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BVA Chief of Staff Reviews iOS 17 Release

In this week’s BVA Happenings, BVA VetTech Moderator and Chief of Staff Timothy Hornik summarizes the benefits of newly released accessibility features for blind users of Apple products. The company released the iOS 17 update earlier this week. A more extensive presentation of the improvements will appear in the upcoming issue of The Bulletin.  Notable Features of iOS 17 Assistive Access: This feature allows users to simplify the iOS interface. If there is one common complaint […]

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Applications Now Accepted for 2024 Winter Sports Clinic

Please act immediately to participate in the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic scheduled for April 1-7, 2024 in Snowmass, Colorado! Learn more through your Visual Impairment Services Team Coordinator and apply online here by November 1, 2023. The world-class event, co-hosted by VA and Disabled American Veterans, is also supported by a host of private sector sponsors. Registration includes lodging, meals, and a variety of sports and recreation activities such as those enumerated below. […]

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Honoring Gold Star Mothers and Families

In 1936, Congress designated the last Sunday in September as Gold Star Mother’s Day. The observance continues today but includes the entire family, now officially designated as Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day by proclamation of President Barack Obama in 2011 to honor parents and families of service members who gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives in defense of their country. The 2023 observance is this Sunday, September 24.  Gold Star mothers, fathers, and […]

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VetTech Team Set to Introduce Hable One, Continue MacOS Training Series

Join BVA’s VetTech Team this Wednesday, September 27, at 2:00pm Eastern Time as the Weekly Wednesday Webinar welcomes Freek van Welsenis, co-founder of the Dutch start-up “Hable One,” and Jose Cintron of Florida Vision Technology. The Hable One external keyboard simplifies Smartphone (or tablet) use for individuals with sight loss through its intuitive touch commands, making navigation essentially effortless for all!  Hable One is small enough to carry with you wherever you go, and its […]

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Whole Health Theme for September Emphasizes Integrative Approaches

The focus of VA’s Whole Health content throughout September is both conventional and Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) treatments—and how the two approaches converge. The tools that VA has made available can help BVA members and their families learn how CIH, along with conventional treatments, result in better outcomes for veteran health and well-being. One CIH treatment that continues to increase in popularity while also remaining somewhat controversial in some circles is acupuncture. VA’s Whole […]

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PACT Act Deadlines Fast Approaching

Passage and implementation of The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 (PACT Act) has made it possible for many veterans to enroll directly in VA health care without first applying for VA benefits. For some, however, the time to apply is running out. There are two related groups with different deadlines.  The PACT Act deadlines are as follows: First, Veterans who deployed to a combat zone, […]

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Air Force Veterans to Celebrate this Monday, September 18

World War II demonstrated how valuable air power was and the need to change the organization of the nation’s military forces. This resulted in the creation of a single Department of Defense with a strong Joint Chiefs of Staff with Army, Navy, and Air Force chiefs. The National Security Act, signed by President Truman on July 26, 1947, established this new defense organization and the United States Air Force as an independent service, equal to […]

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VetTech Team to Examine, Discuss Next Week’s Apple iOS 17 Update Release

Join BVA’s VetTech Team this Wednesday, September 20, at 2:00pm Eastern Time as the Weekly Wednesday Webinar focuses on the newly available and much anticipated Apple iOS 17, compatible with iPhones purchased after 2017. The official release date for the iOS update is this Monday, September 18. Apple leaders initially intended iOS 17 as a “tune-up release” but several major features, worthy of discussion via VetTech, were added later in the development cycle.  Updates important […]

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Remembering Today Service Members Taken Prisoner and Still Missing

National POW/MIA Recognition Day was established in 1979 through a proclamation signed by President Jimmy Carter after Congress passed a resolution making the recognition day official. The actions responded to the push for full accountability on the part of the families of the more than 2,500 Vietnam War POW/MIAs at the time. In addition to a national-level ceremony held earlier today at the Pentagon, observances of National POW/MIA Recognition Day were held across the country on […]

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Following Brief Hiatus, Virtual Dog Handler Sessions to Reconvene

All past, present, and future dog handlers among BVA’s blind and low vision veterans are encouraged to join this Tuesday’s (September 19) session via Zoom at 4:00pm Eastern Time. The session’s agenda includes a post-convention report, an announcement of new group members, and the administering of Narcan to dogs and cats.  The meeting is open to all veterans with sight loss who are interested in topics and issues associated with guide dogs.  Attendance at previous […]