The month of March commemorates and encourages the study, observance, and celebration of the vital role of women in American history, including those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces and later became veterans. Since 1995, presidents have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month” although the annual celebration had its beginnings in 1981 with an original Women’s History Week.  These annual proclamations celebrate the contributions women […]

Effective March 1, the maximum amount of life insurance coverage available under Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI) increased from $400,000 to $500,000. Service members who separated with SGLI coverage of $450,000 or $500,000 on or after March 1 can convert their coverage to VGLI in an amount up to or equal to the SGLI coverage they had at separation. They can purchase coverage in $10,000 increments. Veterans currently enrolled […]

BVA members Lonnie Bedwell, Indiana Regional Group, and Shawn Cheshire, Florida Regional Group, are in the final preparatory stages to climb two of the world’s tallest mountains: Mount Everest and its neighbor Mount Lhotse, the world’s fourth tallest mountain. Scaling Everest and Lhotse on the same expedition has never been done by a blind person, let alone two of them at the same time. In addition, Shawn’s successful attempt at Mount Everest will make her […]

A two-day event focused on combat-related eye injuries, one of the most common yet least publicized types of war injuries, kicked off this week with opening remarks from BVA Executive Director Donald D. Overton, Jr. (US Army, Ret.).   “Innovation and Unmet Needs for Ocular Injury” was the subject of the 8th Military Vision Symposium March 2-3 in Boston. The program brought together military leaders, clinicians, and scientists with the goal of driving innovative research leading […]

BVA National President Joseph D. McNeil, Sr. will present BVA’s current legislative priorities at a joint session of the U.S. House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs. The 10:00am hearing on Wednesday, March 8, the first in-person session in three years due to the pandemic, will also include presentations in panel format by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Jewish War Veterans, Wounded Warrior Project, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, Military Officers Association, AMVETS, Gold […]

VetTech Webinar will cover how AI locates text, discerns columns, and much more! This is a quick reminder to join the Blinded Veterans Association’s VetTech Team tomorrow (Wednesday, March 1) at 2:00pm Eastern Standard Time. We will welcome Michelle Mendez, OrCam’s National Director of Sales for the United States. Michelle will provide an overview of Smart reading, specific commands for Smart reading, and helpful techniques in the reading of menus and newspapers. A Thursday VetTech […]

BVA’s Awards Program honors annually the extraordinary professional achievements of a blind or low vision veteran, the outstanding level of service of a BVA member to their regional group, and a volunteer who has served blind and low vision veterans with unusual dedication and enthusiasm. The recognitions are, respectively, the Melvin J. Maas, Irving Diener, and David L. Schnair Awards.  The program also recognizes, through annual Certificates of Appreciation, the professionals who step ahead the […]

BVA National President Joseph D. McNeil, Sr. will present BVA’s current legislative priorities at a joint session of the U.S. House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs. The 10:00am hearing on Wednesday, March 8, the first in-person session in three years due to the pandemic, will also include presentations in panel format by several other Veterans Service Organizations.  A full contingent of the BVA Board of Directors will attend the testimony while in town March […]

Check out how to read menus and newspapers with OrCam’s Smart Artificial Intelligence (AI) at this upcoming week’s VetTech Weekly Wednesday Webinar on March 1 at 2:00pm Eastern Time as session participants welcome Michelle Mendez, OrCam’s National Director of Sales for the United States. Michelle will provide an overview of Smart reading, specific commands for Smart reading, and helpful techniques for the Smart reading of menus and newspapers.  The presentation will cover how AI locates […]

Members of the Blinded Veterans Association, their families, and all other stakeholders are encouraged to both register with BVA and also secure hotel reservations for the Association’s 78th National Convention at the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel August 14-18, 2023.  Those planning to attend this year’s activities—highlighted by educational sessions, an increasingly popular and busy Exhibit Hall, and the official BVA business—can now register on the BVA website and link to a hotel reservation form […]