Extreme sports athlete, 2015 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, and BVA member Lonnie Bedwell recently completed his long-planned ascent of Denali, the highest and most remote mountain peak in North America with a summit elevation of 20,310 feet above sea level. The team of five sighted guides and Lonnie reached the peak’s apex and made it safely down on June 22, a relatively fast trek of 14 days for Denali. The group had originally […]

The Independence Day holiday is one that I greatly look forward to every year. I love the outdoor summer reunions with family and friends, the parades, the barbecues, and the many other traditions in which I’ve enjoyed being a participant over the years. Like many of our veterans who have served overseas in defense of what this wonderful holiday means to us as Americans, I have sorely missed the Fourth of July when I have […]

Blinded veterans, their families, and other guests who have previously registered for the BVA 77th National Convention in Washington, DC, are invited to now register online for individual offsite activities throughout the week of August 22-27 (Monday-Saturday). Convention attendees can pick and choose from the various activities available. In addition, BVA members who have not previously registered for the convention at all may still do so here (CLICK HERE) prior to registering for the individual […]

Do you have what it takes to be a Blinded Veterans Association Ambassador? The second round of Ambassador training is fast approaching, as is the due date of July 1 for registration—next Friday, one week from today. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Blind Rehabilitation Service (BRS) has identified more than 120,000 blinded veterans and 1.2 million veterans with low vision. A large percentage of these veterans either do not know about BRS or they […]

The Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) has been asked by the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts under Judge William G. Young to share the following notice with its membership regarding the settlement agreement of a class action lawsuit against Poly-Wood, LLC. The basis of the suit is failure to communicate information on online stores fully and equally to consumers who use screen reader auxiliary aids to access digital content. The notice, sent […]

For some, June 14 may represent little more than the 165th day of 2022 or a day signaling the summer solstice and the official beginning of the new season in the northern hemisphere just one week from now. For the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA), the day is an opportunity to recognize Flag Day in the United States. It is no accident that June 14 is observed as Flag Day each year. On June 14, 1777, […]

During the past three weeks, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has published a brief two-part series updating developments relating to its TeleEye initiatives. VA TeleEye, originally launched in 2006, has seen each emerging component program build on the success of previous iterations. Current developments focus on preventative and specialty care for veterans who may be in the earlier stages of vision loss. Eye care is the third most utilized health care service at VA, […]

Do you have what it takes to be a Blinded Veterans Association Ambassador? BVA is pleased to announce the hosting of its second round of Ambassador training.    The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Blind Rehabilitation Service (BRS) has identified more than 120,000 blinded veterans and 1.2 million veterans with low vision. A large percentage of these veterans either do not know about BRS or they incorrectly assume that they are not eligible for assistance because […]

Extreme sports athlete and military veteran Lonnie Bedwell, a member of the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA), is perhaps known best for his recognition as the National Geographic Adventurer of the Year in 2015 and the first totally blind person to kayak the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Lonnie has since shared his adventuresome and can-do spirit with dozens of other blinded veterans on kayaking, climbing, and skiing trips throughout the United States. He is […]

Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) National President Joseph D. McNeil, Sr. today announced the appointment of Paul Mimms of Kansas City, Missouri, and the Heartland Regional Group to serve as National Vice President for the remainder of a two-year term ending in August 2023. President McNeil also announced the selection of Tonora Lyn Shannon of the Michigan Regional Group to fill the vacancy of National Ombudsman previously occupied by Paul. Article 4, Section 6 of the […]