The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced on April 25 an expansion of its “Close to Me” cancer care program under which VA clinicians travel to provide veterans with the full continuum of cancer care at nearby community-based outpatient clinics, often in rural locations. The expansion will bring new cancer diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance services to an additional 9,000 veterans and 30 locations by the end of October 2025, providing veterans with what Secretary Denis […]

Veterans may be largely unaware of the option of a personal home when they are no longer able to safely live independently in the community. VHA’s Medical Foster Home (MFH) program offers a type of Community Residential Care (CRC) home chosen by veterans with serious chronic disabling conditions that meet nursing home level of care needs but who prefer a non-institutional setting for their long-term care. MFH brings together a person who is willing to […]

Last week I promised to share more about my adventures with my dad, Sheldon. The independence and companionship I provide as a guide dog opens a safer and more expanded world for Dad, who is a blind veteran. We attended a concert by his favorite singer, Fantasia, and have also seen the amazing Harlem Globetrotters at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. As a team, we have visited the Dallas VA Medical Center often and […]

Photo Caption: Left to right, National BVA Auxiliary President Robert Murphy, Jared Prisbrey, Paul Mimms, and Heartland Regional Group President Jeanie Murphy. Regional groups throughout the country continue to be on the move to hold spring meetings to determine which members of the group will attend the BVA 79th National Convention and to elect convention delegates and alternate delegates. The urgency is, at least in part, due to the early July convention dates. The Heartland […]

BVA Emerald Coast Regional Group President Darryl Goldsmith represented the Association at an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 30 at the recently completed Pensacola, Florida, Vet Center. Unlike VA Medical Centers and Community-Based Outpatient Clinics that focus on physical health issues, Vet Centers offer mental health-centric services.  Darryl was joined at the March 30 ceremony by Florida State Representative Michelle Salzman, Vet Center Director Douglas (Rush) McQueen, Ph.D., the Center’s Veterans Outreach Program Specialist (VOPS) […]

Congress designated May as National Military Appreciation Month on April 30, 1999, to ensure that the nation was given the opportunity to publicly show appreciation for troops past and present. The month-long observance serves as a reminder of the profound contributions made by service members. May was chosen since several military-related observances, in addition to Memorial Day, are already commemorated in May. Then Senator John McCain proposed the observance, and the Senate approved it 93-0.  […]

Photo Caption: Back row, left to right, Bill Laughlin, Carolyn Graham, and Paul Mimms with guide dog Shadow. Frank Graham is seated in the motorized chair and, together with Paul, holds up the Braille flag for display. On April 30, BVA National President Paul Mimms delivered a Braille flag to the Veterans Home in Cameron, Missouri, approximately an hour from his home in Kansas City. The donation was made on behalf of the Heartland Regional […]

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) last week finalized a rule under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability, advancing equity and bolstering protections for people with disabilities. BVA was among a number of organizations openly supporting the additional protections, which address discrimination in medical treatment, add enforceable standards for accessible medical diagnostic equipment, and ensure accessible web content and mobile applications.  The […]

Photo Caption: The Ritz Museum, part of the Ritz Theatre in the LaVilla neighborhood of downtown Jacksonville, documents the culture and history of people of African descent in northeast Florida. Photo courtesy of Visit Jacksonville. All BVA members are strongly encouraged to register immediately for the BVA National Convention with both BVA and the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront Hotel. Completing the registration process will ensure entry into all BVA-specific activities and meetings held July 7-10, […]