2025 NIB/NAEPB
Public Policy Forum
May 19-21, 2025
The Westin Alexandria
Old Town Alexandria, VA
Every spring, employees who are blind from NIB’s associated nonprofit agencies across the country visit the nation’s capital. As part of NIB’s Advocates for Leadership and Employment program, they receive training on how to best represent the community of people who are blind to elected officials, including:
- Effective communications
- Advocacy strategies
- Grassroots initiatives
The Public Policy Forum culminates in a day spent on Capitol Hill, when these Advocates meet with members of Congress and their staff members in order to discuss issues that will increase employment for people who are blind. In 2024, representatives from NIB agencies held 120 Agency meetings with House and Senate offices.
Advocates for Leadership and Employment
By meeting with legislators and their staffs on Capitol Hill and in their home districts and states, the Advocates for Leadership and Employment nurture relationships with elected officials on behalf of the shared mission of NIB and its associated agencies: to increase employment for people who are blind.
Meet the 2024 Class of Advocates
for Leadership and Employment
NIB welcomed 14 new Advocates for Leadership and Employment last year.
Meet the 2023 Class of Advocates
for Leadership and Employment
In 2023, 12 new Advocates joined the program.
Advocate Resources
All fees must be paid in full at the time of registration, either online or in person at the conference registration desk. Full refunds are available only if requested before April 30, 2025, via email to conference@nib.org. Refund requests received after April 30 will not be honored for any reason including non-attendance at the event. Cancellation requests received, and registrations made, after the April deadline will not be eligible for refunds.
Photo and Video Release
Registration and attendance at, or participation in, NIB/NAEPB conferences and other activities constitutes an agreement by the registrant to allow NIB to use and distribute, both now and in the future, the registrant’s or attendee’s image or voice in photographs, videos, audio, and other digital or print media of such events and activities.
Health Safety Acknowledgement
Attendees acknowledge the health risks associated with attending in-person meetings, events, and activities associated with the NIB/NAEPB Training Conference and Expo, including the risk of becoming infected with COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and other illnesses. NIB and NAEPB take preventative measures to reduce the spread of illness and, consistent with CDC guidelines, encourage all attendees to practice hand hygiene and social distancing and to wear masks at their discretion. Nevertheless, attendees acknowledge that these measures, both as designed and as implemented, may be insufficient to prevent attendees from contracting COVID-19, influenza, RSV, and other illnesses, and all participants, volunteers, partners, and others in attendance assume the risk of contracting such illnesses as well as any personal injuries that may result therefrom.