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2020 Legislative Seminar Agenda

Monday, February 24, 2020: 9:00 AM to 4:45 PM

9:00 – 9:15 AM: Let’s Get Started: Welcome everyone to this year’s legislative seminar and run through the order of the day.

  • Dan Spoone, President

  • Eric Bridges, Executive Director
  • Clark Rachfal, Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs
  • Claire Stanley, Advocacy and Outreach Specialist

9:15 – 9:30 AM: Around the Room: Introduce yourself to the other legislative seminar attendees.

9:30 – 10:15 AM: What’s the Deal with W-I-O-A?: Learn how WIOA has altered the focus of RSA concerning Pre-ETS, employment, non-vocational outcomes and OIB.

  • Mark Schultz, Acting Administrator, Rehabilitation Services Administration

10:15 – 11:00 AM: Ten Years of the CVAA: Learn what’s new at the Federal Communications Commission.

  • Diane Burstein, Director, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Disability Rights Office, Federal Communications Commission

11:00 – 11:15 AM: Break

11:15 – 11:45 AM: Accessible Air Travel and Flying Dogs!: Learn what’s happening at the Department of Transportation.

  • Livaughn Chapman, Chief, Aviation Civil Rights Compliance Branch, U.S. Department of Transportation
  • Alex Taday, Supervisory Analyst, U.S. Department of Transportation

11:45 AM –12:00 PM: Yes, I’m Only a Bill…: Learn about ACB’s work to create legislation in West Virginia to allow blind and visually impaired residents to independently and privately vote absentee.

  • Maggie Hart, Counsel, Washington Lawyer’s Committee

12:00 – 1:00 PM: Lunch Keynote: Listen to 2020 election insights from a political insider who is neck deep in the swamp.

  • Charles Cooper, Managing Director, Chair of Advocacy, Signal Group

12:50 – 1:00 PM: Break

1:00 – 1:15 PM: Back to School: Learn about the Cogswell-Macy Act that will ensure blind and visually impaired students will receive a fair and appropriate education.

  • Barbara Raimondo, Executive Director, Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf

1:15 – 1:30 PM: Learn what the Medicare Demonstration of Coverage for Low Vision Devices Act is and the profound impact it will have on Medicare recipients who need access to low vision devices.

  • Clark Rachfal, Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs

1:30 – 2:00 PM: Inaccessible Medical Equipment is a Chronic Condition: Learn about ACB’s continuing work to promote the development of and requirement for  accessible durable medical equipment for blind and visually impaired users.

  • Stephanie Willis, Counsel, Crowell & Moring LLP
  • Matthew Handley, Partner, Handley Farah & Anderson PLLC
  • Clark Rachfal, Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs
  • Claire Stanley, Advocacy and Outreach Specialist

2:00 – 2:10 PM: Break

2:10 – 2:55 PM: Accessible Transportation, Now and in the Future: Learn about the work going on in the transportation realm, from those who travel by foot to driving in an autonomous vehicle.

  • Pat Sheehan, ACB Board (Moderator)
  • Claire Stanley, Advocacy and Outreach Specialist
  • Heidi Simon, Deputy Director, America Walks
  • Malcom Glenn, Head of Global Policy for Accessibility and Underserved Communities, Uber
  • Eric Danko, Director, Federal Affairs, Cruise Automation

2:55 – 3:25 PM: The Fast and the Furious: Learn about the two legislative imperatives ACB is addressing this year that touch upon transportation for persons who are blind and visually impaired: the FAST Act and autonomous vehicles.

  • Clark Rachfal, Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs
  • Claire Stanley, Advocacy and Outreach Specialist

3:25 – 3:35 PM: Break

3:35 – 3:50 PM: Sponsor Presentations

Presidential:

  • Cisco Systems
  • JPMorgan Chase

Congressional:

  • Charter
  • Vispero

Ambassador:

  • Aira
  • Cruise Automation
  • En-Vision America
  • Sprint
  • Uber

3:50 – 4:10 PM: Tell Claire Everything!: Educate Claire Stanley, ACB’s Advocacy and Outreach Specialist, on other issues the blindness community currently faces. Come prepared to discuss issues and potential solutions.

  • Claire Stanley, Advocacy and Outreach Specialist

4:10 – 4:30 PM: What to Expect on Capitol Hill: Claire Stanley and Clark Rachfal will run through scenarios to prepare participants for their Hill meetings on Tuesday, and pose the question that if a meeting occurred and a feedback survey was not completed, did it really happen?

  • Clark Rachfal, Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs
  • Claire Stanley, Advocacy and Outreach Specialist

4:30 – 4:45 PM: In Closing: Did we remind you about completing your Hill meeting feedback forms?

  • Clark Rachfal, Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs
  • Claire Stanley, Advocacy and Outreach Specialist