ACB's 2023 Leadership Conference

Take part in the American Council of the Blind Leadership Conference!

ACB’s 2023 Leadership Conference will feature both a virtual and an in-person component. ACB’s Presidents’ Meeting and Legislative Seminar will take place virtually from March 4-7, and will include a Fireside Chat on Sunday, March 5. The in-person portion of the Leadership Conference will take place at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town from March 9-12 in Alexandria Virginia. This event will take place in-person only.

Conference Sponsors

View ACB's 2023 Leadership Conference Sponsors

Conference Registration

The administrative registration fee for both the virtual and in-person portion of the Leadership Conference is $25. Registration for the in-person portion of the Leadership Conference is $175 and includes the $25 registration fee, attendance to the virtual Presidents’ Meeting and Legislative Seminar, multiple exciting and informative tours around the DC area from Thursday morning through Sunday afternoon, weekend luncheon meals, transportation to and from the Accessible Currency Rally, and a $10 Starbucks card. Attendees will be able to join as many tours as they wish at no additional cost.

The deadline to register is February 28. To register, please visit members.acb.org. Log into your account, or create an account by clicking the "create an account" button. If you have an account but can't remember your username and/or password, please call our Virginia office at (202) 467-5081 or our Minnesota office at (612) 332-3242. Once you have logged in, visit the "DC Leadership Registration" link at the top of the page, read through the instructions and hit the "begin with preferences" button. To register by phone, please call our Virginia office at (202) 467-5081 or our Minnesota office at (612) 332-3242.

Hotel Reservations

The room rate for the Hilton Alexandria Old Town is $119 + tax. The Hilton Alexandria Old Town is located at 1767 King Street, Alexandria, Virginia, 22314. To make a reservation at the Hilton you may visit https://tinyurl.com/ACB-Hilton23, or call (703) 837-0440, press 1 for the reservation line, and make a reservation for the American Council of the Blind room block with the group code ACB23. The room block cutoff date is Thursday, February 16. If you experience any issues booking a room, please email Kelly Gasque at [email protected].

Conference Materials

Presenter Materials

Virtual Schedule of Events

Virtual programming will be broadcast in English on ACB Media 6, and in Spanish on ACB Media 7.

Saturday, March 4: Presidents' Meeting – 12:30pm to 6:00pm ET
Sunday, March 5: Presidents' Meeting – 12:30pm to 6:00pm ET, Fireside Chat 7:30pm ET
Monday, March 6: Legislative Seminar – 12:30pm to 6:00pm ET
Tuesday, March 7: Legislative Seminar – 12:30pm to 6:00pm ET

In-Person Schedule of Events

Thursday, March 9: Board Meeting (9am – 5pm)
Friday, March 10: Rally for Accessible Currency in DC & Evening Reception
Saturday, March 11: Guest Presenters & Luncheon (9am-1pm) & Evening Dine Around in Old Town Alexandria
Sunday, March 12: Guest Presenters & Luncheon (9am-1pm)
Monday March 13: Attendees may visit Capitol Hill to meet with their representatives

Confirmed In-Person Presenters

Tours

Thursday, March 9: George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate (All Day)

Visit Mount Vernon to learn about our first president; a horticulturist entertainer, statesman, businessman, and visionary. You'll visit the mansion which is one of the most iconic 18th century homes in America, explore one of a kind exhibits at the education center, stroll the beautiful estate grounds and visit the outstanding gift shop. This tour will be customized for ACB with lots of description and hands-on interaction. Learn more about Mount Vernon.

Friday, March 10: White House Visitor Center (Morning)

The White House Visitors Center has over 90 artifacts from the White House collection. There are interactive exhibits, many with audio description, and items available to touch. Attendees will view the 14-minute film, "White House: Reflections from Within" featuring presidents, first ladies, and children who lived in the White House describing their experiences. The White House Historical Association retail store also has an amazing array of items. Learn more about the White House Visitor Center.

Friday, March 10: U.S. Botanic Gardens (Morning)

Enjoy this hands-on exploration of the U.S. Botanical Gardens extensive plant collections with notable sensory and tactile elements. The tour includes verbal descriptions as well as opportunities for smell and touch. Learn more about the U.S. Botanic Gardens.

Saturday, March 11: Jefferson Building & U.S. Capitol Building (Afternoon)

Two historic sites in one tour! On this personalized tour for ACB, we will visit the Capitol and Jefferson Buildings. The Capitol Building includes stops at the Crypt, Rotunda, Statuary Hall, and all key historic parts of the Capitol. It will feature the historic, architectural, and artistic features of the Capitol, and the role they still play in our political system. The Jefferson Building visit will emphasize the tactile features associated with the Great Hall, the Great Reading Room, historic and iconic artwork, and the statuary present throughout the incomparable structure. Access descriptions of the Jefferson Building First Floor, and Ground Floor.

Sunday, March 12: Historic DC Monument Bus Tour (Afternoon)

Our tour guide, a former history teacher, will present the history of Washington DC while enroute to the Capitol. We will travel to Lafayette Square in front of the White House, go up to the gate, walk down the east side to the World War I Memorial in Pershing Park, which has many tactile features. Then on to the Washington Monument. We will then drive to the World War II Memorial, walk to Constitution Gardens and the Signers Memorial where the names of the people that signed the Declaration of Independence are engraved in stones that you can touch. From there we will travel to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Lincoln monument, and the Korean War Memorial. Then we're off to the Jefferson Memorial and the George Mason Memorial, where you can touch the statue of George Mason and sit next to him on a bench. Finally, we'll visit the Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the Martin Luther King Memorials. This tour will have several stops and requires a fair amount of walking.

Please stay tuned for more details about our Leadership Conference!