For Immediate Release               
Contact: Dominic Calabrese
312/997-3662
dominic.calabrese@chicagolighthouse.org

The Chicago Lighthouse joined forces with Friedman Place and The Hadley School for the Blind in co-hosting the 2010 Fall Executive Conference of the National VisionServe Alliance from Wednesday, October 27 through Friday, October 29.

The VisionServe Alliance was founded in 1987 to provide a forum for Executive Directors and CEOs of private agencies and organizations specializing in blindness. According to Executive Director Roxann Mayros, members meet twice each year at different locations around the country to promote CEO interaction and education.

The conference included presentations by keynote speakers and informative seminars on topics including technology, webinars, eLearning, mobile or mLearning, social media and high school education at a distance.

"With vision loss impacting more Americans than ever before, it behooves leaders in the blind and visually impaired community to come together and discuss ways to better address the needs of the people we serve," noted Dr. Janet Szlyk, president and executive director of The Chicago Lighthouse.  "I am delighted to join with my colleagues at Hadley and Friedman Place to co-host this important gathering."

At the Lighthouse, members received an overview of agency programs from Dr. Szlyk and toured the facility. They also heard remarks from Dr. Gerald Fishman, director of the agency’s new Pangere Center for Inherited Retinal Diseases.

For more information on the National VisionServe Alliance, please visit www.visionservealliance.org.