224:
legally blind veterans themselves, they can be effective role models in demonstrating that fellow veterans can take charge of their lives. Field Reps are responsible for linking veterans with local services, assuring that the newly blinded take advantage of VA Blind
Rehabilitation Services, and assisting them with VA claims when necessary. When blinded veterans are ready to return to the workforce, BVA Field Reps can assist them with employment training and placement.
24:
191:) to "speak and write on behalf of blinded veterans in national legislative affairs". In addition to its legislative role, BVA has 52 regional groups that help veterans find services such educational services, counseling, peer support, and rehabilitation services. Currently, the BVA membership is about 11,000, but BVA services are available to any blinded veteran, regardless of membership status
223:
The BVA employs seven full-time Field
Service Representatives, who have been strategically placed in different geographical areas throughout the United States. Their goal is to locate and assist blinded veterans in overcoming the challenges inherent in sight loss. Since all of the Field Reps are
446:
151:
To promote the welfare of blinded veterans so that, notwithstanding their disabilities, they may take their rightful place in the community and work with their fellow citizens toward the creation of a peaceful
252:. These older blinded vets know the many challenges facing newly blinded service members, and can provide unique insight and understanding, having once faced similar challenges themselves.
441:
431:
199:
Based on VA data, there are estimated to by more than 158,000 veterans in
America that have severe vision impairment or blindness. According to the BVA, 13% of wounded
436:
451:
50:
The
Blinded Veterans Association was established specifically to help veterans and their families meet and overcome the challenges of blindness.
135:
Services from BVA are available to all veterans who have become blind, either during or after active duty. The BVA has its headquarters in
155:
To preserve and strengthen a spirit of fellowship among blinded veterans so that they may give mutual aid and assistance to one another.
188:
132:
non-profit organization that was established to "help veterans and their families meet and overcome the challenges of blindness".
232:
BVA's newest program, Operation Peer
Support (OPS) establishes connections between newly blinded veterans returning from the
266:
200:
403:
339:
313:
179:, by young veterans who had lost their sight in combat and were recovering together at an Army hospital in
139:
BVA is a 503(c)(3) registered nonprofit; for the 2008–2009 Fiscal year, BVA's income was $ 4.2 million.
23:
384:
291:
407:
271:
74:
Founded by a group of blinded World War II veterans at an Army hospital in Avon Old Farms, CT
136:
61:
158:
To maintain and extend the institution of
American freedom and encourage loyalty to the
425:
184:
163:
129:
241:
176:
159:
249:
237:
208:
180:
245:
447:
Patriotic and national organizations chartered by the United States
Congress
388:
204:
215:
become newly blind or visually impaired from non-combat related causes.
212:
211:
have sustained a serious eye injury. In addition, approximately 7,000
261:
240:
wars with veterans who went through a similar transition following
343:
317:
233:
404:"Charity Navigator rating—Blinded Veterans Association"
369:
108:
98:
88:
78:
70:
54:
46:
38:
30:
112:
175:The BVA was established in 1945, at the end of
342:. Blinded Veterans Association. Archived from
316:. Blinded Veterans Association. Archived from
8:
442:Blindness organizations in the United States
370:"Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) website"
16:
22:
15:
432:1945 establishments in the United States
183:. In 1958, the BVA was chartered by the
283:
166:and of the states in which they reside.
7:
14:
452:Organizations established in 1945
437:American veterans' organizations
385:"Guidestar Profile with IRS 990"
1:
122:Blinded Veterans Association
17:Blinded Veterans Association
147:The Mission of the BVA is:
468:
267:Disabled American Veterans
21:
292:"BVA Guidestar Report"
228:Operation Peer Support
203:troops returning from
219:Field Service Program
195:Programs and services
189:Title 36, Chapter 303
314:"About BVA: History"
346:on December 6, 2008
18:
320:on January 6, 2009
408:Charity Navigator
118:
117:
459:
418:
416:
414:
399:
397:
395:
380:
378:
376:
356:
355:
353:
351:
336:
330:
329:
327:
325:
310:
304:
303:
301:
299:
288:
162:and laws of the
137:Washington, D.C.
62:Washington, D.C.
26:
19:
467:
466:
462:
461:
460:
458:
457:
456:
422:
421:
412:
410:
402:
393:
391:
383:
374:
372:
368:
365:
360:
359:
349:
347:
338:
337:
333:
323:
321:
312:
311:
307:
297:
295:
294:. Guidestar.org
290:
289:
285:
280:
258:
197:
173:
145:
101:
91:
81:
66:
12:
11:
5:
465:
463:
455:
454:
449:
444:
439:
434:
424:
423:
420:
419:
400:
381:
364:
363:External links
361:
358:
357:
340:"BVA Can Help"
331:
305:
282:
281:
279:
276:
275:
274:
269:
264:
257:
254:
196:
193:
172:
169:
168:
167:
156:
153:
144:
141:
116:
115:
113:http://bva.org
110:
106:
105:
102:
99:
96:
95:
92:
89:
86:
85:
82:
79:
76:
75:
72:
68:
67:
65:
64:
58:
56:
52:
51:
48:
44:
43:
40:
36:
35:
32:
28:
27:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
464:
453:
450:
448:
445:
443:
440:
438:
435:
433:
430:
429:
427:
409:
405:
401:
394:September 23,
390:
386:
382:
371:
367:
366:
362:
345:
341:
335:
332:
319:
315:
309:
306:
298:September 23,
293:
287:
284:
277:
273:
270:
268:
265:
263:
260:
259:
255:
253:
251:
247:
243:
239:
235:
230:
229:
225:
221:
220:
216:
214:
210:
206:
202:
201:U.S. military
194:
192:
190:
186:
185:U.S. Congress
182:
178:
170:
165:
164:United States
161:
157:
154:
150:
149:
148:
142:
140:
138:
133:
131:
127:
123:
114:
111:
107:
103:
97:
93:
87:
84:United States
83:
77:
73:
69:
63:
60:
59:
57:
53:
49:
45:
41:
37:
33:
29:
25:
20:
411:. Retrieved
392:. Retrieved
373:. Retrieved
348:. Retrieved
344:the original
334:
322:. Retrieved
318:the original
308:
296:. Retrieved
286:
272:St Dunstan's
242:World War II
231:
227:
226:
222:
218:
217:
198:
177:World War II
174:
160:Constitution
146:
134:
125:
121:
119:
80:Area served
31:Abbreviation
413:December 7,
375:December 7,
350:December 7,
324:December 7,
250:Vietnam War
238:Afghanistan
209:Afghanistan
181:Connecticut
100:Employees
426:Categories
278:References
248:, and the
246:Korean War
389:Guidestar
90:Members
256:See also
213:veterans
55:Location
171:History
143:Mission
128:) is a
109:Website
71:Origins
39:Founded
262:AMVETS
244:, the
152:world.
94:11,000
47:Focus
415:2008
396:2009
377:2008
352:2008
326:2008
300:2009
236:and
234:Iraq
207:and
205:Iraq
120:The
42:1945
130:U.S
126:BVA
34:BVA
428::
406:.
387:.
104:24
417:.
398:.
379:.
354:.
328:.
302:.
187:(
124:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
