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    Mitchell Davis
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    If you are a blind or visually impaired veteran, if you are a relative or friend, or if you just want to get involved, write or give us a call. We are the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA), an organization established specifically to promote the welfare of blinded veterans. We are here to help veterans and their families meet the challenges of blindness. SINCE 1945 BLINDED VETERANS ASSOCIATION We Know... Approximately 160,000 blind or visually impaired veterans now live in the United States. Some 10 percent of the evacuated wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan have suffered serious eye injuries. More than 6,000 veterans become blind or visually impaired every year as age-related diseases like macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy affect their lives. 2 3 We Help By... Searching out and identifying blinded veterans who need services. Assessing their overall needs and linking them to appropriate benefits, services, training and job opportunities. Serving as role models to blinded veterans. BVA leaders and the general membership know exactly what blinded veterans are going through because they are also blinded veterans. They have already faced and learned to deal with the problems blinded veterans encounter. Acting as advocates for blinded veterans in both the public and private sectors. Keeping abreast of the latest developments — in legislation, benefits and technology — and making blinded veterans aware of them. Monitoring progress and problems of blinded veterans while determining any additional help they may need. Providing encouragement and emotional support. 4 We Offer... A Field Service Program BVA Field Representatives actively seek out blinded veterans who are in need of services. They encourage blinded veterans to take charge of their lives. They help them obtain the practical tools needed to do just that. Field Service Representatives live and work in the communities they serve. They know what is available on both a local and national level. They know whom to call, what to say and how to cut through the red tape. Their expertise is invaluable. Much of their insight has been gained first-hand as a result of their own personal experiences with blindness. 5 A Volunteer Service Program Blinded veteran volunteers work out of offices located in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers and Outpatient Clinics. They help fellow veterans and family members get the assistance they need to cope with blindness. Volunteers talk one-on-one with individual blinded veterans, or listen and share ideas in groups. They provide information on programs and services, encouraging the recently blinded to participate in programs such as VA Residential Blind Rehabilitation. Volunteers also demonstrate both equipment and aids used by the blind. Some BVA volunteers work as National Service Officers with special authority to represent blinded veterans in the formal VA claims process. Volunteers are active in their communities and are good sources of information about local programs and services. 6 A Public Awareness Program Blinded veterans can lead full and productive lives. Blindness is not an end to life but an obstacle that can be overcome with proper rehabilitation and training. Making the public aware of these facts and programs is an ongoing task for BVA. Each year BVA employees, regional grops and individual members participate in educational forums, expositions and White Cane Day activities nationwide. Information is disseminated to the public through newspaper releases, radio public service announce ments and personal visits. BVA’s large-print membership brochure reaches out to blinded veterans throughout the country. 7 The BVA Bulletin is the primary method of keeping blinded veterans and their families informed. The Bulletin contains information on le

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    If you are a blind or visually impaired veteran, if you are a relative or friend, or if you just want to get involved, write or give us a call. We are the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA), an organization established specifically to promote the welfare of blinded veterans. We are here to help veterans and their families meet the challenges of blindness. SINCE 1945 BLINDED VETERANS ASSOCIATION We Know... Approximately 160,000 blind or visually impaired veterans now live in the United States. Some 10 percent of the evacuated wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan have suffered serious eye injuries. More than 6,000 veterans become blind or visually impaired every year as age-related diseases like macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy affect their lives. 2 3 We Help By... Searching out and identifying blinded veterans who need services. Assessing their overall needs and linking them to appropriate benefits, services, training and job opportunities. Serving as role models to blinded veterans. BVA leaders and the general membership know exactly what blinded veterans are going through because they are also blinded veterans. They have already faced and learned to deal with the problems blinded veterans encounter. Acting as advocates for blinded veterans in both the public and private sectors. Keeping abreast of the latest developments — in legislation, benefits and technology — and making blinded veterans aware of them. Monitoring progress and problems of blinded veterans while determining any additional help they may need. Providing encouragement and emotional support. 4 We Offer... A Field Service Program BVA Field Representatives actively seek out blinded veterans who are in need of services. They encourage blinded veterans to take charge of their lives. They help them obtain the practical tools needed to do just that. Field Service Representatives live and work in the communities they serve. They know what is available on both a local and national level. They know whom to call, what to say and how to cut through the red tape. Their expertise is invaluable. Much of their insight has been gained first-hand as a result of their own personal experiences with blindness. 5 A Volunteer Service Program Blinded veteran volunteers work out of offices located in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers and Outpatient Clinics. They help fellow veterans and family members get the assistance they need to cope with blindness. Volunteers talk one-on-one with individual blinded veterans, or listen and share ideas in groups. They provide information on programs and services, encouraging the recently blinded to participate in programs such as VA Residential Blind Rehabilitation. Volunteers also demonstrate both equipment and aids used by the blind. Some BVA volunteers work as National Service Officers with special authority to represent blinded veterans in the formal VA claims process. Volunteers are active in their communities and are good sources of information about local programs and services. 6 A Public Awareness Program Blinded veterans can lead full and productive lives. Blindness is not an end to life but an obstacle that can be overcome with proper rehabilitation and training. Making the public aware of these facts and programs is an ongoing task for BVA. Each year BVA employees, regional grops and individual members participate in educational forums, expositions and White Cane Day activities nationwide. Information is disseminated to the public through newspaper releases, radio public service announce ments and personal visits. BVA’s large-print membership brochure reaches out to blinded veterans throughout the country. 7 The BVA Bulletin is the primary method of keeping blinded veterans and their families informed. The Bulletin contains information on le

