BVA Louisiana/Mississippi Regional Group Secretary Gary Schoelerman recently reported that some of the group’s members, a little more than a year ago, convinced one of its newer members, Shawntina Gibson, to attend a Team BVA hiking-rock climbing-kayaking-biking event. Shawntina had never been rock climbing or kayaking before, and she hadn’t ridden a bike in years, but she was willing to give it a try and quickly fell in love with the challenge to mind and […]

BVA Happenings is pleased to acknowledge the latest in the list of holidays that make up National Military Appreciation Month throughout May 2023, paying special tribute tomorrow, May 20, to those currently serving in all six branches of the U.S. Military: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, the newly created Space Force, and Coast Guard, including the National Guard and Reserve Components of these branches. Prior to 1950, single celebrations were conducted for the Army, […]

Recognizing today, May 18, as Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) 2023, the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) is one of 52 national organizations to sign a statement calling on the federal government to require websites and software applications to be accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities. GAAD was created in 2011 to call attention to digital access and inclusion. An estimated one billion individuals worldwide and 61 million living in the United States currently […]

Today is National Military Spouse Appreciation Day. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan declared May 23 as the first Military Spouse Day in Proclamation 5184. Former Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger then standardized the date by declaring the Friday before Mother’s Day as Military Spouse Day. In 1999, Congress officially made the observance part of National Military Appreciation Month, resulting in an annual Presidential Proclamation for the commemoration now officially known as National Military Spouse Appreciation […]

BVA Convention Coordinator Meredith Buono-DaGrossa continues to advise BVA members and their families to register as soon as possible for the Association’s 78th National Convention August 14-18, 2023, and to make reservations with the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel in the Gateway City. She also recommends making flight or other travel arrangements as soon as possible to secure the best rates. Individuals and families planning to attend this year’s activities—highlighted by educational sessions, an increasingly […]

Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) has announced the second Flowers of Remembrance Day to be held at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Sunday, May 28. The event precedes programs and ceremonies the following day at which BVA traditionally participates in a parade of flags and a wreath presentation.  According to Gabriel Botero, Jr., Acting Veteran Service Organization Liaison for the Veterans Health Administration, the response from the public at last year’s inaugural Flowers of […]

If your vision is 20/400 or worse, you may be eligible to take part in a patient focus group organized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Institutes for Research (AIR). The interactions last about one hour and will take place at an accessible location in your area or via Zoom. Participants will receive $75.  The purpose of the research is to understand the experiences of individuals with profound sight loss—occurrences […]

Kennith Harvey of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Group is BVA’s newly named National Chaplain. The Board of Directors and membership thank outgoing Chaplain Dr. Ron Lester for his outstanding service these past four years. Chaplain Harvey is a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served 28 years. He was medically retired due to a Traumatic Brain Injury and several other injuries. He has studied to be a minister through the National Association of Christian Ministers, Liberty […]

Don’t forget next week’s meeting of the BVA Dog Handlers Committee! The 4:00pm Eastern Time session via Zoom on Tuesday, May 16, is open to all veterans with sight loss who are interested in topics and issues related to guide dogs. The Committee meetings are regularly scheduled for the third Tuesday of each month in the same time slot and generally last approximately 90 minutes. According to Committee Chair Michaun Harrison, the May meeting will […]

Join BVA’s VetTech Team this Wednesday, May 17, at 2:00pm Eastern Daylight Time as we welcome Jean-Paul dela Houssaye, founder and developer of WebAudio News. The news media industry has established barriers that prevent many from consuming the news reports that matter most to them. This occurs because never-ending feeds are incorporated into articles and intertwining opinion pieces. Toss in accessibility barriers faced by the blind and low vision and we face insurmountable obstacles just […]