Mark Richert, Esq.

Director, Public Policy

Areas of Expertise:

• Public policy, legislation and law related to special education, disability-related civil rights, social insurance and health care entitlements, and specialized employment and training programs
• Legislative drafting
• Advocacy training

An attorney with more than a decade of public policy and governmental relations experience in the vision loss field, Richert serves as the Director of AFB's Public Policy Center, located in Washington, DC, and oversees its management and work. In addition, Richert is AFB's primary representative to the US Congress and to federal agencies with oversight of programs and services of key importance to individuals with vision loss.

Richert plays a key leadership role both within and outside the field of work with people who are blind or visually impaired, serving as a co-chair of the Rights Task Force of the 100-member Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD). He is also a member of the steering committee of the 70-member Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid (ITEM) coalition.

Prior to joining AFB in July 2005, Richert served for nearly four years as the Executive Director of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER), the professional association in the field of vision loss. Richert gained experience in governmental affairs and advocacy working previously for AFB in the capacity of Governmental Relations Representative, for the American Council of the Blind as ACB's Director of Advocacy Services, and for National Industries for the Blind providing representation before Congress and the Executive Branch of the federal government.

Richert received his B.A. in both Philosophy and Political Science from Stetson University, DeLand, Florida, and his J.D. from the George Washington University National Law Center. He has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1993.

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