BVA’s own William Mathis, president of the Rocky Mountain Regional Group, has qualified to compete in both the South Africa Blind Golf Open Championships and the International Blind Golf Association World Championships March 26-31 in Cape Town, South Africa.  William, an Army veteran who lost his sight gradually after sustaining a Traumatic Brain Injury during a mortar attack in Iraq in 2011, will represent the United States as he plays against legally blind golfers from […]

Veterans can now access their disability benefit claims decisions on VA.gov instead of waiting for a mailed copy to be delivered to them, VA announced yesterday. Although the service commenced on January 17, a five-week probationary period allowed for adequate testing prior to the official announcement. About 280,000 notification letters were downloaded during the five weeks. Previously, veterans could access benefits summary letters on VA.gov but not the full copy of decision notification letters in […]

Online registration for the 2023 National Veterans Golden Age Games May 20-25 in Des Moines, Iowa, is now just six days away. Veterans 55 years of age and older who are enrolled in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care can secure their slots beginning Thursday, March 2, at 2:00pm Eastern Time. The BVA committee associated with the event cannot be more adamant about the need to register immediately that very day.  “Veterans who have […]

VetTech Webinar to Spotlight 4Blind, for Limitless Abilities Just a quick reminder to join the Blinded Veterans Association’s VetTech Team Wednesday, February 22, at 2:00pm Eastern Standard Time. We will welcome Anastasia Ryazanova and Alyona Markova, Key Account Managers at 4Blind, an engineering company headquartered in Boston that helps the blind and deafblind become more independent in their personal and professional endeavors. The company works with the support of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind […]

BVA unites with other organizations in its concern for those with declining sight as we recognize February as Low Vision Awareness Month. The commemoration occurs annually to increase knowledge about vision rehabilitation services that can benefit persons with sight loss. With passage of the revised bylaws at the BVA 77th National Convention, membership in the Association was extended to veterans with low vision.  The National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health offers a […]

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 by several other Veterans Service Organizations. A full contingent of the BVA Board of Directors will attend the testimony while in town March 5-11 for their […]

Check out the most advanced portable communication devices for individuals who are deaf-blind at this upcoming week’s VetTech Weekly Wednesday Webinar on February 22 at 2:00pm Eastern Time. Anastasia Ryazanova and Alyona Markova, Key Account Managers at 4Blind, will present and discuss the HaptiBraille Communicator for the deafblind, the USB Note, and the Easy Braille Course. The regularly scheduled Thursday VetTech Talk session on February 23 at 2:00pm will review the webinar and entertain follow-up […]

BVA Dog Handler Committee Chair Michaun Harrison has announced a special guest speaker for the monthly meeting this Tuesday, February 21, at 4:00pm. Dr. Devon Smith, veterinarian at Southeastern Guide Dogs, Inc., in Palmetto, Florida, will address the virtual participants via Zoom. Dr. Smith has been a passionate animal lover since her early childhood. Between horseback riding and growing up in a home filled with rescue dogs, she was always surrounded by animals. During her […]

Woodrow Fryer, currently the acting president of the Augusta Chapter of the Georgia Regional Group and an active pastor and humanitarian known for his love of his country, received the Salute to Service Award this past Wednesday from WJBF-TV in Augusta. The award presentation, along with several photos and a video, was the subject of a news report later that evening.  A veteran of the Marine Corps who began losing his sight 15 years ago, […]

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 by several other Veterans Service Organizations.  A full contingent of the BVA Board of Directors will attend the testimony. They will also visit Congressional offices in […]