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 33-06

WHEREAS, the Congress of the United States adopted legislation providing a “Free Mailing Privilege” for the Blind and Physically handicapped, AND

WHEREAS, the U.S. Postal Service has rendered decisions prohibiting the Blinded Veterans Association’s use of the Free Matter For the Blind mailing privilege to mail National Convention pre-registration packages, AND

WHEREAS, this prohibition has resulted in unreasonable increased costs AND

WHEREAS, BVA believes the Postal Service has to narrowly interpreted the intent of Congress regarding the use of the “Free Matter” mailing privilege, THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED, that the Blinded Veterans Association in Convention Assembled in Buffalo, NY on this 19th day of August, 2006, join with other organizations of and for the blind to petition Congress to clarify Congressional intent with respect to the Free Matter Mailing Privilege, AND FURTHER BE IT

RESOLVED, if necessary, that BVA seek an amendment to the U. S. Postal Service Regulations relaxing the Postal Services interpretation of the “Free Matter” privilege particularly with respect to “Advertising”.

RESOLUTION 34-06

WHEREAS, the Blinded Veterans Association supports expansion of Medicare to include Vision Rehabilitation Services as covered services under Medicare, AND

WHEREAS, BVA strongly supports the premise that Vision Rehabilitation Specialists such as Orientation & Mobility Specialists (O&Ms), Rehabilitation Teachers (RTs) and Low Vision Therapists (LVTs) be authorized for reimbursement under Medicare, AND

WHEREAS, legislation has been approved to establish a pilot Project to test the feasibility of including Vision Rehabilitation Services and Specialists as covered services and professionals under Medicare, AND

WHEREAS, the Legislation requires that Vision Rehabilitation Specialists would have to be Certified by the Academy for Certification of Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP), AND

WHEREAS, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) does not currently require Certification of its Blind Rehabilitation Specialists, AND

WHEREAS, legislation adopted in the 108th Congress approved Blind Rehabilitation Specialists to be employed under Hybrid Title 38, AND

WHEREAS, the new designation as Hybrid Title 38 will enable VA BRS to develop new hiring qualifications for Blind Rehabilitation Specialists, AND

WHEREAS, VA employees a large number of Vision Rehabilitation Specialists, AND

WHEREAS, BVA strongly supports employing the most highly qualified professionals to provide comprehensive vision Rehab services to America’s visually impaired and blinded veterans. THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED, that the Blinded Veterans Association in Convention Assembled in Buffalo, NY on this 19th day of August, 2006, urge VA to require Certification through the Academy (ADVREP) as a condition of employment, AND FURTHER BE IT

RESOLVED that the VA provides a suitable time period for new uncertified employees to obtain Certification. 

RESOLUTION 35-06

Accurate and Adequate Computer Training Reports

WHEREAS, admitting a veteran to a VA blind rehabilitation center for computer training costs approximately $28,000, AND

WHEREAS, BVA feels this training should reflect an accurate accounting of the number of hours of actual training a veteran receives by an and in the presence of a qualified instructor, AND

WHEREAS, BVA is concerned that veterans attending a BRC CAT program are not receiving adequate and sufficient face to face instruction, AND

WHEREAS, reports of purported training times include independent study by veterans when no instructor is present, AND

WHEREAS, BVA finds the reporting of time a veteran spends in individual practice without supervision as training with a qualified instructor inaccurate, inadequate and unacceptable; THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED, that the Blinded Veterans Association, in convention assembled in Buffalo, NY on this 19th day of August, 2006, urges the Secretary of Veterans Affairs be requested to require VA Blind Rehabilitation Service implement policies and procedures to ensure accurate training hours are reported and that such training hours clearly reflect the time a veteran has received actual face to face training from a qualified CAT instructor and does not include the time a veteran has spent independently practicing and doing homework assignments without supervision.

RESOLUTION 36-06

 Need for Consumer Involvement in BRS Strategic Planning

WHEREAS, VA Blind Rehabilitation Service (BRS) has developed a number of strategic planning committees, AND

WHEREAS, the committees are developing treatment and service delivery strategies, AND

WHEREAS, consumers are not represented on these committees nor is consumer input being sought, AND

WHEREAS, BVA strongly feels that planning needs to include ongoing input and feedback from the consumers to ensure that plans developed meet the needs and desires of the consumers, AND

WHEREAS, BVA should be a partner in the development of any strategic plans that impact treatment and services to blinded veterans; THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED, that the Blinded Veterans Association in convention assembled in Buffalo, NY on this 19th day of August, 2006, requests that BVA recommend to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that BRS be instructed to have consumer involvement on strategic planning committees and that the consumers be used as partners in the development of all strategic planning that affects treatment and service delivery to blinded veterans, AND FURTHER BE IT

RESOLVED, that the language in this resolution be included in the written testimony to Congress.

Resolutions 37-06 through 41-06 >