Celebration Marks 35th Anniversary
An open house, a special ceremony, a reception, and a formal
luncheon all served to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the
Eastern Blind Rehabilitation Service at West Haven, Connecticut.
The Center’s alumni held their annual reunion at the same
time.
The activities all took place July 15-16 at the West Haven VA
Medical Center. The open house on July 15 gave EBRS staff the
opportunity to introduce visitors to the tools and techniques
used during the six to eight-week residential program. The July
16 ceremony, held in the courtyard, featured speakers Tom Miller,
Neil Appleby, and Curtis Noel, a local businessman and longtime
EBRS volunteer. The Swing Thing Band provided music for the outdoor
reception following the ceremony.
Former students (including Neil) and staff later attended a formal
luncheon at the Savin Rock Conference Center.
DS3 to Provide Added Support
The U.S. Army is asking VSOs to participate in a sponsor program
to help severely disabled soldiers who have been wounded in recent
combat and who are transitioning to a civilian life.
The Army’s Disabled Soldier Support System (DS3) will serve
soldiers who have received a disability rating of 30 percent or
greater as a result of injuries or illness incurred since September
11, 2001. The mission of DS3 is to provide a system of advocacy,
follow-up, and personal support. It includes a system to monitor,
track, and provide appropriate assistance through an array of
service providers beyond soldiers’ medical retirement benefits.
Although DS3 will allow for increased collaboration between the
Army and VA, one of its key elements will also be the VSO Sponsor
Program. Under the program, soldiers and their families will choose,
among a variety of VSOs such as BVA, the organization they feel
can best address their needs, interests, and hopes for the future.
The organization selected by a given soldier and his/her family
should be that which will best assist them in understanding the
complexities of VA administrative requirements and claims processing,
as well as with overall transition from the Army. The sponsorship
and ensuing relationship will then be tailored to such needs.
Communications Coordinator Stuart Nelson represented BVA at a
DS3 half-day orientation session on August 18. More meetings are
scheduled in the near future as the program develops. Look for
periodic updates about the VSO Sponsor Program in future issues
of the Bulletin.
VGLI Online
Veterans can now access their Veterans’ Group Life Insurance
(VGLI) accounts at any time of the day or night from any computer
or telephone, VA announced on June 24.
Using a secure website, www.insurance.va.gov,
the VGLI Online Account Access System allows veterans to view
their current amount of coverage, premium rate, and billing method.
It also provides the means by which a billing address may be changed
and online tools to calculate a recommended amount of life insurance
based on individual financial information.
Account information may also be accessed through a new VGLI interactive
voice response system by telephone. The service also allows veterans
to request certain changes to their accounts, and to order certain
forms via mail or fax. The number for the service is 800-419-1473.
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