WASHINGTON, DC: A Blueprint for the Future
2017
Joint AFB Leadership and Virginia AER Conference
Crystal Gateway Marriott
Arlington, VA
March 2–4, 2017
www.afb.org/afblc
Thank you for considering sponsorship opportunities for the upcoming American Foundation for the Blind Leadership Conference (AFBLC). Please join us for our flagship conference, which will be held with conference co-host, the Virginia Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER). This conference seeks to improve the quality of programs and services to blind and visually impaired children and adults. Supporting AFBLC will maximize your opportunity to connect with both leaders in the vision loss community and opinion leaders in Washington, DC, as AFB is highly regarded in both communities.
Who Attends?
The AFBLC attracts the leaders of the field—those who are the influencers, as well as the decision-makers for their organizations. When you meet with participants at AFBLC, you will be meeting with those who have the authority to make purchasing decisions for their organization, and the people who will promote your brand to the rest of the field.
Conference attendees include leaders and emerging leaders, technology experts, corporate representatives, university professors, administrators, rehabilitation professionals, individuals with vision loss and parents. They come from diverse organizations and institutions spanning the public and private sectors.
The 2016 AFBLC attracted more than 400 attendees from 44 states and 5 countries. We also had a record number of sponsors and exhibitors—23 sponsors and nearly 30 exhibitors from around the world joined us in Crystal City.
"Facebook has chosen to be a repeat sponsor of the AFBLC because the American Foundation for the Blind has always been a strong supporter of our work and the AFBLC is a unique opportunity to connect with organizations, companies and leaders in the vision loss and accessibility space."
—Jeff Wieland, Project Manager, Engineering, Facebook
Sessions and Events
Sessions are designed to meet the interests and educational needs of our diverse attendees, with most qualifying for continuing education credits. Topics include employment, rehabilitation, technology, education, orientation & mobility, professional development, and leadership.
The 2016 conference featured presentations on topics ranging from leadership to aging and vision loss. Leading tech companies, including Apple, Google, Facebook, and CTIA, presented on their latest accessibility tools.
“Thanks for all of your assistance and guidance in making the conference a huge success for LifeScience Technologies and all attendees. It was well organized, well run, and a great experience for us. All of your hard work and effort that went into preparing and planning for the conference definitely paid off.”
—Steve Hendrix, President, LifeScience Technologies
At each AFBLC, we present some of the most prestigious awards in the field. The Access Awards honor those who are eliminating or substantially reducing inequities faced by people who are blind or visually impaired. Past recipients include Apple, CBS, Texas Instruments, and Microsoft. The Migel Medal—the highest honor in the blindness field—recognizes professionals and volunteers whose dedication and achievements have improved the lives of people who are blind or visually impaired.
“AFB's Annual Leadership Conference is important to CTIA because it provides a venue to meet with individuals coming from all aspects of the field of blindness to share ideas, network, consult, and learn. I come away from the conference each year with a greater knowledge of the key issues and excited about ways to further collaborate with AFB to advance wireless accessibility in the blind and low-vision community.”
—Laurie Ellington, Manager, State Government Affairs, CTIA
About AFB
AFB is a national nonprofit that expands possibilities for people with vision loss. Our priorities include broadening access to technology, elevating the quality of information and tools for the professionals who serve people with vision loss, and promoting independent and healthy living for people with vision loss by providing them and their families with relevant and timely resources. Headquartered in New York, AFB is proud to house the Helen Keller Archives and honor the more than 40 years that Helen Keller worked tirelessly with AFB.
For more information about AFB, please visit www.afb.org.
