Hill Visits

Check out the 2024 Hill Day Schedule:

9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – Refreshments

10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. – Program

Location: Capitol Hill – Room SVC 209-08 in the Capitol Visitors Center (First St, Washington, DC 20510) 

U.S. Capitol Accessibility Map

The Disability Policy Seminar’s Hill Day is an exciting opportunity to engage with your legislators and staff and to advocate for our shared policy priorities.   

The purpose of these visits is to speak directly with your state’s Congressional delegation about the high-priority issues affecting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Critical programs like Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, home and community-based services, Supplemental Security Income, and Social Security are constantly threatened—yet these federal programs provide the key to community living and inclusion for people with IDD across the nation. These programs must be supported and expanded. 

Through visits with Congressional leaders, participants can help ensure that critical programs and the civil rights of all people with IDD are protected. 

We recommend you arrive early to allow time to get through security. It takes about 30 minutes to get through security and into the room. You must go to the Senate appointment desk and provide a government ID to get into the room. Security and main doors to the visitor center open at 8:30 am. There are ramps and elevators to get down to the visitor center.  

Light refreshments will be provided, followed by remarks from Congressional members and self-advocates about the most important issues affecting people with disabilities. 

Important things to know before you go:  

• Bring your ID.  
• No beverages or food are allowed in the building (view list of prohibited items). If you let the Capitol Police know that you have food for dietary/medical reasons before going through the line, they are usually accommodating—but you must let them know it is for dietary/medical purposes. 
• Dress is business/business casual; wear comfortable shoes. 
• Visitor Center/Capitol Hill accessibility information can be found here. There is also an accessibility map. 
• The Accessibility Office phone number is 202-224-4048. You can call them to discuss any accessibility issues and to schedule a shuttle. The shuttle does not take you directly to Senate/House office buildings but nearby at a cross street. Wheelchairs can ride in the shuttle but not motorized chairs. Shuttle wait time depends on how many others are requesting it, so it can take a while.  

Note: If your Congressional meeting is scheduled during the program portion of the morning, please feel free to leave the program at any time.