At our Washington Seminar, members of the National Federation of the Blind convene to learn about and advocate for legislative initiatives that will improve the lives of blind Americans.
Approximately three legislative initiatives are chosen for priority attention each year. These initiatives, which form the NFB's legislative agenda, are based on the official positions of the NFB adopted at the national convention and can address concerns related to civil rights, educational programs and services, rehabilitation of the blind for competitive employment, the operation of vending facilities by blind persons on public property, specialized library services for the blind, the organization and funding of federal programs, Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income programs, and other timely topics.
The first Washington Seminar took place in 1973. Today, more than five hundred people from the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico typically attend.
2019 Dates
Monday, January 28 through Thursday, January 31, 2019
2019 Location
Holiday Inn Washington-Capitol
550 C Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024
202-479-4000
Schedule
Great Gathering-In—Monday, January 28, 2019
The Great Gathering-In is the very exciting opening session of the Washington Seminar. It will begin Monday afternoon at 5:00 p.m. in the Capitol Ballroom and will adjourn promptly at 7:00 p.m.
Congressional Appointments—Tuesday, January 29 through Thursday, January 31, 2019
Legislative appointments should be made for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in the Senate and House office buildings. A meeting for NFB members to review progress and provide guidance will occur on Wednesday evening.
Please review the complete 2019 Washington Seminar agenda in HTML or 2019 Washington Seminar agenda in BRF.
Reservations and Room Rates
Please reserve your room at the Holiday Inn Washington-Capitol (550 C Street, SW Washington, DC 20024) by Friday, January 4, 2019. Check in at our booking rate begins Friday, January 25, 2019 with a check out by Friday, February 1, 2019.
The rate is $196 per night. This rate does not include DC sales tax, currently 14.95 percent.
You can begin booking reservations online by using this link to the Holiday Inn Washington-Capitol website that includes our booking code. You can also make reservations by calling 1-877-572-6951 and referencing booking code NB8.
Credit card information will be needed at the time of your reservation. The individual cancellation policy is seventy-two hours prior to the date of arrival to avoid a one night's room plus tax cancellation charge on the credit card provided. If your departure date changes, you must inform the hotel seventy-two hours in advance of your departure to avoid a $100 fee.
Legislative Agenda and Fact Sheets
HTML
- 2019 Legislative Agenda: Legislative Agenda of Blind Americans: Priorities for the 116th Congress, First Session (HTML)
- Fact Sheet: Access Technology Affordability Act (HTML)
- Fact Sheet: Greater Accessibility and Independence through Nonvisual Access Technology Act (HTML)
- Fact Sheet: Disability Employment Act (HTML)
- Fact Sheet: Transformation to Competitive Employment Act (HTML)
Audio
- 2019 Legislative Agenda: Legislative Agenda of Blind Americans: Priorities for the 116th Congress, First Session (mp3)
- Fact Sheet: Access Technology Affordability Act (mp3)
- Fact Sheet: Greater Accessibility and Independence through Nonvisual Access Technology Act (mp3)
- Fact Sheet: Disability Employment Act (mp3)
BRF
Word
- 2019 Legislative Agenda: Legislative Agenda of Blind Americans: Priorities for the 116th Congress, First Session (Word)
- Fact Sheet: Access Technology Affordability Act (Word)
- Fact Sheet: Greater Accessibility and Independence through Nonvisual Access Technology Act (Word)
- Fact Sheet: Disability Employment Act (Word)
To review legislative agendas and fact sheets from previous years, please visit our Washington Seminar archive.
Hotel Restaurants
The Holiday Inn Washington-Capitol houses four food and beverage options from the Capitol Bistro, which is a full-service restaurant, to the 21st Amendment Bar and lounge.
More Information
For more information about the Washington Seminar, please contact Gabe Cazares at 410-659-9314, extension 2206, or gcazares@nfb.org.