Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Annual BAVF Report

October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2008

The Blinded American Veterans Foundation (BAVF) continued the distribution of its telescoping "Americane," which the Foundation researched and developed, to blinded veterans throughout the country free of charge.

Through the Foundation's audio cassette tape recycling program, hundreds of audio tapes were donated to the BAVF, magnetically erased, and used to transmit important information to blinded veterans.

The BAVF continued its federal facility volunteer watch. Those agency facilities which were found to be inaccessible to the visually impaired and other disabled individuals were reported to the proper authorities.

The Blinded American Veterans Foundation continued its support of Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) rehabilitation programs. On July 19, 2006, the Foundation awarded 43 grants totaling $21,500 (valued at $500 each) to the following Veterans Administration Medical Centers: Ann Arbor VA Healthcare System; Atlanta VA Medical Center and Augusta (Georgia) VA Medical Center; Birmingham VA Medical Center; Boise VA Medical Center; Boston Healthcare System; Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center (Phoenix); Central California Healthcare System (Fresno); Chalmers P. Wylie Outpatient Clinic (Columbus, Ohio); Cleveland VA Medical Center; Connecticut VA Medical Center; Durham VA Medical Center; Eastern Colorado Healthcare System (Denver); Erie (Pennsylvania) VA Medical Center; Los Angeles Ambulatory Care Center; Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System; Hines VA Medical Center; Huntington, West Virginia, VA Medical Center; Lake City VA Medical Center; Lebanon VA Hospital; Lexington VA Medical Center; Lubbock VA Outpatient Clinic, Texas; Manchester VA Medical Center, New Hampshire; Marion, Illinois VA Medical Center; North Florida/South Georgia Healthcare System (Gainesville); Northport, New York VA Medical Center; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma VA Medical Center; Pittsburgh VA Medical Center; Portland, Oregon VA Medical Center; Salem, Virginia VA Medical Center; San Francisco VA Medical Center; Samuel S. Stratton VA Medical Center (Albany, New York); Sierra Nevada Health Care System; Togus, Maine VA Medical Center; VA Central Iowa Healthcare System; VA Healthcare Network Upstate New York at Syracuse; VA Outpatient Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida; VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System; VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System (North Las Vegas); VA Western New York Healthcare System (Buffalo); Washington VA Medical Center; White River Junction VA Medical Center; and the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital (Madison, Wisconsin).

In addition, the BAVF has given thousands of dollars in support for soldiers wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq and are receiving treatment at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and to their families.

The BAVF Annual Board Meeting was held in conjunction with the Foundation’s Congressional Media and Volunteer Awards program and Flag Day activities. These patriotic events, once again, gave the BAVF the opportunity to salute the flag and express appreciation to Members of Congress, the media, and volunteers who support the Foundation’s goals of Research, Rehabilitation, and Re-employment.

During the Flag Day events, the BAVF had the opportunity to educate the general public about the new technology available to the visually impaired.

The Blinded American Veterans Foundation concluded this most successful year using its nationwide cadre of on-call volunteers who provide services in all 50 states; Washington, D.C.; other U.S. sites; and to various countries. These representatives also fielded dozens of inquiries each week from blinded and other sensory disabled veterans seeking assistance, counseling, referral, and advice — especially in the areas of veterans benefits leading to rehabilitation and reemployment.

BAVF volunteers cooperate fully with Department of Veterans Affairs Visual Impairment Service Teams, operating at minimal administrative cost.

This year the president of the BAVF personally met with hundreds of blinded veterans and directors of the medical facilities, and made many recommendations for improvement in service to blinded veterans.

The Board of Directors of the Blinded American Veterans Foundation are: John Fales, Silver Spring, MD, President; Dennis Wyant, Melbourne, FL, Secretary; and Don Garner, New Haven, CT, Treasurer.

The Blinded American Veterans Foundation has no paid staff and the members of its Board of Directors receive no compensation.

BAVF is a tax deductible organization, CFC Number 11282. Monetary gifts are gladly accepted and welcome.
To donate online, please use this link to Independent Charities of America.
Please use the address listed below when sending your contribution via postal mail or including BAVF as a beneficiary on your will.

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