Join BVA’s VetTech Team this Wednesday, June 21, at 2:00pm Eastern Time as the Weekly Wednesday Webinar welcomes Henry Johns, Chief Innovator and Founder of Digital FOV, LLC, and blinded veteran Chuck Smith. The pair will discuss Digital Crosshairs 1000SA, the company’s rifle scope clip-on device that assists individuals with a wide variety and range of disabilities. The revolutionary but simple device facilitates rifle scope usage by blind and low vision veterans, enabling them to […]

In this week’s BVA Happenings, Deputy Director of Government Relations Alek Libbin summarizes and points out the importance of the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living (COLA) Act of 2023, signed into law by President Joe Biden just two days ago on June 14.  The legislation increases the rates of disability compensation, clothing allowances, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children to account for increases in the cost of living by tying the annual inflation […]

BVA’s first of four Tuesday Town Hall virtual sessions this summer, dedicated to introducing events and sharing critical information about the impending 78th National Convention, was held June 6. The session surpassed expectations for attendance and provided the impetus for several Association members to further consider registering for the upcoming gathering in St. Louis August 14-18.  The next two sessions, scheduled for June 20 and 27, will present proposed bylaw amendments and an opportunity to […]

Don’t overlook or forget to join the Blinded Veterans Association’s VetTech Team tomorrow (Wednesday, June 14) for the initiative’s Weekly Wednesday Webinar in the usual 2:00pm time slot (Eastern Time) via Zoom. We will welcome Liz Whitaker, Product Manager for User Education and Outreach at Vispero. Liz will outline the techniques available for making work with PDFs a breeze rather than an exercise in frustration, as has been the case for many with sight loss. […]

BVA has been a staunch supporter of the Million Veteran Program (MVP). The initiative was part of the 77th National Convention last year with a booth in the Exhibit Hall and other opportunities for interaction with our members and their families.  MVP is on a mission to improve veteran health care by studying how genes, lifestyle, military experiences, and exposures affect health and wellness. With more than 950,000 veteran participants, it is the largest research […]

Leaders of BVA regional groups and BVA members interested in attending the Association’s National Convention August 14-18, 2023, are encouraged to read the full 2023 Official Convention Letter released and posted to the BVA website three weeks ago.  The letter includes the official notice required by the National Bylaws, convention highlights, frequently asked questions, important deadlines, and links to additional information. To access the letter, click here.  Convention Coordinator Meredith Buono-DaGrossa continues to emphasize the […]

BVA’s Town Hall this past Tuesday surpassed expectations for attendance and provided the impetus for many Association members to seek further information and/or register for the upcoming 78th National Convention August 14-18 in St. Louis. “My phone began ringing off the hook at the end of the meeting and it hasn’t stopped yet,” Convention Coordinator reported Wednesday morning.  The first Town Hall, hosted via Zoom, provided attendees with an overview of the convention location and […]

Perhaps it’s only coincidence, but perhaps not, that the date of the founding of our first military forces and the founding of the most powerful symbol of the freedoms of the United States of America is one and the same. Read more.  The U.S. Army was founded on June 14, 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized enlistment of riflemen to serve the United Colonies for one year. Many believed at the time that the creation of the force would […]

Join BVA’s VetTech Team this Wednesday, June 14, at 2:00pm Eastern Time as the Weekly Wednesday Webinar welcomes Liz Whitaker, Product Manager for User Education and Outreach for Vispero. Liz will focus on working with PDFs. Whether you are reading a “how to” guide or completing a fillable form, reading and interacting with PDFs is a critical skill to learn. Fusion and JAWS, originated by Freedom Scientific, host an array of features that makes completing […]

This Monday, June 12, BVA recognizes all women veterans but especially our own blind and low vision women members and our Women Veterans Group! We thank them for their past military service and their current service to BVA. The first Women Veterans Day, also referred to as Women Veterans Recognition Day and Women Veterans Appreciation Day, was celebrated on June 12, 2018. Its significance dates to June 12, 1948, when President Harry S. Truman signed […]