The National Disabled Veterans Golf Clinic (NDVGC), known in earlier times as the TEE Tournament and held this year September 10-15, is an increasingly popular adaptive golf and rehabilitation program for veterans with life-changing disabilities such as visual impairments, spinal cord injuries, amputations, traumatic brain injuries, and certain neurological conditions. While golf is the premier activity of the event, it also includes an introduction to several alternative activities and sports. For more information and access […]

BVA unites with other organizations in its concern for those with declining sight as we recognize February as Low Vision Awareness Month. The occasion is commemorated annually to increase knowledge about vision rehabilitation services that can benefit persons with sight loss. With passage of the revised bylaws at the BVA 77th National Convention, membership in the Association was extended to veterans with low vision.  The National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health offers […]

A large virtual gathering of service members, veterans, caregivers, VA staff, Veterans Service Organizations, and other advocates of veterans will celebrate Black History Month together at a VA-hosted webinar this Wednesday, February 8, at 1:00pm Eastern Time. The event will celebrate African American service in the military and highlight noteworthy African American veterans.  Guest speakers will include The Honorable Donald Remy, VA Deputy Secretary, and Dr. Christopher B. Howard, Executive Vice President of Arizona State […]

BVA has long been a strong advocate for accessible information and forms across all Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) digital platforms in accordance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Ongoing collaborative efforts have assisted VA in improving the accessibility features of its Health and Benefits Mobile Application, educating veterans, family members, and caregivers about accessibility policies, and streamlining the reporting of accessibility barriers.  Passage of the VA Website Accessibility Act of 2019 […]

Amazon announced two weeks ago that the AmazonSmile program is being discontinued as of February 20. As a result, BVA seeks opportunities with other revenue sources to generate at least the same or greater support than that generated by AmazonSmile.  Amazon introduced AmazonSmile in 2013 as it set out to expand its Prime membership business, enabling customers to designate 0.5 percent of the price of eligible purchases to the charity of their choice. There was […]

Space is still available but very limited for veteran participation in the 16th National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic scheduled for June 4-9 in San Diego, California. Registration will close February 10.  The Clinic, designed to empower veterans of all ability levels whose present rehabilitation goals would benefit from the value of adaptive summer sports, includes the following activities: surfing, kayaking, cycling, sailing, yoga, meditation, and adaptive fitness. For more information and several links to additional […]

BVA National President Joseph D. McNeil, Sr. will orally present BVA’s current legislative priorities at a joint session of the U.S. House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs. The hearing, which will also include presentations by a handful of other Veterans Service Organizations, is scheduled for 10:00am on Thursday, March 8, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.  Members of the BVA Board of Directors will also visit Congressional offices in the days leading up to […]

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Caregiver Support Program (CSP) and National VA Chaplain Service will host their next monthly spirituality call next Friday, February 3, at noon Eastern Time. The topic on the call will be Spirituality and Lifestyle Change. The call is open to all caregivers of veterans enrolled in the Program of General Caregiver Support Services or the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers. The meeting call-in number is 1-833-558-0712 with […]

Director of Special Initiatives Tim Hornik will return as the host and moderator this coming Wednesday, February 1, at 2:00pm Eastern Time as Vispero’s Liz Whitaker, Product Manager, Education and Research, discusses with our tech enthusiasts the key components of a website and optimizing web navigation by leveraging Fusion and JAWS. A February 2 VetTech Talk session the following day, also beginning at 2:00pm, will recap Liz’s presentation followed by an informal discussion and a […]

Douglas Ingram, Florida Regional Group, has been appointed by the Blinded Veterans Association to serve as the Director of District 3, effective January 25. Accepting the appointment, he will serve out the remainder of the three-year term of office, which began last summer.  Doug was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, at the Naval Air Station Hospital. He grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, where he resides still today. He joined the Navy in 1977 immediately out […]