A two-day event focused on combat-related eye injuries, one of the most common yet least publicized types of war injuries, kicked off this week with opening remarks from BVA Executive Director Donald D. Overton, Jr. (US Army, Ret.).   “Innovation and Unmet Needs for Ocular Injury” was the subject of the 8th Military Vision Symposium March 2-3 in Boston. The program brought together military leaders, clinicians, and scientists with the goal of driving innovative research leading […]

BVA National President Joseph D. McNeil, Sr. will present BVA’s current legislative priorities at a joint session of the U.S. House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs. The 10:00am hearing on Wednesday, March 8, the first in-person session in three years due to the pandemic, will also include presentations in panel format by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Jewish War Veterans, Wounded Warrior Project, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, Military Officers Association, AMVETS, Gold […]

VetTech Webinar will cover how AI locates text, discerns columns, and much more! This is a quick reminder to join the Blinded Veterans Association’s VetTech Team tomorrow (Wednesday, March 1) at 2:00pm Eastern Standard Time. We will welcome Michelle Mendez, OrCam’s National Director of Sales for the United States. Michelle will provide an overview of Smart reading, specific commands for Smart reading, and helpful techniques in the reading of menus and newspapers. A Thursday VetTech […]

BVA’s Awards Program honors annually the extraordinary professional achievements of a blind or low vision veteran, the outstanding level of service of a BVA member to their regional group, and a volunteer who has served blind and low vision veterans with unusual dedication and enthusiasm. The recognitions are, respectively, the Melvin J. Maas, Irving Diener, and David L. Schnair Awards.  The program also recognizes, through annual Certificates of Appreciation, the professionals who step ahead the […]

BVA National President Joseph D. McNeil, Sr. will present BVA’s current legislative priorities at a joint session of the U.S. House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs. The 10:00am hearing on Wednesday, March 8, the first in-person session in three years due to the pandemic, will also include presentations in panel format by several other Veterans Service Organizations.  A full contingent of the BVA Board of Directors will attend the testimony while in town March […]

Check out how to read menus and newspapers with OrCam’s Smart Artificial Intelligence (AI) at this upcoming week’s VetTech Weekly Wednesday Webinar on March 1 at 2:00pm Eastern Time as session participants welcome Michelle Mendez, OrCam’s National Director of Sales for the United States. Michelle will provide an overview of Smart reading, specific commands for Smart reading, and helpful techniques for the Smart reading of menus and newspapers.  The presentation will cover how AI locates […]

Members of the Blinded Veterans Association, their families, and all other stakeholders are encouraged to both register with BVA and also secure hotel reservations for the Association’s 78th National Convention at the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel August 14-18, 2023.  Those planning to attend this year’s activities—highlighted by educational sessions, an increasingly popular and busy Exhibit Hall, and the official BVA business—can now register on the BVA website and link to a hotel reservation form […]

BVA’s own William Mathis, president of the Rocky Mountain Regional Group, has qualified to compete in both the South Africa Blind Golf Open Championships and the International Blind Golf Association World Championships March 26-31 in Cape Town, South Africa.  William, an Army veteran who lost his sight gradually after sustaining a Traumatic Brain Injury during a mortar attack in Iraq in 2011, will represent the United States as he plays against legally blind golfers from […]

Veterans can now access their disability benefit claims decisions on VA.gov instead of waiting for a mailed copy to be delivered to them, VA announced yesterday. Although the service commenced on January 17, a five-week probationary period allowed for adequate testing prior to the official announcement. About 280,000 notification letters were downloaded during the five weeks. Previously, veterans could access benefits summary letters on VA.gov but not the full copy of decision notification letters in […]

Online registration for the 2023 National Veterans Golden Age Games May 20-25 in Des Moines, Iowa, is now just six days away. Veterans 55 years of age and older who are enrolled in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care can secure their slots beginning Thursday, March 2, at 2:00pm Eastern Time. The BVA committee associated with the event cannot be more adamant about the need to register immediately that very day.  “Veterans who have […]