by Claire Stanley
ACB is excited for our 2026 Hill Day on Tuesday, March 10. We always carry out a fly-in Hill Day the Tuesday following the legislative seminar at the D.C. Leadership Conference. This is a wonderful opportunity for our members to visit their Congressmembers and explain important issues and legislation impacting the blind and low vision community across the country. The opportunity to travel to Capitol Hill and be involved in the advocacy process is a wonderful experience for anyone and everyone to experience.
As in past years, ACB wants to put a special emphasis on meeting with specific members of Congress who sit on the applicable committees overseeing the three 2026 imperatives. It is crucial that all people reach out to their senators and representatives on the legislative imperatives. However, if your Congressmembers sit on the responsible committees, it can help to bring about greater movement in pushing the bills forward. As a result, ACB will be reaching out to specific state affiliates if your members fill such committee roles. We greatly encourage you to place an emphasis on meeting with those offices. ACB is glad to help and schedule meetings with those offices. When planning for those meetings, please collect constituent anecdotes on how the three bills will positively impact the lives of blind and low vision people. Hill staffers repeatedly ask for stories of the lived experiences of their constituents.
In summary, make sure you know if your senators and representatives sit on applicable, bill-related committees. Don’t worry, we will help. And second, start collecting those stories now to have ready when you go to the Hill on March 10.
All About This Year’s Leadership Conference
ACB’s 2026 Leadership Conference will be a hybrid event. The optional tour, ACB’s Board meeting, Presidents’ Meeting, Legislative Seminar, and Capitol Hill visits will take place between Friday, March 6th, 2026 and Tuesday, March 10th, 2026, at the Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel in Arlington, Va.
Conference Registration
Registration for the D.C. Leadership Conference will open on January 15, 2026.
Hotel Reservations
The room rate for the Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel is $163 per night, plus taxes and fees. This rate applies to any night starting on Thursday, March 5, 2026 through Wednesday, March 11, 2026. The Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel is located at 900 S. Orme St., Arlington, VA 22204.
We recommend making a reservation by calling 1-800-325-3535 and informing the Marriott representative that you will be attending the ACB Leadership Seminar to receive the group rate. The group code is "A26." The room block cutoff date is Friday, February 6, 2026. You may cancel your reservation before March 4, 2026 for a full refund. If you experience any issues booking a room, please email Hannah Park at hpark@acb.org.
You may also make a reservation at the Sheraton online by clicking here: https://app.marriott.com/reslink?id=1745876689027&key=GRP&app=resvlink.
The Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel offers a shuttle service to Reagan National Airport (DCA) 7 days a week. From DCA to the hotel, the shuttle service starts at 6:15 a.m.; from 6:15 to 9:15 a.m., pickups are every 30 minutes; from 9:15 a.m. to 11:15 p.m., pickups will run every hour. From the hotel to DCA, service starts at 6 a.m.; from 6:00 to 9:00 a.m., shuttle service pickups are every 30 minutes; from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., shuttle service pickups will be every hour.
Schedule of Events
- Friday, March 6: Afternoon tour of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The tour is free of charge; however, it needs to be indicated when registering. Members will be responsible for their transportation to the tour. For more information on the museum, visit https://nmaahc.si.edu/.
- Saturday, March 7: Board Meeting & Evening Welcome Reception
- Sunday, March 8: Presidents’ Meeting (including luncheon) & Evening Dine Around in Pentagon City
- Monday, March 9: Legislative Seminar (including luncheon)
Tuesday, March 10: Attendees may visit Capitol Hill to meet with their representatives.