asistencia a todos nuestros talleres y seminarios web es gratuita, pero se requiere inscripción previa.
Regístrese para asistir en persona
Regístrese para el seminario web
Supported Decision Options when your child with a disability turns 18 (presented in Spanish)
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Live, online on Zoom – AND-
In person at The Arc of Northern Virginia
3060 Williams Drive, Suite 300, Fairfax, VA 22031
As a parent, you may be concerned about what will happen when your child with a disability turns 18 years old. Join this webinar to learn about options for types of legal authority, including guardianship and alternatives. Join us in person at The Arc of Northern Virginia or participate virtually on Zoom.
Remember, all of our workshop and webinar events are free to attend, but pre-registration is required.
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Lunch. Learn. Inspire.
FOUR Virtual Group Sessions, Held Quarterly
Thursday, February 8, 2023
Thursday, May 9, 2023
Thursday, August 8, 2023
Thursday, November 14, 2023
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
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 adddress 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 will be open-ended sessions with support, compassion and concrete information shared. The overriding motivation is the quote by Plato, “Be kinder than necessary for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.” We all need ammunition to fight these personal battles in life and the mere act of sharing and caring can be a life-saver.
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. Hopefully these sessions will do that.
Gary Shulman, MS. Ed. has spent a lifetime supporting vulnerable families and children. He began his career working with children with and without disabilities in an inclusive Head Start program in Brooklyn NY. He then transitioned to become the Special Needs and Early Childhood Coordinator for the Brooklyn Children’s Museum for 10 years. His passion for advocacy grew as he worked more and more with parents of children with disabilities. For over 24 years he passionately advocated for the needs of these parents as the Social Services and Training Director for Resources for Children with Special Needs, Inc. in NYC. The last years of his working life, Mr. Shulman served as a private Special Needs Consultant conducting hundreds of training sessions throughout NYC and beyond to help parents and professionals find and access the services and systems required to facilitate maximizing the potential of their children with disabilities. Now retired in Arlington VA, Gary continues his workshop presentations virtually and now also enjoys sharing his poetry that he passionately writes with the goal of leaving this world a better place one word at a time.
Remember, all of our workshop and webinar events are FREE to attend, but pre-registration is required.
To Register for this webinar, Click here:
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On-going Information & Education Opportunities
Transition Lunch & Learns
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.
The first session of the month will remain the “open round-table” style discussion, giving you the chance to ask your questions and learn from the answers to other’s questions.
The second session of the month will be a Transition Lunch and Learn with an “Expert”. Each Lunch and Learn with an Expert will explore a topic of particular interest to families with young adults in transition age and are planning for the future. Presenters will provide a short presentation and the rest of the time will be discussion so bring all your questions to get the answers.
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.
Note due to COVID-19, this is a Zoom virtual meeting rather than in-person meeting. Remember, all of our webinar events are FREE to attend, but pre-registration is required.
Click HERE for the Full Schedule and to Register to Attend
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Building Independence with the TFIL Team
The Tech for Independent Living Team invites you to join their monthly virtual event on the FIRST Thursday of each month to discover the amazing Arc2Independence app! It’s designed to help individuals achieve independence within their daily lives and navigate challenges in the community. They can’t wait to share this with you!
Join the team every first Thursday of the month to learn more about the app, these customizable lessons, and the service and support the team provides that helps guide individuals through life’s daily routines and challenges.
Remember, all of our webinar events are FREE to attend, but pre-registration is required.
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Monthly MetroRail Travel Training
Interested in travel training? Come join our Tech for Independent Living (TFIL) team on a metro trip!
Once each month, individuals with disabilities and a designated adult are invited to join our TFIL team on a short Metro rail 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.
Dates: Friday September 8th; Friday, October 6th; Friday, November 17th; and Friday, December 1st
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Dunn Loring/Merrifield Metrorail station, 2700 Gallows Rd, Vienna, VA 22180
These in-person travel training events are FREE to attend, but pre-registration is required.
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Quarterly MetroBus Travel Training
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.
First Trip Date: Wednesday, December 6th
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: Meet at the Dunn Loring/Merrifield Metrorail station, 2700 Gallows Rd, Vienna, VA 22180
These in-person travel training events are FREE to attend, but pre-registration is required.
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First Fridays Futures Planning Workshops
On the first Friday of almost every month experts from our Special Needs Trust Program, (SNT) and invited guests present information and share resources on the tools, programs, and action steps to consider when developing a plan for the future. First Friday Futures Planning workshops are open to families, siblings, adults with disabilities, and others interested.
Location: The Arc of Northern Virginia’s informaton and training sessions are presented as live, online Zoom webinars. The link to join the webinar will be provided upon registration.
Click HERE for more information and to see the full schedule of sessions.
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Trust Talk Tuesdays
Held twice a month on Tuesday mornings, these small-group discussions will focus on Special Needs Trusts. Our Trust Services experts will walk you through the importance of planning for the future of your loved one with a disability, why SNTs are important, who may establish SNTs, how they are funded, how you can protect means-tested benefits, how to help those who cannot manage their own money. and other critical services and programs that you should consider.
Click HERE for more information and to see the full schedule of sessions.
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Thank God It’s Finan¢ial Fitne$$ Friday
Are you taking care of your own financial future? Do you have retirement savings set aside? Have you considered the distribution of your assets upon your death? Our Special Needs Trust team hosts a bi-monthly session to help you answer these questions. Thank Goodness It’s Finan¢ial Fitne$$ Friday (TGIFFF) is an online round-table for finance queries. Hosted by a member of our Trust Services team, each session will feature a certified professional answering your questions on financial futures planning.
When: 3rd Friday of odd-numbered months – 10:00-11:30 a.m.
Click HERE for more information and to see the full schedule of sessions.
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Special Needs Trusts
It is important to ensure that your child with disabilities is financially secure when you are no longer around to provide help.
These sessions serve as a basic introduction to what a special needs trust is, and the roles one serves in safeguarding government benefits while ensuring your (adult) child’s personal needs and aspirations continue to be met in the future.
When: 3rd Friday of even-numbered months – 10:00-11:30 a.m.
Click HERE for more information and to see the full schedule of sessions.
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For further information on The Arc of Northern Virginia’s Information & Referral program contact:
Lucy Beadnell, Director of Advocacy at 703-208-1119 x116 or email LBeadnell@TheArcofNoVA.org.
For information about sponsorship opportunities to help support and present our workshops , please contact:
Howard Stregack, Director of Development, at 703-208-1119 x102 or email HStregack@TheArcofNoVA.org.
