REPORT OF BVA 61ST NATIONAL CONVENTION BYLAWS AND RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE

Resolutions 1-06 through 4-06
Resolutions 5-06 through 8-06
Resolutions 9-06 through 11-06
Resolutions 12-06 through 17-06
Resolutions 18-06 through 23-06
Resolutions 24-06 through 27-06
Resolutions 28-06 through 32-06
Resolutions 33-06 through 36-06
Resolutions 37-06 through 41-06
Resolutions 42-06 through 44-06
Resolutions 45-06 through 47-06

RESOLUTION 18-06

WHEREAS, there is an increasing number of veterans with low vision, AND

WHEREAS, the VA currently has only 3 VICTORS Programs nationwide, THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED, that the Blinded Veterans Association, in convention assembled in Buffalo, NY on this 19th day of August, 2006, support the creation of additional VICTORS Programs and present this support in the testimony to Congress.

  RESOLUTION 19-06

WHEREAS, veterans are waiting an excessive length of time to receive hearing aids, AND

WHEREAS, the loss of both hearing and vision creates a hazardous situation for some veterans, AND

WHEREAS, giving priority to blind and visually impaired veterans to receive hearing aids would lessen this hazardous situation, THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED, that the Blinded Veterans Association, in Convention Assembled, in Buffalo, NY on this 19th day of August, 2006 urge the Veterans Health Administration Audiology & Speech Pathology Service direct Audiology Services throughout the Veterans Health Administration system to provide priority for visually impaired or blind veterans who are in need of evaluation for hearing aids. 

Rationale for Hearing Aid Resolution:

Presently, veterans are waiting an excessive amount of time to get hearing tests and receive hearing aids.  Blind and visually impaired veterans rely heavily on hearing to function safely in today's environment. Whether traveling or just avoiding the many dangers involved with the environment these days, the loss of both vision and hearing makes it difficult and, in many instances, extremely dangerous. If blind and visually impaired veterans were given priority when receiving hearing aids, it would tremendously decrease the dangers involved with the loss of both these senses.

  RESOLUTION 20-06

WHEREAS, veterans health care is funded annually by discretionary appropriations decided by the House and Senate Appropriations Committee, AND

WHEREAS, each year the Department of Veterans Affairs fails to receive adequate funding for Veterans Medical Care from Congressional appropriations, AND

WHEREAS, this lack of adequate funding causes veterans of all categories, delays and denials of critical medical care services, THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED, that the Blinded Veterans Association, in convention assembled in Buffalo, NY on this 19th day of August, 2006, hereby supports HR 515, the Assured Funding for Veterans Health Care Act of 2005.

  RESOLUTION 21-06

WHEREAS, the VA has agreed to provide access to VA electronic medical records at VA medical centers to BVA Field Service Representatives, AND

WHEREAS, currently this access is only available if the field service representative goes to the medical center, AND

WHEREAS, this is an inefficient system wasting the time of the field service representative by requiring unnecessary trips to the medical center, AND

WHEREAS, this is especially difficult since the field service representatives are not always located close to a medical center, NOW THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED, that the Blinded Veterans Association, in convention assembled in Buffalo, NY on this 19th day of August, 2006 work with the VA to allow BVA Field Service Representatives to be able to access needed medical information via remote access technology.

  RESOLUTION 22-06

WHEREAS, it is well documented that aging is the single best predictor of visual impairment and blindness, AND

WHEREAS, the veteran population is aging rapidly and experiencing a dramatic increase in the incidence of severe visual impairment and blindness, AND

WHEREAS, the Department of Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Health, recognizing the need for comprehensive policy and programmatic recommendations to address the projected increase in demand for vision rehabilitation services, appointed the Visual Impairment Advisory Board (VIAB), AND

WHEREAS, the VIAB is a field based Board with broad representation from all elements of the Veterans Health Administration, and the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA), AND

WHEREAS, the VIAB has prepared a draft comprehensive document proposing VA establish a full continuum of Eye Care (Vision Rehabilitation Services), AND

WHEREAS, the proposed full Continuum of Vision Rehabilitation Care would require VA to dramatically expand its capacity to provide Vision Rehabilitation Services across the spectrum from basic low vision through total blindness, AND

WHEREAS, the proposal would also require inclusion of access and outcomes into network and facility managers Performance Measures, AND

WHEREAS, the National Leadership Board, Committee on Healthcare has unanimously embraced the full continuum of vision rehabilitation care, THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED, that the Blinded Veterans Association, in convention assembled in Buffalo, NY on this 19th day of August, 2006, strongly support the adoption and implementation of the policies recommended in the Continuum of Care Document, AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, that BVA urge the National Leadership Board and USH to allocate sufficient funding to all Veterans Integrated Service Networks to implement the full continuum.

RESOLUTION 23-06

Training for Low Vision and Blinded VA Employees

WHEREAS, blind and visually impaired VA employees, including blinded veterans, many of whom work directly with blinded veterans, need yearly training in access software such as JAWS in order to be proficient in using access software in their jobs, AND

WHEREAS, such training cannot be effectively provided at local stations, AND

WHEREAS, each year there is an Information Technology Conference (ITC) where such specialized training can be provided, AND

WHEREAS, local facilities often lack funds to send blind and visually impaired employees to the ITC training, AND

WHEREAS, lack of funding is a disincentive for employees to attend needed training, THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED, that the Blinded Veterans Association in convention assembled in
Buffalo, NY on this 19th day of August 2006, support the funding for annual specialized training at the ITC for blind and visually impaired employees, AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, that BVA strongly urge and encourage the Department of Veterans Affairs to support the annual ITC training of blind employees by providing centralized funding as a reasonable accommodation. This would relieve local facilities of financial burden and ensure availability of funds for employees to attend training.

Resolutions 24-06 through 27-06 >