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Goldsmith’s Spirit of Adventure Lights Up the Darkness

Goldsmith’s Spirit of Adventure Lights Up the Darkness Despite having lost most of his sight, Darryl Goldsmith of Pensacola, Florida, lights up the darkness in his own life through an adventuresome spirit and a constant drive to engage in new pursuits. His exciting adventures require a modest bit of risk taking but eliminate all possibility of boredom.   As a legally blind veteran, Darryl similarly lights up the darkness for others who witness this unique zest […]

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Enrique Sanchez Takes Pride in Citizenship, Military Service, Membership in the Blinded Veterans Association

Lighting Up the Darkness for 90-Year-Old Native of Bronx Enrique Sanchez of The Bronx, New York is still one more veteran with vision loss who is constantly seeking and discovering new ways to “Light Up the Darkness,” the theme for the Blinded Veterans Association’s 2nd annual Charity Concert at the Richard J. Ernst Community Cultural Center in Annandale, Virginia, on March 28. The special event on the Annandale campus of Northern Virginia Community College marks, […]

Blinded Veterans To Light Up the Darkness at Annual Benefit Concert

Blinded Veterans To Light Up the Darkness at Annual Benefit Concert Veterans throughout the country who have experienced vision loss are constantly searching for and discovering new ways to “Light Up the Darkness,” the theme for the Blinded Veterans Association’s 2nd annual Charity Concert at the Richard J. Ernst Community Cultural Center in Annandale, Virginia, on March 28. The special event on the Annandale campus of Northern Virginia Community College will mark, to the very […]

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Blinded Veterans Set to Testify before House and Senate Committees

Blinded Veterans Set to Testify before House and Senate Committees (ALEXANDRIA, VA, February 26, 2020) – Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) National President Thomas A. Zampieri, Ph.D. will present the organization’s legislative priorities in its annual oral testimony before a joint session of the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees today (February 26) at 2 p.m. in the Senate Dirksen Building, Room SD-G50. The hearing will be streamed live at www.veterans.senate.gov and can also be viewed and heard later […]

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Phil Raistrick, Passes Away

Phil Raistrick, Visionary Founder of En-Vision America, Passes Away Contact Information: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJenna Reedjreed@envisionamerica.com Phil Raistrick, Visionary Founder of En-Vision America, Passes Away PALMETTO, Fla., November 25, 2019 — It’s with great sadness, En-Vision America announces the passing of their beloved company founder Phil Raistrick. He sadly and suddenly passed on November 20, 2019. Phil was a giant of a man and a visionary who was dedicated to providing those with vision impairment greater […]

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: National Veterans Service Organizations unite calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs to recognize diseases as Agent Orange presumptive conditions for disability benefits.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: National Veterans Service Organizations unite calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs to recognize various ailments as Agent Orange presumptive conditions for disability benefits. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: National Veterans Service Organizations unite calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs to recognize bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, “Parkinson-like symptoms” and hypertension as Agent Orange presumptive conditions for disability benefits. #BVA proudly supports our Vietnam Veterans, their families and survivors – ensuring that “never again shall […]

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Blinded Veterans Members Attend Golf Event Honors Memory Maj. Charles R Soltes Jr. O.D.

Blinded Veterans Members Attend Golf Event Honors Memory Maj. Charles R Soltes Jr. O.D. Press Information Contact: Tom Zampieri  Blinded Veterans Association, (301) 204-3291 Cell,    t.zampieri@hotmail.com Blinded Veterans Members Attend Golf Event Honors Memory Maj. Charles R Soltes Jr. O.D. (IRVINE, CALIF. September 30, 2019) — Three blinded American veterans will share rehabilitation experiences that tell the story of their personal adjustment to blindness at the Major Charles R. Soltes, Jr. O.D. 15th Memorial Charitable […]

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[BVA Training and Discussion #1844] iOS 13 and Bluetooth Permissions

iOS 13 and Bluetooth Permissions Greetings Everyone, For those that updated your iOS devices to iOS 13, you may notice apps requesting permission to use Bluetooth. Understand that this is a privacy feature Apple instituted for apps that may use Bluetooth to connect to items like beacons or other devices. Here are a few simple things to consider when decided to accept or deny for an app to connect to Bluetooth: Not allowing an app […]

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2019 Blinded Appalachian Trail in North Carolina “In Honor of Chief Joe Parker”

2019 Blinded Appalachian Trail in North Carolina “In Honor of Chief Joe Parker” BVA and BVUK Members and their guides standing in front of the Chattahoochee National Forest sign and billboard during the 2018 Blind Appalachian Trail event. Three members of the Blinded Veterans Association, along with their guides, will walk the 96-mile portion of the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina. Beginning on the 24th of September at Blue Ridge Gap in Northern Georgia, theses […]

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How Visually Impaired Veterans Can Access a Range of Services at the VA

How Visually Impaired Veterans Can Access a Range of Services at the VA If you’re a visually-impaired veteran, you face unique challenges. As with other disabled veterans, though, you have at your disposal potential benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. How you qualify and the available benefits will depend on the causes of your blindness. Blindness Due to Combat or Other Service You may qualify for VA disability benefits, such as tax-free monthly payments, […]