Mid-Atlantic Regional Group

This Site is an all Text Site with 1 Image (The Emblem of the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA)).

The Site is all accessible with most text based readers.

Image above is the Emblem of the BVA, Star, Sword and two hands clasping in handshake.

Blinded Veterans Association

www.margbva.org

A Message from the Regional Group President:

Welcome to the Margbva website,

As President, I welcome you to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Group's BVA website. We developed this website as a text only with only one image. (The Emblem of the Blinded Veterans Association) This Site is all accessible with most text based readers. This site was basically developed for the Blind and visually impaired individuals. We welcome everyone to view this site for it holds a lot of great usable information. As you browse through this website, you will find information regarding The Blinded Veterans Association, location of BVA Volunteer Offices, Regional Officers and Chapter contact information. Location of Chapter meeting dates, plus other activities around the regional area including Legislative News and Veteran Benefits, and other supportive news, plus information to assist you in day-to-day routines. We will be updating this information on our website on a weekly basis, so visit the website often to see what’s new. If you have questions or know of some other information that should be placed on our website, please contact our webmasters Clyde Compton or Tom Eaton to have it placed on the site. You will also find a list of the VIST Coordinator contact information for each Veterans Administration Hospitals and their locations within our Regional Group's service area. If you need assistance with any questions or an appointment (non-emergency), your local VIST Coordinator can be of great assistance. I hope this website will be informative and helpful to you and your friends. If you are not one of our members or a member of the BVA Auxiliary that you would consider joining the appropriate organization. Membership applications for both organizations are included on the website.

George Hicks, Regional President

BVA Website Link

BVA Mission and History:

BVA’s National Emblem Explained:

BVA's Legislative News:

BVA's Convention: 65th National Convention Washington DC (New Information added 3/11/2010)

65th Convention Program

BVA's Convention Archive

Important Links and Phone Numbers For All Veterans

Regional Officers:

President: George Hicks (Baltimore Md.)

Vice President: Forrest Black (Hampton Va)

Secretary: George Brummell (Silverspring Md.)

Treasurer: Hardy Alexander (Hampton Va)

Chaplain: Dr. Clyde Jackson (Richmond Va.)

Regional Officers Contact Information:

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Group Field Service Representative is Claudia Perry.

Contact information.

Blinded Veterans Association.

Field Service Officer.

VA Regional Office.

1722 I St., NW.

Room 211.

Washington, D.C. 20421.

Phone: (202) 530-9286.

FaX: (202) 223-1319.

Email: claudia.perry@va.gov.

The Field Service Representative is responsible for assisting blinded veterans in the development of benefit claims for the Department of Veterans Affairs. This includes compensation, pension, death benefits (for widows), housing adaptation grants, automobile grants, etc. They provide any assistance to other services i.e. the VIST program and any other state agencies for blinded veterans as required.

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Group, a subsidiary of the Blinded Veterans Association, covers Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. It is in District 3 region 2 and the District Director is Sam Huhm. Chapters are established in the following locations: Hampton Va., Baltimore Md., Richmond Va., Roanoke/Salem Va. and Washington D.C.

VA. hospitals in the Mid-Atlantic Regional group jurisdiction area are:

Baltimore Maryland VA. Medical Center:

10 North Greene Street

Baltimore, Maryland 21201.

Phone number: (410) 605-7000.

Vist Coordinator: Sonya Morris.

Phone number: (410) 605-7000. Ext. 5124.

(BROS) Blind Rehabilitation Outreach Specialist: William Lange.

Phone number: (410) 605-7000. Ext. 5160.

Hampton Road Virginia VA. Medical Center.

100 Emancipation Drive

Hampton, VA 23667.

Phone number: (757) 722-9961.

Vist Coordinator: James Stephens

Phone number: (757) 728-7070.

Richmond Virginia VA. Medical Center:

1201 Broad Rock Road

Richmond, VA. 23249.

Phone number: (804) 675-5000.

Vist Coordinator: Evelyn Heatwole.

Phone number: (804) 675-5221.

(BROS) Blind Rehabilitation Outreach Specialist : Cyndy Iskow.

Phone number: (804) 675-6568.

