For the 2023 Veterans Day Poster Contest, the Veterans Day National Committee of which BVA is a member called on professional and amateur artists late last year to create picture-perfect designs that reflect the theme of this year’s Veterans Day observance at Arlington National Cemetery. The theme “service” brought more than 60 entries ranging from school-aged children to graphic designers with decades of experience. After all the ballots were tallied, the Committee selected a design […]

The Blinded Veterans Association is honored to be chosen to participate in a special charitable giving campaign – sponsored and funded by Target. Here is how you can help direct a portion of Target’s donation at year’s end to BVA!  When you shop at Target in-store, make sure to give the cashier your phone number or email or pull up the barcode in the “Wallet” section of your Target Application and let the cashier scan […]

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced the launch of VSAFE, which stands for Veteran Scam and Fraud Evasion. The initiative was revealed at Secretary McDonough’s press conference last Friday by VA Deputy Chief of Staff Maureen Elias, an Army veteran and military spouse whose own young family was once a victim of veteran-targeted fraud. VSAFE includes a coordinated online hub of resources that utilizes insights from across VA so that the Department speaks […]

In this week’s BVA Happenings, BVA Deputy Director of Government Relations summarizes a handful of implications of a potential government shutdown beginning at 12:01am this Sunday, especially as such a shutdown relates to VA services and veterans’ benefits. For some time now we’ve been hearing about a pending government shutdown but not so much about what a shutdown means and how you would be affected. The short version is that the government has a budget […]

The Veteran Usability Study is a great way to help VA improve the accessibility and usability of VA.gov and mobile applications such as VA Health and Benefits. The study is open to veterans, caregivers, and others familiar with how a veteran uses screen readers. Participants can receive a stipend ranging from $10 to $75 per study for participating.  Because VA seeks to understand the unique needs of blind screen reader users and make relevant digital […]

Join BVA’s VetTech Team this Wednesday, October 4, at 2:00pm Eastern Time as the Weekly Wednesday Webinar welcomes Marc Arneson, Director of Community at Hadley. Marc will focus on Hadley’s current vision resources. For more than a hundred years, Hadley has created personalized learning opportunities that empower adults with legal blindness or low vision to thrive—at home, at work, and within the local communities and interest groups to which they belong. Hadley’s unique success has […]

Every year on the second Saturday in August, the New Orleans Hash House Harriers (NOH3), who claim to be organized as a “local drinking club with a running problem,” host the Red Dress Run, a charity “run” in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Thanks to application materials submitted by former BVA National President and Louisiana/Mississippi Regional Group member Joe Burns, also a member of the Red Dress Runners himself, a generous grant was awarded […]

House Committee on Veterans Affairs (HVAC) Chairman Mike Bost (R-IL-12) officially recognized Paul Mimms on his election as Blinded Veterans Association National President in a letter addressed to him dated September 12, 2023. Chairman Bost thanked Paul for his service on active duty and his continued advocacy on behalf of fellow blind and low vision veterans who have also answered the call to serve.   “This is no small task, but I know that because […]

Samantha Hance, Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist at the Kansas City, Missouri, VA Medical Center, recently expressed gratitude in return to BVA and veterans with sight loss for the Certificate of Appreciation presented to her at the 78th National Convention.  “It is with sincere gratitude I offer my appreciation of recognition at the BVA Conference this past week. I have worked at the Kansas City VA Medical Center for nearly 13 years as an Intern and […]

VA’s Whole Health content focuses in September on both conventional and Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) treatments—and how the two approaches converge. The tools provided will help BVA members and their families share how CIH, along with conventional treatments, results in better outcomes for veteran health and well-being.  More than 40 years ago, U.S. Army Veteran Dr. Norman Gallimore suffered a stroke that affected his appearance. He credits a Whole Health CIH treatment known as […]