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A Look Back: BVA’s Outreach to War-Torn Europe 76 Years Ago

During the holiday season of 1947, with BVA not even yet three years old, members of the Association and their families helped the people of war-torn Europe through CARE, an acronym at the time for “Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe, Inc.” CARE sent millions of packages from the United States for delivery to friends, relatives, and specified groups or persons in Europe. It was a government-approved service composed of 27 relief agencies and the […]

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National Chaplain, Regional Group Chaplains to Address Outreach

BVA’s regional group chaplains, either elected or appointed, are invited to attend an hour-long meeting via Zoom on Thursday, December 14, at 11:00am Eastern Time under the direction of National Chaplain Kennith Harvey and National President Paul Mimms.  Those present in the virtual meeting will discuss how BVA members can reach out to their fellow veterans, especially during the holiday season. They will also draw on previous discussions regarding spiritual outreach and the means for […]

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Vispero to Visit VetTech Webinar, Will Discuss Freedom Scientific Product Updates

Join the Blinded Veterans Association’s VetTech team this Wednesday, December 13, at 2:00pm Eastern Time for a webinar that will welcome Vispero’s Liz Whitaker, Product Manager for User Education and Outreach. This webinar will enable participants to learn more about Freedom Scientific’s impressive range of updated solutions for blind and low vision individuals.  These new solutions include: Adaptive Software: JAWS and Fusion Low Vision Devices: Ruby and Onyx On Thursday, December 14, beginning also at […]

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BVA Impacted by Settled Class Action Accessibility Lawsuit

On November 13, Judge Marilyn J. Horan of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania preliminarily approved a class action settlement resolving disability discrimination claims against iFit Inc., a retailer that sells exercise equipment and interactive fitness classes via its digital properties, which include four different websites and its mobile application, iFIT At-Home Workout & Fitness.  The complaint centered on iFit’s failure to communicate information on its digital properties to consumers who […]

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Sharing Your Light This Holiday Season

The holiday season has officially begun. The spirit of this wonderful time of the year can trigger feelings of joy, love, and generosity. It is a time of celebration, coming together with loved ones, and expressing gratitude for the blessings in our lives. Amid darkness, there can also be light. We invite BVA members to share a portion of their light through video messages of gratitude. The videos will be featured on the Association’s social […]

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Tuesday Caregiver Webinar to Feature BVA Staff—Register Now

Join BVA and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation this Tuesday, December 12, at 11:00am Eastern Time for an empowering panel discussion about the importance of family caregiving of veterans with sight loss. From their personal and professional experiences, BVA Executive Director Don Overton, Chief of Staff Tim Hornik, and National Service Director Duayne Driscoll will together address Champions and Allies: Caring for Blindness/Low Vision. The three will share assistive technologies, experiential knowledge, and resources to help […]

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Bronze Braille Flag Placed Front and Center in Small Town Louisiana Veterans Park

by Gary Schoelerman, Louisiana/Mississippi Regional Group On Saturday, November 4, the general citizenry of my hometown of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana (population 7,500), may have been startled to see and hear two F-15 Air Force Eagles flying low level over the city, but the 400-500 people at the Breaux Bridge Veterans Park were more than aware of what was going on. It was the beginning of the dedication of the Memorial Flag Plaza in the town’s […]

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Summer Sports Clinic Registration Opens Today

Applications open today, December 1, and run through March 1, 2024, for VA’s National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic. Participating veterans will go kayaking, surfing, sailing, cycling, and engage in other adaptive fitness activities during the weeklong clinic August 25-30, 2024, in San Diego, California. Entering its 17th year, the Clinic is a rehabilitative and educational hands-on sporting event for eligible veterans from across the country. Each sport will be tailored to meet the unique needs […]

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VetTech to Highlight Boundless Assistive Technology

Join the Blinded Veterans Association’s VetTech team this Wednesday, December 6, at 2:00pm Eastern Time as we welcome Donny Osborn and Dennis Moulton, Sales and Marketing Managers for Boundless Assistive Technology, to the Weekly Wednesday Webinar. The Assistive Technology (AT) industry and its products have transformational experience potential, which is why many Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Blind Rehabilitation Service (BRS) programs rely on Boundless to acquire AT for blind and low vision veterans.  The […]

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BVA Member Authors Inspiring Autobiographical Love Story

Running with my Angel by George O. Hallman, Ph.D, describes from memory and in unusual detail what it was like to grow up as a member of the Silent Generation (1925-45) and how a tragic accident on a U.S. Air Force Base in Korea led to the loss of his sight and the gain of his cherished wife, Eileen. The motive for the book, he said, is to praise her—his angel, his love, his sweetheart, […]