The American Foundation for the Blind (afb.org) hosts a leadership conference each spring. It includes workshops covering topics such as utilizing new technology; new developments in Braille and computer-aided curriculum for the visually impaired; recreational and physical activity; and home health care. A meeting for parents of children with visual impairment takes place in conjunction with the conference, sponsored by the National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments. The location of the conference varies from year to year.
The United States Association of Blind Athletes (usaba.org), which operates under the umbrella of the United States Olympic Committee, hosts camps and workshops throughout the year in a wide range of locations. Although the camps are focused on athletics, the goal is to empower individuals who are blind or visually impaired to discover their potential and pursue their dreams. The curriculum also instills confidence in pursuing new activities. For example, as of 2011, 80 percent of students who participated in the camp for two consecutive years went on to participate in their schools' physical education programs, compared to 27 percent of blind and visually impaired youth overall.
Based in San Francisco, the Blind Leaders Program at the nonprofit LightHouse (lighthouse-sf.org) offers leadership weekend retreats in the Napa Valley throughout the year. Young professionals who are blind or visually impaired join in team-building exercises, discover secrets in adaptive technology and brush up on disability rights in the workplace. Participants work on developing the confidence to set lofty goals and the skills necessary to achieve them.
On request, the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (tsbvi.edu) can host a workshop series focused on families interested in becoming leaders in the visually impaired community.Training topics include peer mentorship, parenting a child with visual impairments, quality educational programs for students with visual impairments and utilizing community resources.