Upcoming Webinar and Workshop Topics:
Social Security: Application Process for SSI and SSDI
Presented in Spanish
Seguro Social: Proceso de Solicitud de SSI y SSDI
Developing Workplace Readiness Skills
Chat with an Attorney about Special Education
100 Ways to Use Supported Decision Making
Navigating Virginia’s Medicaid Waiver Program
Metro Comes to The Arc of Northern Virginia
Our Stomping Ground Housing Tour and Q and A Session
Advocacy: They Have It. You Want it! Now What?
On-going Information & Education Opportunities:
Meet the Tech for Independent Living Team
Monthly MetroRail 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
Social Security: Application Process for SSI and SSDI
Presented in Spanish
Monday, May 8, 2023
12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m.
Presented by Diana Varela, Public Affairs Specialist, SSA
This webinar—presented in Spanish—will cover the basics of eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for adults with disabilities and discuss the application process.
To Register for this webinar, Click here:
Seguro Social: Proceso de Solicitud de SSI y SSDI
Presentado en Español
Lunes, 8 de Mayo, 2023
12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m.
Presentado por Diana Varela, Especialista en Asuntos Públicos, SSA
Este seminario web, presentado en español, cubrirá los aspectos básicos de la elegibilidad para la Seguridad de Ingreso Suplementario (SSI) para adultos con discapacidades y analizará el proceso de solicitud.
Para registrarse en este seminario web, haga clic aquí:
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Developing Workplace Readiness Skills
Thursday, May 11, 2023
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Workplace readiness skills are also known as soft skills or job etiquette. Required workplace readiness skills vary by job, but some common examples are understanding and following instructions, time management, problem solving, and understanding and engaging in appropriate workplace relationships. These skills are imperative to getting the job and keeping it.
Home is the first place we learn about working and having responsibilities. Join Ariel Matz, Executive Director of Matz Consulting to learn how to find opportunities for your child to practice employment related skills at home and strategies to promote success.
This webinar is free because of generous funding from donors and grant makers. Many grants require us to provide demographic info about those we serve. We appreciate your assistance.
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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Chat with an Attorney about Special Education
Thursday, May 18, 2023
9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Appointments for this session have been filled, and registraton is CLOSED. ADDITIONAL SESSIONS WILL BE SCHEDULED IN THE FUTURE.
Please watch for announcements regarding new dates.
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.
This is a wonderful opportunity to seek free guidance from a legal professional.
Appointments are limited and preregistration is required.
Appointments for this session have been filled, and registraton is CLOSED.
ADDITIONAL SESSIONS WILL BE SCHEDULED IN THE FUTURE.
Please watch for announcements regarding new dates.
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100 Ways to Use Supported Decision Making
Monday, May 22, 2023
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Join us to hear our Director of Advocacy, Lucy Beadnell, discuss what supported decision making is, and then hear her work through many ways to use this powerful tool to empower people with disabilities and create durable, long-term support teams and systems. Lucy will talk through examples of how people with different needs and strengths can use various supported decision making tools to maximize their independence and control over their lives.
This webinar is free because of generous funding from donors and grant makers. Many grants require us to provide demographic info about those we serve. We appreciate your assistance.
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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Navigating Virginia’s Medicaid Waiver Program
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Medicaid Waivers are the way Virginia funds services for people with developmental disabilities. Everything from a small amount of respite, to in-home care, to employment supports are covered by Waivers. In this one hour presentation, Lucy Beadnell, our Director of Advocacy, will review what Waivers are, services Waivers offer, how to apply, and give tips for families on waiting lists for services.
This webinar is free because of generous funding from donors and grant makers. Many grants require us to provide demographic info about those we serve. We appreciate your assistance.
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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Housing Tour and Q and A Session with Our Stomping Ground
Friday, June 16, 2023
2:30-4:00 p.m.
Gilliam Place Apartments
918 S. Lincoln Street
Arlington, VA 22204
Our Stomping Ground (OSG) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting adults with developmental disabilities so they can live meaningful lives outside of their family or a group home. OSG partners with affordable housing developers who have units with a leasing preference for people with Developmental Disabilities (DD) in the Department of Justice Settlement Agreement population. They offer vocational, educational, social and therapeutic programming to residents and community members with and without disabilities to build inclusive and understanding communities from which everyone benefits.
Our Stomping Ground is kindly inviting people with disabilities and their support networks come see an example of their work in action. This tour and Q&A session will be held at the Gilliam Place apartments property in Arlington. Join in to see part of an inclusive art lesson, tour apartments used by some of the residents, and ask questions about this innovative support model.
Remember, all of our workshop and webinar events are FREE to attend, but pre-registration is required.
To Register for this Housing Tour & Information Session, Click here:
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Advocacy: They Have It. You Want it! Now What?
Tuesday, June 20, 2023
10:00 a.m.
Presented by: Gary Shulman, MS. Ed.
Families having a child with a disability are often confused, overwhelmed and frustrated about obtaining all appropriate programs, rights, entitlements and services. There are many emotions involved in dealing with “The powers that be” who seem to have all the power of providing the needed interventions. We will try to provide strategies, words, information and confidence so the parent/caregiver can become the best possible advocate for the child. This session will also help support professionals gain those same skills. Ultimately those skills will hopefully be transferred to the person with the disability to be a successful self-advocate.
The session will be interactive with participants offering strategies that have worked for them in obtaining appropriate services. They will share concrete experiences that demonstrate when they have been successful in advocating as well as failures as we learn from both.
Participants will gain concrete strategies and obtain the knowledge needed to confidently approach any entity having the power to provide the needed services, rights, entitlements and programs for a child, teenager or adult with a disability. We will learn correct and appropriate terminology so that we can enter into such situations with confidence and advocacy skills to get the job done. We will learn ways to motivate those “powers that be” to provide us with our desired goals.
As a result, each participant will learn how to navigate the barriers to obtaining what is needed for the child, teen or adult with a disability by learning about appropriate terminology, strategies and laws to support their goals. Ultimately we hope you will leave armed with more confidence and skills in approaching any entity to get what is needed.
Gary Shulman has been helping families of children with disabilities for almost 50 years. Gary will share his experiences as well in advocating for thousands of families throughout his 50 year career. His workshops are fun, educational, interactive and hopeful.
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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Meet the Tech for Independent Living Team – Tech Team Thursday
The Tech for Independent Living Team creates free, fully-customized virtual lessons that support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. These tech-based lessons are intended to serve as a “digital coach,” always available and unique to the individual user. It’s using today’s technology tools to support full inclusion and participation in the community.
The TFIL team creates lessons that support independent travel, employment, safety, and daily living skills using an easy-to-navigate online software platform.
Join the team every first Thursday of the month to learn more about online platform, 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!
On the first Friday of every 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.
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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First Fridays Futures Planning Workshops
On the first Friday of almost every month Tia Marsili, Director of Trusts for The Arc of Northern Virginia Special Needs Trust Program, (SNT) and her 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: While restrictions on indoor public gatherings in place, all of 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. Tia Marsili, our Director of Trusts, 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 Director of Trusts Tia Marsili, 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.
Tia Marsili, Director of Trusts, will share the roles of Special Needs Trusts 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.