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    14 views12 pages

    Blinded Veterans Association (0124)

    Uploaded by

    Mitchell Davis
    If you are a blind or visually impaired veteran, if you are a relative or friend, or if you just want to get involved, write or give us a call. We are the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA), an organization established specifically to promote the welfare of blinded veterans. We are here to help veterans and their families meet the challenges of blindness. SINCE 1945 BLINDED VETERANS ASSOCIATION We Know... Approximately 160,000 blind or visually impaired veterans now live in the United States. Some 10 percent of the evacuated wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan have suffered serious eye injuries. More than 6,000 veterans become blind or visually impaired every year as age-related diseases like macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy affect their lives. 2 3 We Help By... Searching out and identifying blinded veterans who need services. Assessing their overall needs and linking them to appropriate benefits, services, training and job opportunities. Serving as role models to blinded veterans. BVA leaders and the general membership know exactly what blinded veterans are going through because they are also blinded veterans. They have already faced and learned to deal with the problems blinded veterans encounter. Acting as advocates for blinded veterans in both the public and private sectors. Keeping abreast of the latest developments — in legislation, benefits and technology — and making blinded veterans aware of them. Monitoring progress and problems of blinded veterans while determining any additional help they may need. Providing encouragement and emotional support. 4 We Offer... A Field Service Program BVA Field Representatives actively seek out blinded veterans who are in need of services. They encourage blinded veterans to take charge of their lives. They help them obtain the practical tools needed to do just that. Field Service Representatives live and work in the communities they serve. They know what is available on both a local and national level. They know whom to call, what to say and how to cut through the red tape. Their expertise is invaluable. Much of their insight has been gained first-hand as a result of their own personal experiences with blindness. 5 A Volunteer Service Program Blinded veteran volunteers work out of offices located in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers and Outpatient Clinics. They help fellow veterans and family members get the assistance they need to cope with blindness. Volunteers talk one-on-one with individual blinded veterans, or listen and share ideas in groups. They provide information on programs and services, encouraging the recently blinded to participate in programs such as VA Residential Blind Rehabilitation. Volunteers also demonstrate both equipment and aids used by the blind. Some BVA volunteers work as National Service Officers with special authority to represent blinded veterans in the formal VA claims process. Volunteers are active in their communities and are good sources of information about local programs and services. 6 A Public Awareness Program Blinded veterans can lead full and productive lives. Blindness is not an end to life but an obstacle that can be overcome with proper rehabilitation and training. Making the public aware of these facts and programs is an ongoing task for BVA. Each year BVA employees, regional grops and individual members participate in educational forums, expositions and White Cane Day activities nationwide. Information is disseminated to the public through newspaper releases, radio public service announce ments and personal visits. BVA’s large-print membership brochure reaches out to blinded veterans throughout the country. 7 The BVA Bulletin is the primary method of keeping blinded veterans and their families informed. The Bulletin contains information on le

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    If you are a blinded or visually impaired veteran wishing to join BVA, if you are a relative or a friend, or if you just

    want to get involved, write or give us a call. The Blinded Veterans Association is an organization established specifically to promote the welfare of blinded veterans. We are here to help veterans and their families meet the challenges of blindness.

    BLINDED VETERANS ASSOCIATION


    477 H Street NW Washington, DC 20001

    202-371-8880 800-669-7079 email: bva@bva.org www.bva.org

    On the Cover: Left to right, BVA members Steven Beres, Roy Young, Charles Corrello, Paul Guzman, Charlotte Noddin, Ted Noddin, Neftali Sanchez, Roy Kekahuna and Peter Davis. Photos and graphic design by Marcy Yolles, M.Y. Graphics Company.
    10-2010/25M


    ERANS ASS OC VET I ED

    BL IN D

    N IO AT

    Blinded Veterans Helping Blinded Veterans

    SIN C E 1945

    World War II Memorial, Washington, DC August 26, 2010

    BLINDED VETERANS ASSOCIATION


    477 H Street NW Washington, DC 20001

    Membership Information

    Did You Know . . .


