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Meg Hawkins

When: Zoom on Thursday evening, November 16 at 7 PM

Who: Officer Meg Hawkins

What: For many people, engaging with a member of the police department can be a stressful experience,
particularly if it is an unplanned encounter, such as being stopped while driving or after a traffic
accident. People may be uncomfortable because they do not understand police procedures and are
uncertain about what is going to happen. This can be further complicated for those who are deaf or
hard of hearing because of communication challenges which make information exchange more difficult.
Fairfax County Police Officers (like most of the police in the greater DC area) regularly engage with a
very wide variety of people – those who speak languages from all over the world; those with a broad
array of mental, emotional, and physical challenges; and sometimes those with both language and other
challenges.


In this presentation, PFC Megan Hawkins will discuss the basic training Fairfax County Police Officers
receive regarding engaging with people when communication issues may be a challenge. She will discuss
standard police procedures for traffic stops and accidents, including recommendations for those who
are deaf or hard of hearing. Better understanding of police procedures and expectations can help make
such interactions less uncomfortable.


Additionally, we hope the community can offer suggestions that might help the police department
better understand how to best communicate with people who have hearing challenges.
We plan to leave plenty of time for Q&A. Please join us for this important discussion.

Flyer PDF

Bio: Officer Meg Hawkins is a 20-year veteran in law enforcement with Fairfax County. While the majority of her career has been dedicated to patrol duties, Meg has also assumed roles in public affairs and crime prevention. However, her true calling lies in community outreach and engagement, a passion she fervently pursues in her current capacity as the Community Outreach Officer for the Sully District Station.

Meg holds the title of a Certified Crime Prevention Specialist, accredited by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, and she is also a Certified Law Enforcement Crime Prevention through Environmental Design Practitioner (LE-CPTED).

Meg's expertise extends to her role as the agency's lead instructor for the "Hidden in Plain Sight (HIPS)" program. This interactive initiative aims to educate adults on recognizing signs of risky behavior in teens and young adults.

Her dedication to community outreach has not gone unnoticed. In 2022, Meg received three "Faithful Servants" awards from the Communities of Trust Committee, honoring her exceptional commitment and hard work in serving the community.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Meg is happily married to a retired combat veteran who currently serves as a firefighter in Fairfax County.

Presentation by Lori Daly, President, Diversifi Consulting Group, a member of NVRC's Board of Directors

Lori Daly place holder
Lori Daly

When: Thurs. June 29th

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

This program will be interpreted and captioned.

As employers aim to strengthen their diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, distance recruiting for people with disabilities has not only become the new necessity, but provides the ideal opportunity to tap into this fastest-growing diverse group of untapped talent in the U.S.

Join us on June 29th as Lori Daly conducts an informational virtual Lunch & Learn webinar on disability employment recruiting and a demo of a unique, accessible job fair platform from abilityjobfair.org. The platform is fully accessible to deaf and hard of hearing participants with sign language interpreting, video, chat, screen readers, and real-time captioning.

REGISTER to attend

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

See the flyer for more information

CC 2022 Logo

September 23, 2023 10 AM - 2 PM
Celebrate Communication at the Springfield Town Center 

For information about sponsoring or exhibiting at this event, please email Bonnie O'Leary.

Visit the website for more information.

with Barbara Eger-Klatt

barbara eger klatt

Wed. June 14, 2023

10 am to 11 am

NVRC Location
10467 White Granite Drive, Suite 312, Oakton, VA 22124

For seniors who have a balance, health and limit physical issues. The chair yoga is safe for seniors over 50 years old and it is a fun exercise. It is for one hour and you will use the chair. It is suggested to wear comfortable clothes i.e. athletic clothes. If you’re unsure, please ask your primary care physician.

You will learn:

  • How to sit on the chair with spinal alignment (no chairs with wheels)
  • Learn how to meditate with one mudra
  • Understand about diaphragm muscles related to breathing
  • Practice three to ten poses with the chair
  • Compare the difference before and after yoga
  • Brief discussion and/or questions

There are two requirements prior to participating in the yoga class. You need to sign the waiver and service agreement form. If you’re interested, please email Barbara via Barbara.yellowleafyoga@gmail.com, and she will email you the waiver and service agreement form electronically.

See the flyer for more information

What You Need to Know about Both Options

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Dr. Amy Bernstein, Au.D.

Monday, May 1, 2023 7 – 8 pm via ZOOM

Live captioning & ASL interpreting are provided

In this program, Dr. Bernstein will be discussing:

  • The differences between over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids and prescription hearing aids in terms of candidates, products, services, warranties, and price
  • The significance of a hearing test (whether someone plans to purchase OTC or prescription hearing aids)
  • The impact of hearing on cognitive function

Amy Bernstein, Au.D., FAAA has a Doctorate in Audiology (Au.D.) from the University of Memphis. She has written articles, conducted presentations, and been interviewed on several hearing-aid-related topics, including the topic of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. Dr. Bernstein specializes in personalizing hearing aid fittings in a way that accounts for the individual’s hearing loss, environment, lifestyle, and personal preferences. She also specializes in fitting custom earpieces for musicians. As a musically-trained individual and lover of music herself, Dr. Bernstein enjoys teaching her patients about hearing protection and ways to prevent hearing loss. She holds licenses in audiology and hearing aid dispensing in Virginia.

OTC vs. Prescription Hearing Aids flyer

NVRC Tea Party 2023 thumbnail

Sunday, May 7, 2023 | 1-3 PM
at NVRC Office:
10467 White Granite Drive, Suite 312, Oakton, VA 22124

Please come support NVRC, socialize and enjoy our variety of tea sandwiches, scones, desserts, and of course tea! Several donated items will be available for silent bidding at the event. If you'd like to contribute an item or gift basket to the silent auction, please contact pamgannon@verizon.net with the email subject "Raffle Baskets".

RSVP Here via PayPal - $40 per person to support NVRC

Please reserve ahead of time to save your spot - limited seating!

Any questions? Contact execdirector@nvrc.org

4 short films - signs and gestures, the multi, see through, and illrustrating sam newton

Saturday, March 18 | 1-4 PM

Northern Virginia Resource Center
10467 White Granite Drive, Suite 312, Oakton, VA 22124

NVRC in association with ReelAbilities. After each short film, there will be a discussion in ASL and English with captioning. Come enjoy snacks, refreshments, and raffle tickets for sale! Need to Register - 50 seats limited!

SIGNS AND GESTURES Dir. Itandehui Jansen
12 Min | English, American Sign Language (ASL) | UK | 2021 | Narrative
Clara, a blind florist, has been chatting with Simon through a dating app. They arrange to meet in person. However, during their first date, an unexpected misunderstanding arises.

THE MULTI Dir. Storm Smith, Natasha Ofili
18 Min | English, American Sign Language (ASL) | USA | 2021 | Narrative
An isolated deaf woman fights to maintain control when past demons threaten to destroy the world of order she has built.

SEE THROUGH Dir. Eyal Resh
9 Min | ASL | USA | 2021 | Narrative
Tensions rise between a young Deaf couple discovering they are about to become parents. Featuring 2018 Tony nominee and Eternals star Lauren Ridloff.

ILLUSTRATING SAM NEWTON Dir. Lily Drummond
28 Min | English, Australian Sign Language (ASL) | Australia | 2022 | Narrative
A viral online photographer wants to remain anonymous in order to hide parts of their identity. When a fan from the other side of the world makes a connection, they learn to accept themselves by sharing the universal language of art.

REGISTER HERE