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 28-06

Training of Eye Care Professionals in Blind and Low Vision

WHEREAS, there is a national shortage of Optometrist and Ophthalmologist educated and trained in the field of blind and low vision, AND

WHEREAS, a continuum if blind and low vision care requires eye care professionals trained in blind and low vision, AND

WHEREAS, the provision of local blind and low vision services are essential to meet the needs of the vast majority of blind and low vision veterans who cannot attend a VA BRC for whatever reason, or who are waiting for admission to a BRC, AND

WHEREAS, the VA currently has no comprehensive plan to provide training for VA eye care professionals in the provision of blind and low vision services, THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED, that the Blinded Veterans Association, in convention assembled in Buffalo, NY on this 19th day of August, 2006, be urged to meet with top management of VA Ophthalmology, Optometry, and the Director of BRS to encourage the development of a plan of action to train eye care professionals in blind and low vision, AND FURTHER BE IT

RESOLVED, that BVA be a full partner and as such be included as a member of a team planning and enacting such training.

COMMENT: This Resolution attempts to alleviate the existing shortage of Eye Care Professionals trained in Blind and Low Vision within the VA.

RESOLUTION 29-06

Outsourcing of Vision Rehabilitation Services in the Community

WHEREAS, there are long waits for access to services for blinded veterans at residential blind rehabilitation centers (BRCs) and many veterans cannot attend a BRC, AND

WHEREAS, BVA feels some of these veterans waiting could have their needs wholly or in part met in the local community rather than in a residential BRC, AND

WHEREAS, there is a growing number of veterans unable to attend a BRC and who still require services, AND

WHEREAS, the Blind Rehabilitation Service has focused on BRC training in the past with inadequate planning and program development to meet the needs of the majority of blinded veterans who never attend a BRC, AND

WHEREAS, BVA feels it is time for BRS to develop a strategic plan to provide local services with funding to meet the needs of blinded veterans unable to attend a BRC, THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED, that the Blinded Veterans Association in convention assembled, in Buffalo, NY on this 19th day of August, 2006, strongly urge BRS to immediately develop a strategic action plan using clinical indicators to identify veterans that need to go to a BRC and those that would be better served to provide local services in the community as this will provide needed guidelines to the field staff, AND FURTHER BE IT

RESOLVED, that BVA convey to BRS and the Congress that the intent is to “leave no blinded veterans behind” which has a top priority within the BVA organization.

COMMENT: Urges BRS to develop a plan and field guidelines for providing local services for blinded veterans that do not attend a BRC.

RESOLUTION 30-06

VIST and BROS Alignment at Blind Rehabilitation Centers

WHEREAS, at VA blind rehabilitation centers (BRCs) the VIST Coordinator and Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist (BROS) are aligned under the BRC chief, AND

WHEREAS, the VIST Coordinator and BROS need to be able to independently serve veterans without the BRC Chief exercising undo influence or placing undue restrictions upon the provision of local services to veterans, AND

WHEREAS, the BRC Chief should not be in a position to deny the provision of prosthetics such as daily living aids and optical devices to blinded veterans who choose to not attend a BRC, or do not need to attend the BRC, when such devices have been properly prescribed by an eye care professional, AND

WHEREAS, the BRC Chief having supervisory control over the local VIST Coordinator and BROS may tend to stifle the development of local services to veterans in the community and may give the appearance of an apparent conflict of interest, THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED, that the Blinded Veterans Association, in convention assembled in Buffalo, NY on this 19th day of August, 2006, will meet with the management of VA and the Director of BRS to make them aware of BVA's concern regarding these issues and encourage changes that will align the VIST Coordinator and BROS under local management other than the BRC Chief to enable the VIST Coordinator and BROS to act in the best interest of the blinded veterans independent of undue influence.

COMMENT: This resolution will assist in alleviating the perception that needed services and issuance of prosthetics may be denied or delayed by a BRC Chief in an attempt to persuade a veteran to enter the BRC.

RESOLUTION 31-06

WHEREAS, the Department of Veterans Affairs has very limited capacity to provide Outpatient Blind Rehabilitation Services AND

WHEREAS, the Visual Impairment Advisory Board (VIAB) has recommended to the Under Secretary for Health (USH) that VA provide a full continuum of Vision Rehabilitation Care, AND

WHEREAS, the USH and the National Leadership Board (NLB) have approved the provision of a full Continuum of Vision Rehab Care, AND

WHEREAS, the General Accountability Office (GAO) has also recommended the establishment of a full continuum of vision rehab care for America’s visually impaired and blinded veterans, AND

WHEREAS, one of the most integral components of a full continuum of Vision Rehab Service is the Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist (BROS) position, AND

WHEREAS, legislation has been introduced in Congress that would authorize VA to establish BROS positions at all VA Medical Facilities that have over 150 blinded veterans on the roles of their Visual Impairment Service Teams (VIST), AND

WHEREAS, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Veterans Affairs has refused to hold hearings on the Merits of this legislation, THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED, the Blinded Veterans Association in convention assembled in Buffalo, NY on this 19th day of August, 2006, support passage of H.R. 3579 (The Blind Veterans Continuum Of Care Act of 2005, FURTHER BE IT

RESOLVED, that BVA work to ensure that sufficient funding is earmarked to support these new positions.

RESOLUTION 32-06

WHEREAS, U.S. Military Operations in Afghanistan (OEF) and Iraq (OIF) have resulted in numerous casualties, AND

WHEREAS, approximately thirty-five service members have been blinded in these operations, AND

WHEREAS, the Department of Defense & the Department of Veterans Affairs are committed to assuring a Seamless Transition from the DOD to VA, AND

WHEREAS, service members blinded in OEF & OIF are not being identified to VA by DOD in a timely manner, AND

WHEREAS, these severely injured and blinded service members are not receiving the information and support from the VA designed to facilitate acceptance of and adjustment to loss of vision, AND

WHEREAS, the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) the only federally chartered Veterans Service Organization (VSO) exclusively dedicated to assisting blinded veterans and their families, is not being effectively utilized by DOD & VA to facilitate the Seamless Transition, THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED, that the Blinded Veterans Association in Convention Assembled in Buffalo, NY on this 19th day of August, 2006, urge the DOD and VA to develop a more effective method of identifying severely visually impaired and blinded service members returning from OEF and OIF insuring these severely disabled service members receive the most appropriate information and support available, AND FURTHER BE IT

RESOLVED, that the Blinded Veterans Association be notified and directly involved in the “Seamless Transition” process.

Resolutions 33-06 through 36-06 >