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RESOLUTION: 27-03
RESOLVED, that the Blinded Veterans Association,
in convention assembled in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on this
30th day of August, 2003, strongly support the adoption of the
policies recommended in the draft Continuum of Care Document,
AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that the BVA urge the National
Leadership Board and USH to embrace this document and requires
its recommendations be included in all Veterans Integrated Service
Network's Strategic Plans.
VA Response: BRS, as a permanent member
of the VIAB, supports the ‘continuum of vision care.’
The VIAB presented the continuum of care proposal to the Health
Systems Committee of the National Leadership Board (NLB). The
Health Systems Committee asked the VIAB to conduct a gap analysis
of low vision services to identify existing programs and determine
the need for new programs leading to a continuum of care for vision
rehabilitation. Results and recommendations to the Health Systems
Committee are planned for the fourth quarter of FY04. The Health
Systems Committee will make recommendations to the NLB and the
Under Secretary for Health regarding VHA action on the implementation
of a vision rehabilitation continuum of care. One option is to
require VISNs to develop a Vision Rehabilitation continuum of
care as part of their strategic planning process.
RESOLUTION: 30-03
RESOLVED, at the BVA 58th National Convention
in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina that the BVA supports the selection
of a qualified blinded veteran for the position of Director of
BRS and strongly encourages the VA to make every effort to locate
and recruit such an individual, AND FURTHER BE IT
RESOLVED, that if a qualified blinded veteran
cannot be recruited, then every effort be mad to fill the position
with a highly qualified blind individual, AND FINALLY BE IT
RESOLVED, that BVA Executive Director and
appropriate staff meet with the Under Secretary for Veterans Affairs
to make known to him the desires of the organization.
VA Response: VHA acknowledges BVA’s
request that a qualified blinded veteran and/or a highly qualified
blind individual be given priority for the Director of Blind Rehabilitation
Service. Recruitment efforts for the position included extensive
publicity throughout Veterans Health Administration (VHA), advertisements
in professional publications and on Internet sites specifically
targeted at the blinded community. VHA has included the Executive
Director of the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) in all phases
of the search process. The goal of the Search Committee is to
nominate the most qualified candidate for the position.
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