Joint Opening Ceremony BVA National Sergeant-at Arms Brian O’Connell got the convention off to a perfect start with a trumpet solo rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner after directing the BVA’s own Rob Sanchas and Sheldon McKinney in a presentation of the colors at the opening ceremony Monday morning prior to convention welcome videos by Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs and Executive Director Dr. Vernon Humphrey’s introduction of […]

Some 120,000 U.S. veterans are legally blind and approximately 1.1 million are low vision, estimates from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Blind Rehabilitation Service (BRS) reveal. All who meet the criteria for low vision are now eligible for both VA services and BVA membership. The remaining millions of Americans confronting low vision are not able to access VA rehabilitation programs and the technology that comes with these programs, or they may be low vision […]

Only a few short hours remain to register via the BVA website for the Association’s historic 80th National Convention in Dallas, Texas. After midnight Eastern Time tonight, BVA members, their families, and friends must register in the Pegasus Room at the Hyatt Regency Dallas beginning at 9:00am on Sunday, July 6. A higher onsite registration rate of $250 will apply. The convention is being held jointly with the annual gathering of the American Council of […]

USA Hockey has recognized BVA Director of District 1 John O’Connell as the National Disabled Athlete of the Year. John was one of 12 individuals honored at USA Hockey’s President’s Awards Dinner on June 6 at the Denver Marriott Tech Center as part of its four-day annual meeting. Hockey has been a lifelong love for John, who began playing at age 7 and never stopped throughout his growing-up years in New York City.  John is […]

The June 1 episode of Visions of BVA will go live via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and several other platforms this Sunday at 3:00am Eastern Time, BVA National Communications Strategist and podcast host Steve Baskis announced this week. The episode, entitled “Passing the Torch: A President’s Legacy and the Future of BVA,” features BVA National President Paul Mimms as he completes his term of office. In this powerful episode of Visions of BVA, Steve as the […]

Visually impaired bird enthusiasts nationwide are gathering this Sunday for the inaugural Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon. Designed by and for “birders” who are legally blind, the groundbreaking 24-hour marathon (12:01am-11:59 local time) is a celebration of birds, community, and accessibility by encouraging participants to identify as many birds as possible by sound (or sight as able). Any legally blind individual in the United States of any age and at any level of birding experience, beginners included, […]

Join the National Board of Directors on May 15 for a Town Hall aimed at providing instruction on the new voting system and to address questions. 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 in which delegates at the convention voted on behalf of the entire regional group. The newly adopted […]

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 in which delegates at the convention voted on behalf of the entire regional group. The new voting system allows BVA members to vote by mail, internet, or telephonically. Join the National Board of Directors on May 15 for a Town Hall aimed at […]

Visit the Convention page on the BVA website to locate available details and complete the registration process for the Blinded Veterans Association’s 80th National Convention in Dallas, Texas, July 5-11, 2025. This year’s gathering, held in partnership with the American Council of the Blind (ACB), commemorates 80 years of service to blind and low vision veterans. Some of the planned offsite visits offered have limited seating capacity so please act now to finalize your arrangements! […]

The 39th annual National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village, Colorado, regarded as perhaps the nation’s premier adaptive winter sports event, is now history for 2025. Once again, it was indeed “Miracles on a Mountainside” (the Clinic theme) for the contingency of blind and low vision veterans who, for another year, had the time of their life March 31-April 5. The 46 veterans with sight loss joined some 355 additional of their fellow […]