BVA only recently learned that the American Society of Ophthalmic Trauma (ASOT) presented BVA Past National President Dr. Tom Zampieri with its first ever “Advocacy Award” for legislation and policy achievements during his tenure at BVA, both as a staff member (Director of Government Relations) and as a Board Member (National Vice President, National President, and Past National President). The award was presented to Tom by Grant Justin, M.D., President of Walter Reed National Military […]

The American Council of the Blind Virginia (ACB-VA) held its annual conference last weekend, October 17-19, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fredericksburg, Virginia. BVA’s own Michaun Harrison, National Administrative Coordinator at the Association’s National Headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, and a current resident of the City of Fredericksburg, is also a member of the ACB Virginia Chapter. She actively participates in the organization’s virtual Fiber Arts Club and serves on the Advocacy Committee. Michaun received […]

Warner L. Murray, New York Regional Group, often shares a poem or two with BVA National Headquarters that he has recently composed. The poems Warner sends almost invariably reflect his feelings and impressions about people, places, or events relating to the Blinded Veterans Association and are appropriate for publication in BVA Happenings and/or the BVA Bulletin. BVA members who receive the CBRC Torch, the newsletter of the Central Blind Rehabilitation Center, learned this week that […]

BVA members and their supporting casts at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities will wrap up White Cane Day activities during the week ahead. In the meantime, reports of recent events are beginning to circulate and reach BVA National Headquarters. Particularly noteworthy is an account submitted today for BVA Happenings by Heartland Regional Group President Jeanie Murphy from the Caribbean! Jeanie’s White Cane Day events were not in the Caribbean, of course, but that’s where […]

Although not affected as strongly or severely as other cabinet-level departments, VA is nowhere close to business as usual due to the current government shutdown. The impasse is now in the middle of its 17th day of a lapse in federal funding appropriations for health care and other benefits for veterans. Lawmakers remain in a stalemate over spending proposals. Many VA services, including compensation and pension benefits, are not affected as VA operates off an […]

Former guide dog trainer Tony True of Dogs Inc. will join dog handlers nationwide this Tuesday, October 21, at 4:00pm Eastern Time via Zoom to address dog training, both refresher as well as reinforced training. Tony trained guide dogs for more than ten years at Southeastern Guide Dog School in Palmetto, Florida, but now works with the alumni of Dogs Inc, traveling and conducting site visits to graduates of the school. Since Dogs Inc. trains […]

Who says that a blind or low vision veteran cannot go out deer hunting this Fall? Please join VetTech’s weekly webinar this Wednesday, October 22, at 3:00pm Eastern Time as session attendees welcome Henry Johns, chief innovator of Digital FOV, LLC, an entrepreneurial venture centered on digital night vision and digital visual equipment for hunters, outdoor activities, the auto industry, boating, protective services personnel, and adaptive equipment for the disabled. Many disabled veterans are left […]

The third of five sessions of the Fall Gardening series, organized and led by BVA National Treasurer Monique Statham, will occur this Monday, October 20, via Zoom. Guest speaker Neva Fairchild of WayAround will discuss how to use WayAround clips to label gardening items. A related chat session will address “What’s Trending in Gardening.” Contrary to a headline in BVA Happenings last Friday that referred to a “last call” for registration, Monique has clarified that […]

Last year, a BVA member noticed a lady with a white cane in a restaurant while both were out for a meal. An ensuing conversation helped connect Valerie Jordan, an Army veteran and high school teacher who had recently lost her sight in both eyes, with VA Augusta Blind Rehabilitation Specialist Lisa Hardy. The connection helped Valerie arrange a stint at the Augusta Blind Rehabilitation Center (BRC), an experience that has helped her rediscover her […]

Last week’s BVA Happenings provided a comprehensive, exhaustive list of White Cane Awareness activities planned throughout the month of October. BVA members have been participating in many of the events, among them a display table at the VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in Wilmington, North Carolina, on White Cane Day itself earlier this week. Erika Mitchell, an at-large BVA member from North Carolina, took the time to offer a few impressions of the day. This past […]