2024 NIB/NAEPB
Public Policy Forum
May 13-16, 2024
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 2023, 100 representatives from NIB agencies visited a total of 115 Congressional 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 Our Advocates
Gary Wagner
Director of VA Contracts and Public Policy, Visually Impaired Advancement
Alicia Howerton
Manager of External and Government Relations, Cleveland Sight Center
Advocate Resources
- U.S. House of Representatives Listing
- U.S. Senate Listing
- Public Policy Forum One-Pager
- Public Policy Forum – Advocates Frequently Asked Questions
- NIB Fact Sheet
- Tips for Successful Meetings on Capitol Hill
- Roundtable Discussion Questions
- How to Become an AbilityOne Congressional Champion
- List of AbilityOne Congressional Champions – May 2024
- Congressional Meeting Survey
Sponsors
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, 2024, 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.