Jacksonville, Florida, downtown skyline with Riverfront Park visible at forefront BVA members and their families should register soon for the 79th National Convention in Jacksonville, Florida. The registration includes all BVA-specific activities and meetings that will occur July 7-10, 2024. To begin the registration process, visit the National Convention page here and then locate the Register Now button. Read more. As previously announced, all offsite trips and activities associated with the convention are being coordinated […]

Jerry Killion and Dayton, Texas, Mayor Martin Mudd Jerry Killion, a member of the Greater Houston Regional Group residing in the City of Dayton, Texas, was responsible for a proclamation from Dayton Mayor Martin Mudd declaring March 28 as Blinded Veterans Day in the city. Jerry himself initiated the effort to get the proclamation produced and publicized in his hometown.  The proclamation was issued on March 20 and reported in two local area newspapers, the […]

Join BVA’s VetTech team this Wednesday, April 3, at 2:00pm Eastern Time, for our Weekly Wednesday Webinar. We will welcome Darren Gladstone, U.S. Operations Director at RightHear, a user-friendly audio format signage app that increases accessibility to both indoor and outdoor locations for blind and low vision users.  RightHear assists the blind and low vision population to interpret and understand their surroundings in real time. Have you ever wondered how to locate the restrooms in […]

VA announced last week that an all-time record number of women veterans are now receiving earned disability compensation benefits. The number stands at an astounding 702,557, an increase of nearly 181,000, or 26 percent, over what it was just five years ago. Women veterans are the fastest-growing demographic at VA.  “Women veterans have fought in every war since the American Revolution, but they have not always been able to access the care and benefits they […]

BVA recently earned a 2024 Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency! Check out the Association’s nonprofit profile to keep up to date with the impact BVA is having on the lives of blinded veterans. Keep this link handy as we want to be sure you always have the information you need to support our work with trust and confidence. Candid supports nonprofits with information, resources, training, and data to find funding opportunities, determine which funders are […]

BVA has joined a handful of other Veterans Service Organizations in endorsing legislation that would expedite VA’s hiring process to fill critical shortages of psychiatrists at hospitals and clinics where positions have remained open for at least 35 days, Stars and Stripes reported this week.  The bill, introduced by Representative Matt Cartwright (D-PA-8), comes on the heels of a 2023 VA Inspector General report referring to “severe shortages” in psychiatry staffing while hundreds of veterans […]

Located in the historic Riverside district of Jacksonville, the Riverside Arts Market is a potential convention attraction as the premier destination for art lovers, treasure hunters, music fans, and food connoisseurs. BVA members and their families may now register for the 79th National Convention in Jacksonville, Florida. The registration includes all of the BVA-specific activities and meetings that will occur July 7-10, 2024. To begin the registration process, visit the National Convention page here and […]

Looking ahead to this week, last Friday’s BVA Happenings offered a special tribute to our veterans who fought in Vietnam, making particular mention of BVA’s own Vietnam veterans who constitute more than half of the Association’s membership. We echo those comments in today’s edition. Read more. Today is the seventh anniversary of the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017, signed into law on March 29. The legislation designated each March 29 as National Vietnam […]

Presenting award to Senator Moran, left to right: Tim Hornik, Stephen Butler, Tracy Ferro, Paul Mimms with guide dog Shadow, Senator Moran, Joe Bogart, and Wade Davis. Last week’s BVA Happenings reported on visits by the Association’s Executive Committee, including National Judge Advocate Stephen Butler, at the Department of Veterans Affairs Central Office (VACO) and with several key members of Congress and Committee staff on Capitol Hill. The visits were made in conjunction with the […]

Spring cherry blossoms in the Nation’s Capital. Photo courtesy of Peggy Chesley-Overton. With the arrival of spring and the enjoyment of longer days, warmer weather, and the budding of leaves and flowers, it seems fitting to reflect on the many religious, spiritual, and cultural holidays that are part of this season—and their importance to BVA members and their families.    Understanding the traditions and values that others deem sacred is vital to the peace and harmony […]