The
Washington Seminar, to be held Monday, January 28 through Thursday, January
31, 2008, is an annual event of the National Federation of the Blind to introduce
the priority issues of blind Americans requiring congressional attention in
the coming year. The issues are selected from official positions of the Federation
and may address concerns in the following areas: Social Security and Supplemental
Security Income programs; relevant civil rights issues; 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; and
other timely topics. Approximately three legislative initiatives are chosen
for priority attention during the Washington Seminar. Five hundred people, most
of them blind, from the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico
are expected to attend.