Sponsorship Packages
$25,000 (Presenting Sponsor)
- Your choice of a prime speaking opportunity (at a general session or in the demo room) OR a deluxe exhibitor package (includes Wi-Fi access and power drop)
- Acknowledgement as a presenting sponsor during the general session
- A poster acknowledging your organization as a presenting sponsor at the Migel Awards Luncheon AND Access Awards Reception
- Five invitations to the VIP opening night reception
- Four complimentary conference registrations (a $1,200 value)
- A full-page color ad in the program, with prime placement (a $825 value; subject to deadlines and availability)
- Your banner ad (a $1,500 value) sent to two of the following e-mail subscription lists: AFBLC Updates, JVIB, AccessWorld Magazine, VisionAware, eNews (based on availability)
- Two half-page print and e-book JVIB ads (a $570 value) OR two online AccessWorld ads (a $450 value)
- Media visibility (press release and social media outreach)
- Your organization's logo in the conference program
- Your logo and link on our conference sponsor webpage for one year
- Your insert in registration packets
$20,000 (DuPont Circle Sponsor)
- Acknowledgement during the general session
- Access to the demo room for a speaking opportunity OR a deluxe exhibitor package (includes Wi-Fi access and power drop, plus prime location)
- Four invitations to the VIP opening night reception
- A poster acknowledging your organization as a presenting sponsor at the Migel Awards Luncheon OR Access Awards Reception
- Three complimentary conference registrations (a $900 value)
- Two half-page print and e-book JVIB ads (a $570 value) OR two online AccessWorld ads (a $450 value)
- Media visibility (press release and social media outreach)
- Your organization's logo in the conference program and AFB FOCUS
- A full-page ad in the program (a $550 value)
- Your logo and link on our conference sponsor webpage for one year
- Your logo, name, and link on promotional emails (reach 29,000+ subscribers)
- Your banner ad (a $750 value) sent to one of the following e-mail subscription lists: AFBLC Updates, JVIB, AccessWorld Magazine, VisionAware, eNews (based on availability)
- Your insert in registration packets
$15,000 (McPherson Square Sponsor)
- Acknowledgement during the general session
- Acknowledgement as a coffee break sponsor on a date/time of your choosing (in prominent signage at coffee station(s) and in the program) OR a presentation opportunity in the demo room
- Prominent placement of your poster or banner
- Three invitations to the VIP opening night reception
- Two complimentary conference registrations (a $600 value)
- Two half-page print and e-book JVIB ads (a $570 value) or two online AccessWorld ads (a $450 value)
- Media visibility (press release and social media outreach)
- Your organization's logo in the conference program
- A full-page ad in the program (a $550 value)
- Your logo and link on our conference sponsor webpage for one year
- Your name and link on promotional emails (reach 29,000+ subscribers)
- Your insert in registration packets
$10,000 (Logan Circle Sponsor)
- Acknowledgement during the general session
- Two complimentary conference registrations (a $600 value)
- One half-page print and e-book JVIB ad (a $285 value) and one online AccessWorld ad (a $225 value)
- Media visibility (press release and social media outreach)
- Your organization's logo in the conference program
- A full-page ad in the program (a $550 value) OR your insert in registration packets
- Your logo and link on our conference sponsor webpage for one year OR your name and link on promotional emails (reach 29,000+ subscribers)
$5,000 (Union Station Sponsor)
- Two complimentary conference registrations (a $600 value)
- Your organization's logo in the conference program and AFB FOCUS
- A full-page ad in the program (a $550 value) OR your insert in registration packets
- Your logo and link on our conference sponsor webpage for one year OR your name and link on promotional emails (reach 29,000+ subscribers)
Additional Sponsorship Options
All of the items below may be purchased as standalone items or in addition to the packages above. Please contact us if you have any questions or would like to create a custom sponsorship package.
| Sponsorship Item | Standalone | As an add-on to sponsorship |
|---|---|---|
| Presenting sponsor for VIP opening night reception | $10,000 | $7,500 |
| Wi-Fi for all attendees | $7,000 | $5,000 |
| Badge sponsor | $5,000 | $2,500 |
| Tote bag sponsor | $5,000 | $2,500 |
| Coffee break sponsor (for one break) | $5,000 | $2,500 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have sponsorship opportunities for non-profits?
Yes! Please contact us for sponsorship opportunities that will best fit your needs.
What is the demo room?
The demo room is available to sponsors at the $15,000 level and above. Sponsors at the $20,000 and $25,000 levels have access to premium breakfast and lunch slots in the demo room. AFB will cover the costs of a continental breakfast or lunch for up to 30 participants. The demo room allows companies to speak about and demonstrate products and services, survey attendees, or conduct focus groups. Sessions in these rooms will appear in the program and will be promoted in emails to registrants prior to the conference. Sponsors must provide speaker title, abstract, and session topic by deadline (all presentations require AFB approval).
What are JVIB, AccessWorld, eNews, and VisionAware?
This year, we are pleased to offer banner ads on emails sent to JVIB, AccessWorld, AFBLC Updates, eNews, and VisionAware subscribers, which allows for better message and audience targeting. The Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness (JVIB) and AccessWorld are AFB’s online publications. JVIB is the international peer-reviewed journal of record in the field. AccessWorld is AFB’s monthly technology magazine, which publishes product reviews of assistive and mainstream technologies. AFBLC Updates is a list of all current and former AFBLC conference attendees, as well as subscribers of several other popular AFB program updates. This list has 29,000+ subscribers. eNews is AFB’s bi-monthly newsletter. VisionAware is AFB’s program dedicated to adults with vision loss.
What about advertising and exhibiting opportunities?
Please contact Anne Durham for the AFBLC advertising and exhibiting prospectus and to discuss options: adurham@afb.net or 304.710.3026.
I'm interested in sponsorship/advertising opportunities. Whom do I contact?
Amanda Kolling
Communications and Marketing Manager
E-mail: akolling@afb.net
Phone: 304.710.3031
I'm interested in exhibiting. Whom do I contact?
Anne Durham
Marketing Manager
E-mail: adurham@afb.net
Phone: 304.710.3026
Deadlines
Logo placement, ads, slide, and poster placement on site are deadline dependent. All materials must be received in a timely manner in order to fulfill these services. All program ads must be received by January 16, 2017, to guarantee publication. AFB reserves the right to review, request changes, accept, retract, or reject, at any time, any advertisement submitted for placement in its sole discretion.
Similarly, please contact us by January 9, 2017, to reserve exhibit booth space. Exhibit booth space is not guaranteed after this deadline.
