Prevent Blindness will host its 2026 ASPECT (Advocacy, Support, Perspective, Empowerment, Communication, and Training) Patient Engagement Summit and its Eyes on Capitol Hill Legislative Advocacy Day from June 7 to 10 in Washington, DC. Founded in 2020, the ASPECT Patient Engagement Program is designed to help participants develop advocacy skills related to vision and eye health through storytelling, peer support, and community engagement. The summit will bring together patients, care partners, advocates, and organizational partners for programming focused on advocacy training and leadership development.
As part of the event, Prevent Blindness will debut the “Vision Monologues” on June 8 at the Round House Theatre in Bethesda, Maryland. Written by Jeanetta Price, the theatrical production features 17 monologues performed by an all visually impaired and blind cast, along with 3 personal stories shared by patient allies. According to Prevent Blindness, the production is intended to highlight lived experiences related to vision loss and increase public awareness around eye health advocacy. All proceeds will help fund Prevent Blindness services.
Summit attendees will also participate in the Eyes on Capitol Hill Legislative Advocacy Day on June 9, meeting with congressional offices to discuss vision and eye health policy priorities. Now in its 20th year, the advocacy initiative will focus on support for several federal measures, including the Early Detection of Vision Impairments for Children Act and the Safe Step Act, as well as funding for the Vision and Eye Health program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and participation in the bipartisan Congressional Vision Caucus.
Prevent Blindness will also host a Congressional Vision Caucus reception on June 9 at the United States Capitol.
“The ASPECT Summit reflects the power of patient voices to shape public understanding and influence policy,” said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. “From storytelling and peer connection to direct advocacy on Capitol Hill, people impacted by vision loss are leading conversations that drive meaningful change in vision and eye health.”
More information about the ASPECT program and related events is available here.