Roanoke/Salem Virginia VA. Medical Center:

1970 Roanoke Blvd

Salem Va., 24153.

Phone number: (540) 982-2463.

Vist Coordinator: Stephanie Ayers.

Phone number: (540) 982-2643 Ext. 3356.

Washington D.C. VA. Medical Center:

50 Irving Street NW,

Washington D.C. 20422.

Phone number: (202) 745-8000.

Vist Coordinator: Lillie Kennedy.

Phone number: (202) 745-8621.

(BROS) Blind Rehabilitation Outreach Specialist: Cecilia Rose.

Phone number: (202) 745-8000. Ext. 5007

Wilmington Delaware. VA. Medical Center:

1601 Kirkwood Highway

Wilmington Delaware. 19805.

Phone number: (302) 994-2511.

Vist Coordinator: Sharleen Dass.

Phone number: (302) 994-2511. Ext. 4960.

Definition of Vist, Vist Coordinator and Bros.

(Vist): Visual Impairment Service Team, Blindness is a condition that can affect every aspect of a person's life. The Visual Impairment Services Team (VIST) was created to help legally blind veterans and their families with the ongoing adjustment to sight loss by providing assessment, education, counseling, medical evaluation, and referral for blind rehabilitation.

(Vist Coordinator): The VIST Coordinator is a case manager who has major responsibility for the coordination of all services for legally blind veterans and their families. Duties include providing and/or arranging for the provision of appropriate treatment Mobility (e.g., referrals to BRC's and/or BROS) in order to enhance a blinded veteran's functioning level. Other duties include identifying new cases of blindness, providing professional counseling, resolving problems, arranging annual healthcare reviews and conducting education programs relating to blindness.

(BROS): The BROS travels to the blind veteran’s home. Their duties are to use assessment techniques in skill areas of Orientation/Mobility, Living Skills, Low Vision, Manual Skills and Computer Access Training to determine the rehabilitation needs of blinded veteran patients.

Regional Group By-Laws.

Regional Group Newsletter.

Regional Meeting Minutes.

Regional Group Official Meeting Notice - Spring, 16 - 17 April 2010 Meeting Notice

Regional Group Official Meeting Notice Archive.

Up Coming Events.

Related Sources.

Regional Chapters:

Baltimore Chapter.

Hampton Roads Chapter.

Richmond Chapter.

Roanoke-Salem Chapter.

Washington, D.C. Chapter.

Winchester Chapter. Ratified 4/17/2010 "Welcome Aboard"

Available Miscellaneous Information:

VHA Handbook 1174.02, Visual Impairment Services Team Program Procedures (Available in 2 formats) Word and pdf

In Remembrance

2008 and 2009 Stimulus - Check dates, where its going and how it will affect you.

Spouse's Planning Guide 2009 Edition Prepared by Department of Veterans Affairs Visual Impairment Services Team (VIST)

Vender's Corner - New Area of Interest

Come and join the Blinded Veterans Association team BVA. Fill out the membership application form and send it to BVA Headquarters, 477 H street NW, Washington D.C. 20001, Phone 202-371-8880 .

Form is available in Word Document or just print the linked page and fill it out.

BVA Application in word (doc).

BVA Application in Web format (html).

Join the BVA Auxiliary today. Fill out the application forms for membership. Mail the application to: Norma Link, 654 South Cody Street, Lakewood, Colorado, 80226-3049, And become a member of the BVA Auxiliary.

BVA Auxiliary Application in Word (doc).

BVA Auxiliary Application in Web format (html).

Blinded Veterans Association Auxiliary Rene Feldman Scholarship

Instructions for the Applicant

Scholarship Application in Word (doc).

Scholarship Application in html and can be printed from here. Links are listed from Page 1 through Page 4. Each Page has a separate Link. Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page5

National BVA Auxiliary Page.

What does the National Anthem stand for? The following link is a wma sound file played with Windows Media Player. You can't listen without a tear!

The National Anthem

Trivia and word games!

Books - Can be read by reader or Jaws

End of Document

Clyde Compton - The Blind Webmaster and Tom Eaton Webmaster

07/18/2010