    There are approximately 160,000 blinded and visually impaired veterans living in the United States today. World War II and Korean War veterans face eye conditions such as macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. There is a new wave of visually impaired veterans who, along with their families, are confronting the effects of diabetes linked to Agent Orange. Others are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with vision loss that can be linked to Traumatic Brain Injury.

    We Are Committed to . . .

    . . . locating blinded veterans who need services. . . . guiding them through the rehabilitation experience. . . . acting as advocates for blinded veterans and their families in the public and private sectors. . . . promoting access to technology and the practical use of the latest research. . . . providing role models who can demonstrate that the challenges of blindness can be successfully overcome. . . . serving as a medium of communication for and about blinded veterans and the issues that affect them. . . . supporting academic counseling and vocational and recreational programs that foster rehabilitation. . . . maintaining a vibrant organization offering encouragement, emotional support, social events and

    opportunities for service.

    Providing a Field Service Program


    BVA Field Service Representatives, our national service officers, are legally blinded veterans. They live and work in seven different regions throughout the United States. Field reps are accessible to blinded veterans and they help them take the first steps in adjusting to blindness, steps that bring focus and direction to their lives. BVA Field Reps provide inspiration, encouragement and practical assistance in working with VA claims and benefits. They understand the complexities and emotions behind the process because they have been through similar experiences. They are effective role models in helping newly blinded veterans find and follow the road to independence.

    Directing a Volunteer Service Program


    Nearly 40 volunteer offices are located in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers, regional offices and outpatient clinics. They are a meaningful adjunct to the BVA Field Service Program and an important vehicle for assistance to blinded veterans. Volunteers are peer counselors. They know the ropes, especially those that lift blinded veterans from the discouragement and frustration they often face. They give valued insight into the rehabilitation process. Because so many volunteers are blinded veterans themselves, they understand the importance of empathy. A blinded veteran usually cannot say to a volunteer, You dont know how it feels to be blind. Some volunteers have later become Field Service Representatives with the authority to represent veterans in the processing of VA claims. They are an important link in the BVA chain of services.

    Serving as Advocates

    BVA, since its inception, has been a strong voice for blinded veterans in a variety of venues. The U.S. Congress chartered BVA in 1958 to be the official voice of blinded veterans before the legislative and executive branches of government. Every year we present testimony before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs. Throughout the year, we educate members of Congress about the needs of blinded veterans. BVA joins other Veterans Service Organizations in its advocacy efforts on behalf of all veterans. We work very closely with VA to assure that all blinded veterans have access to excellent blind rehabilitation training, technology and counseling on a long continuum of care. BVA also works with organizations of and for the blind in assuring that all blind individuals receive the services and

    accommodations they deserve.

    Offering Resources
    One of our most significant responsibilities is that of disseminating important information and offering practical help to blinded veterans and their families. Every year we are asked thousands of questions to which we must give accurate responses. We promote public awareness of sight loss through our website, display tables at community events, literature and frequent public service announcements in the media. The BVA Bulletin informs all blinded veterans of news and issues affecting them. Scholarships are available annually to the spouses and dependent children of blinded veterans. Eligibility is not limited to families of Association members, nor must the blindness in question be service connected.

    Supporting One Another


    BVA supports more than 50 regional groups across the United States. Several of the groups are subdivided into chapters or districts. Members of BVA nationally are, in most cases, automatically members of a regional group. Programs and activities of BVA regional groups are defined by the needs of the veterans locally. Although no two regional groups are exactly the same, each one is charged with maximizing the involvement and participation of its members. Regional groups offer social and recreational activities. They also unite with other local veterans groups to advocate for change.

    Sharing Our Experiences

    Operation Peer Support connects combat-blinded veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam with the newly blinded who have been wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan as a result of improvised explosive devices, sniper fire, mortar- or rocket-propelled grenades or combinations of other firearms. Physical and emotional isolation is a common occurrence among those who have only recently lost their sight. Opportunities to learn about and interact with those who have already faced such obstacles can be a source of comfort and inspiration. These connections are facilitated by BVA national conventions and other planned events.

    Charting Our Course Together


    Near the end of every summer we hold an annual convention. The gathering is an opportunity for BVA members to express their opinions in the setting of official business meetings. BVA national conventions also feature guest speakers, panels, workshops and training on issues relating to both blindness and veterans. Conventions are a draw for companies wishing to introduce new products in the field of blindness. Gatherings of the BVA membership at national conventions are not all work. We socialize while enjoying the sights and sounds of venues such as Myrtle Beach, Phoenix, Portland, Washington, DC and Las Vegas.

    10

    BVA is supported by the generous contributions of countless Americans who remember the sacrifices of our nation's blinded veterans. BVA receives no federal funding.

    For more information about any of these programs, contact us at our national headquarters:

    BLINDED VETERANS ASSOCIATION


    477 H Street NW Washington, DC 20001

    202-371-8880 800-669-7079 email: bva@bva.org www.bva.org 11

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