News

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Join Monthly WVG Virtual Meeting this Thursday via Zoom

The BVA Women Veterans Group (WVG) will meet via Zoom next Thursday, April 25, at 6:00pm Eastern Time. The meeting will feature BVA National President Paul Mimms and National Executive Director/National Legislative Director Donald Overton. The focus will be legislative advocacy as it relates to issues that affect women veterans in the areas of benefits, services, equality, and recognition.  The Blinded Veterans Association is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: BVA Women Veterans […]

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VA’s Partnership with Parkinson’s Foundation

Since 2020, the Parkinson’s Foundation and VA have partnered to improve the health, well-being, and quality of life for veterans with Parkinson’s Diseases and their loved ones. VA’s concern for veterans began much earlier, however. In 2001, Parkinson’s Disease Research Education and Clinical Centers (PADRECCs) were established to deliver state-of-the-art clinical care, pioneering research, and educational programs to an expansive geographic region staffed by internationally recognized movement disorder specialists. PADRECCs are housed as Centers of […]

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New VA Initiative to Protect Veterans and their Families from Home Foreclosure

VA has announced the launching on May 31 of the Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase (VASP) Program that will help tens of thousands of veterans currently experiencing severe financial hardship avoid foreclosure and stay in their homes. The program is a last-resort tool in VA’s comprehensive suite of home retention options for eligible veterans, active-duty service members, and surviving spouses with VA-guaranteed home loans who are unable to meet their mortgage obligations.  Under VASP, VA will […]

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Guide Dog G Reports Improbable Recovery of Wallet in Florida

“G”, BVA’s April Ambassadog. As Ambassadogs, we sometimes can’t resist being a bit nosy, especially when it comes to knowing what our human handlers think and say about us guide dogs. My dad, Arsenio, gave me the green light to tune into the tail end of Tuesday’s BVA Dog Handler Group meeting. Something intriguing unfolded after the official meeting wrapped up: a chat between Yoneka Trent, the meeting’s moderator that day, and Teresa Galgano, the […]

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Army Reserve Commemorates Enduring History of Service

Next Tuesday, April 23, marks the 116th birthday of the United States Army Reserve, recognizing the dedicated service of the nation’s 200,000 Army Reserve Soldiers and Civilians. The theme this year is “Today’s Army Reserve: Building Critical Skills for the Nation.” Today, the Army Reserve offers more than 120 different career fields. Soldiers can build on their civilian profession in the Reserve or try a new career that fulfills a separate purpose. On April 23, […]

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Legislative Team Formulates Action Plan after Annual Testimony, Visits on Capitol Hill

March 21 photo of BVA Executive Committee and Judge Advocate Stephen Butler in Washington office of Senator Jerry Moran. Left to right, National President Paul Mimms with guide dog Shadow, Vice President Wade Davis, Stephen Butler, National Treasurer Joe Bogart, and National Secretary Tracy Ferro. One month ago, the BVA Executive Committee traveled to Washington, DC, to meet with several members and staff of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs. They met personally […]

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Next Virtual Convention Town Hall Set for April 24

Attention BVA members and friends! Please join us this Wednesday, April 24, at 2:00pm Eastern Time, for the third in our series of BVA National Convention Town Halls. The upcoming session via Zoom will provide you with the latest news and information to assist you in your convention planning process. Read more. Specifically, attendees at the Town Hall will be provided with the following: An overview of the 79th National Convention, including all the important […]

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It’s All Fun and Games for Next Week’s VetTech

Join in the enjoyment of BVA’s VetTech team this Wednesday, April 17, at 2:00pm Eastern Time, for a Weekly Wednesday Webinar that offers something new and fresh outside the norm of VetTech. Participants and the team will welcome Patricia Cox, President of the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International. Patricia will lead a discussion and demonstrate how to conduct virtual game nights with blind and low vision participants through virtual conferencing platforms. On Thursday, […]

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Join Monthly Dog Handler Meeting This Tuesday via Zoom

All past, present, and prospective dog handlers among BVA’s blind and low vision veterans are invited to attend this Tuesday’s virtual meeting of the group, scheduled for 4:00pm Eastern Time. Included among the invitees are those who have never attended a dog handler meeting in the past and those who do not currently have a guide dog but who are interested in the issues concerning them. Please encourage your fellow veterans to attend, sharing the […]

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CMV Champions Minority Veterans

Blind and low vision veterans and their families may not be aware of the Center for Minority Veterans (CMV), established by Public Law 103-446, in 1994. Title 38, United States Code (USC), Section 317 reflects the current responsibilities of the CMV, which seeks to champion minority veterans by ensuring awareness of, and equitable access to, the benefits and service they have earned through their service. The ultimate goal of the Center is to enhance the […]