Montgomery Newspaper
Features Scuba Diver
A recent article in the Montgomery Advertiser, a daily newspaper serving Montgomery, Alabama, commented on the remarkable pursuit of 57-year-old Ross Irving, Jr., to realize a childhood dream of scuba diving.
Turns out that Ross is a member of BVA’s Alabama Regional Group and a Vietnam veteran, having served as an infantryman in the 173rd Airborne unit of the U.S. Army. After returning from Vietnam, Ross went to work as a truck driver and never really had time to take up scuba diving.
The feature, written by reporter Teri Greene of the Advertiser, explains how Ross lost his sight as a result of glaucoma. It also recounts his subsequent life-changing experience at the VA Southeastern Blind Rehabilitation Center in Birmingham. Ironically, it was only after losing his sight and completing his stay in Birmingham that his desire to scuba dive was reborn, a desire that was originally kindled as he watched episodes of Sea Hunt as a boy.
Ross is currently working with Recreational Therapist Lane Weitman and Scuba Instructor Tom Smedley, neither of whom have ever tried to train a legally blind diver. Up to the present, progress has been steady.
“Who are we to deem someone else’s goals or dreams impossible?” asked Weitman, who reportedly resolved to help Ross make his aspirations a reality.
White Cane Day Fruitful
for Rocky Mountaineers
The Rocky Mountain Regional Group held a White Cane Awareness event for the first time in some 20 years, according to Regional Group Treasurer Charlie Smith.
“We found out that it was definitely something worthwhile to do,” said Charlie. “I can’t recall the numerous times we were asked who we were as a regional group and what BVA does, so it was a great opportunity for outreach.”
Charlie was assisted by Regional Group President Joseph Pasqua and his wife, Dorothy. Linda Jones, Charlie’s personal secretary, helped out with transportation. Group members distributed literature and promotional materials about BVA. They also answered questions about the organization, about the personal challenges involved in adjusting to blindness, and about VA blind rehabilitation programs.
“We would like to publicly appeal to other groups who have not recently done anything with White Cane Awareness to consider doing so next year,” said Charlie. “It’s something we’ve overlooked and I imagine that the same is true for many other groups.”
Miyares, “Challenged America,”
Sails with Recently Disabled
Challenged America, a program directed locally by BVA San Diego Regional Group member Urban Miyares, made it possible for 24 disabled veterans to spend Veterans Day sailing on Shelter Island in San Diego, California.
“What a day it was for all of us,” said Urban. “It was quite an emotional sight to see, especially since some of the vets just returned from Iraq and Afghanistan a few months ago, severely disabled…and it was Veterans Day.”
The skipper of each boat was a recently injured veteran. Many of them were experiencing their first time in a sailboat. A crew member from the Challenged America program was also assigned to each boat. Many crew members were also combat-disabled from previous wars.
“Everyone had a fantastic time on the water, and we had to get the Challenged America chase boat out to retrieve a couple of boats that were having too much fun out there and didn’t want to come back to the dock,” said Urban.
Challenged America is a free learn-to-sail and advanced sailing program for people with and without disabilities. It is dedicated to enhancing the rehabilitation of youth and adults with disabilities, including those with severe and catastrophic disabilities. The program was initiated in 1978 by disabled veterans and is sponsored by the Disabled Businesspersons Association of which Urban is a founder. |
