The ongoing Library of Congress Veterans History Project (VHP) is making a special effort to capture the unique experiences of veterans, with a particular focus this summer on those with blindness or low vision. The upcoming BVA 80th National Convention offers an excellent opportunity for BVA members to participate in this national project, now in its 25th year. A large percentage of convention attendees have already committed to participating in the project in Dallas.  “We […]

So, you have been granted entitlement to financial assistance in the purchase of one automobile or other conveyance. Now what? Not all BVA members qualify for this benefit, but per capita, we could wager that BVA has more eligible claimants than any other Veterans Service Organization because the vision loss of so many BVA members is related to active-duty service.  Service-connected vision loss with central visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in the better eye, […]

Following consultation with VA officials and members of the BVA Board of Directors, National Legislative Director Lea Rowe put together a few suggestions to help BVA members maximize the quality of responses they should receive from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Blind Rehabilitation Service when seeking VA services.  To blind and low vision veterans, access to timely and effective care is paramount. We understand that navigating health care can sometimes be challenging, and we […]

BVA’s National Bylaws were updated last year to empower every member with a vote in District and National elections, as well as on bylaw changes. This new system replaces the previous method where delegates at the convention voted on behalf of the entire regional group. Now, BVA members can vote by mail, internet, or phone. Mailing Date Approaching Soon!  Please be on the lookout for your paper ballot arriving in the mail and/or an email […]

The Blinded Veterans Association is among 11 organizations recently notified as part of a court order to settle a lawsuit brought against Whiteston Home Furnishings, LLC d/b/a Saatva, a retailer that sells mattresses via its digital properties, located at its website, https://www.saatva.com. The lawsuit claims that Saatva failed to effectively communicate information on its digital platforms to consumers with a disability and who use screen readers, thereby denying these consumers full and equal access to […]

The Normandy landings and associated airborne operations on June 6, 1944, constituted the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II. The invasion was codenamed Operation Neptune and often referred to as D-Day after the military term used. The Normandy invasion was the largest seaborne invasion in history, beginning the liberation of France and the rest of Western Europe. D-Day laid the foundations of the Allied victory on the western front and created […]

Memorial Day 2025 brought members of the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) throughout the country to a remembrance of the heroism of those who made the ultimate sacrifice of their lives in defense of the nation’s freedoms and way of life. Many paid their respects privately while others participated in public events near the Nation’s Capital and in the Deep South. At Arlington National Cemetery, only seven miles from BVA National Headquarters, National President Paul Mimms […]

VA earlier this week announced changes that will make it easier for VA-enrolled veterans to access health care from non-VA providers at the Department’s expense. In 2019, the MISSION ACT allowed such an opportunity when veterans met at least one of six conditions—but only when the decision was in the best medical interest of the veteran as determined by a second VA doctor. Implementation of the recently passed Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare […]

The Valor Games Southeast (VGSE) is a premier adaptive sports competition dedicated to empowering veterans and service members with disabilities through the transformative power of sport. This year, seven BVA members from the eastern half of the United States—Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, Maryland, Texas, and Virginia—participated in the event. Hosted by the North Carolina nonprofit Bridge II Sports, the 2025 edition marks the 13th year of the impactful event, held Monday-Thursday of this week […]

Monday of this week (May 19) marked a pivotal moment for our nation’s blinded veterans as H.R. 1147, the Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act of 2025 introduced by Representative David Valadao (R-CA-22) earlier this year, successfully passed the House of Representatives. This bipartisan triumph is a testament to the dedication of advocates and legislators who understand the unique challenges faced by those who have lost their sight in service to our country. Passage in the […]