The most recent audio episode of Visions of BVA, released on January 1, is now live and accessible on all major platforms, most notably the Association’s YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Featured this month is the audio version of the Autumn 2025 BVA Bulletin, the most recent issue of the quarterly publication produced by and for blind and low vision veterans and their families.
Host and producer Steve Baskis has converted a written script of the issue’s content, complete with descriptions of photos and graphics, into a high-quality, professional audio program that can be heard all at once or section-by-section.
Visions of BVA is a deep dive into the inspiring stores of the organization and its members, accounts of resilience, and the achievements of blind and low vision veterans. Each episode features interviews, discussions on life-changing technology, and a glimpse into the BVA community.
The current episode highlights key messages from BVA leadership, including President Wade Davis’s reflections and the enduring theme of perseverance inspired by “It Couldn’t Be Done,” alongside a strong call to volunteerism and community connection. Listeners will also hear summaries of major advocacy and legislative updates, including full funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for FY 2026, protections related to Second Amendment reporting and emergency transportation, progress on VA caregiver program reform (PCAFC), and the enactment of the 2025 Cost-of-Living Adjustment.
The episode also touches on Special Monthly Compensation and Aid and Attendance benefits. The issue further captures the heart of the BVA community through a report on Veterans Day observances at Arlington National Cemetery and the New York City Veterans Day Parade, the inspiring story of Stephen Butler’s return to music through blind rehabilitation, and tributes to Past National Presidents Paul Mimms and Neil Appleby.
Stay tuned to Visions of BVA for a powerful February episode already in the making as Steve shares the microphone with BVA member Jim Rush, a 99-year-old U.S. Navy veteran who recently joined the organization while training at the Gulf Coast Rehabilitation Center in Biloxi, Mississippi. Jim’s life spans World War II, the Korean War, and nearly a century of service, work, and resilience. He shares his journey beginning with volunteering for the Navy in 1940, serving as an aerial gunner flying seaplanes along the Florida coast, and later being recalled during the Korean War. He further shares his sentiments about sight loss, adapting to change, staying active, and maintaining independence late in life.
Listeners and subscribers of Visions of BVA are welcome and encouraged to leave their feedback and share their thoughts with Steve Baskis, sbaskis@bva.org, on any aspect of the podcast.
