News

red, white, and blue star with initials B V A

Dive into May with BVA’s VetTech Team, OrCam

Keep Wednesday, May 1, at 2:00pm Eastern Time open on your calendars for VetTech’s Weekly Wednesday Webinar. The VetTech Team will welcome Michelle Mendez, National Sales Director for OrCam. Learn more about the power of MyEye Pro and Read to help users recognize the world around them.  Thanks to OrCam’s cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence, the MyEye Pro and Read possess impressive Optical Character Recognition accuracy and responsiveness. This means that user information is processed directly onto […]

red, white, and blue star with initials B V A

VA Mobile App Continues to Grow in Reach and Capability

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Health and Benefits mobile application puts VA information and resources at veterans’ fingertips via their smartphones—anywhere, anytime. The capabilities of the app include, but are not limited to, the viewing and canceling of health care appointments, refilling and tracking VA-dispensed prescriptions, checking on claims and appeals status, uploading documentation to VA, obtaining vaccine records, sending a message to a doctor, locating a VA facility, and accessing the Veterans Crisis […]

red, white, and blue star with initials B V A

G Shares Convention Information for Guide Dogs and Veterans

“G”, BVA’s April Ambassadog. The BVA 79th National Convention is fast approaching and I wanted to share some useful information for my fellow Ambassadogs. As you may have heard, the convention is being held at the Hyatt Regency Riverfront in Jacksonville, Florida, and my tail is wagging with excitement. Convention brings opportunities for us guide dogs to help our veterans navigate throughout the various meetings, events, and exhibit hall, but in addition, there is a very […]

red, white, and blue star with initials B V A

Silver Star Service Banner Day Honors Military Sacrifices, Combat Valor

This Wednesday, May 1, is Silver Star Service Banner Day. It is a day set aside to remember the sacrifices of those who have been wounded, sickened, or killed in combat across all branches of the military and thank them for their courage. It also recognizes those who have been awarded the Silver Star Medal, the third highest military decoration for valor and typically awarded for actions over a short time period. It may also […]

red, white, and blue star with initials B V A

With Spring Comes Flags, Plaques, and Proclamations for Louisiana/Mississippi RG

At center, Southeast Louisiana Health Care System Director Fernando Rivera with Gary Schoelerman, accompanied by Bogalusa Staff, Joe Burns, and guide dog Kendrick. Photo courtesy of Gary Schoelerman. The changing of the seasons has ignited the already high energy level of members of the Louisiana/Mississippi Regional Group when it comes to their visibility and demonstrable generosity in local communities of both of the states they cover. They continue their quest to place Bronze Braille American […]

red, white, and blue star with initials B V A

Virtual Town Hall Offers Convention Reminders and Updates, Urges Registration

A national historic landmark, the Florida Theatre in the middle of downtown Jacksonville is one of only four remaining high-style movie palaces built in the state in the 1920s. It now hosts more than 200 annual events, everything from ballet and opera to contemporary pop, jazz, rock, country, and blues concerts. Photo courtesy of Ken McCray Photography and Visit Jacksonville. Thanks go out to BVA members and friends who attended the third in our series […]

red, white, and blue star with initials B V A

Join Monthly WVG Virtual Meeting this Thursday via Zoom

The BVA Women Veterans Group (WVG) will meet via Zoom next Thursday, April 25, at 6:00pm Eastern Time. The meeting will feature BVA National President Paul Mimms and National Executive Director/National Legislative Director Donald Overton. The focus will be legislative advocacy as it relates to issues that affect women veterans in the areas of benefits, services, equality, and recognition.  The Blinded Veterans Association is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: BVA Women Veterans […]

red, white, and blue star with initials B V A

VA’s Partnership with Parkinson’s Foundation

Since 2020, the Parkinson’s Foundation and VA have partnered to improve the health, well-being, and quality of life for veterans with Parkinson’s Diseases and their loved ones. VA’s concern for veterans began much earlier, however. In 2001, Parkinson’s Disease Research Education and Clinical Centers (PADRECCs) were established to deliver state-of-the-art clinical care, pioneering research, and educational programs to an expansive geographic region staffed by internationally recognized movement disorder specialists. PADRECCs are housed as Centers of […]

red, white, and blue star with initials B V A

New VA Initiative to Protect Veterans and their Families from Home Foreclosure

VA has announced the launching on May 31 of the Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase (VASP) Program that will help tens of thousands of veterans currently experiencing severe financial hardship avoid foreclosure and stay in their homes. The program is a last-resort tool in VA’s comprehensive suite of home retention options for eligible veterans, active-duty service members, and surviving spouses with VA-guaranteed home loans who are unable to meet their mortgage obligations.  Under VASP, VA will […]

red, white, and blue star with initials B V A

Guide Dog G Reports Improbable Recovery of Wallet in Florida

“G”, BVA’s April Ambassadog. As Ambassadogs, we sometimes can’t resist being a bit nosy, especially when it comes to knowing what our human handlers think and say about us guide dogs. My dad, Arsenio, gave me the green light to tune into the tail end of Tuesday’s BVA Dog Handler Group meeting. Something intriguing unfolded after the official meeting wrapped up: a chat between Yoneka Trent, the meeting’s moderator that day, and Teresa Galgano, the […]