The NYRG is one of more than 50 regional groups around the country and Puerto Rico that make up the BVA.

We are an organization specifically established to promote the welfare of blinded veterans. Through our service programs, groups and benefits, we hope to make life easier for blinded veterans and help by being there with encouragement and support. We are here to help veterans and their families meet the challenges of blindness.

There is no charge for any BVA service. Membership is not a prerequisite. All blind and legally blind veterans are eligible for BVA's help whether they became blind during or after active duty.

Founded in 1945, the BVA received its charter from the United States Congress in 1958. Since that time, the Blinded Veterans Association has worked to accomplish the mission expressed in our Congressional Charter.

Throughout BVA's history, Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs have meritoriously recognized the Association. BVA was and is the only veterans service organization exclusively dedicated to serving America's blind and visually impaired veterans.

 

Contact information for the NYRG office:

Blinded Veterans Association (do not use initials!)
13741 223rd Street

Laurelton, NY 11413

917 887 0145

Fax# 212 807 4022

 

Current OFFICERS OF THE NEW YORK REGIONAL GROUP

President 
Vice President vacant

Secretary vacant

Treasurer James Day

Chaplin John Morrall, Jr.

 

CHAPTERS OF THE NYRG:

Buffalo

 

 Our National Anthem

The Cactus Cuties sing The National Anthem Old Video

CactusJH National Anthem

 

Kate Smith Sings

First Time Performing GOD BLESS AMERICA

 

NYRG Constitution and Bylaws

Final & Updated NYRG Bylaws, November 2011.doc

 

NYRG Resolutions

Resolutions.doc

 

The BVA Beacon stopped printing, Spring, 2018 was the last issue

The Official Newsletter of the NYRG

Archives of "The BVA Beacon"

  

BVA National Headquarters

Blinded Veterans Association

125 N. West Street

3rd Floor

Alexandria, VA 22314

1-800-669 7079 or 1-202-371-8880
Fax# 1-202-371-8258

Blinded Veterans Association Home Page

 

New BVA video

 

The following is from the BVA website:

Many Americans are surprised to learn that more than 165,000 blind or visually impaired veterans now live among us. Each year, some 7,000 veterans become newly blind or visually impaired as age-related macular degeneration, retinitis Pigmentosa, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy affect their lives more profoundly. In addition, some 13 percent of the evacuated wounded service members in Iraq and Afghanistan have suffered a serious eye injury of one type or another.

The need for the educational services, counseling, representation, and peer support offered by the Blinded Veterans Association has never been greater.

BVA is committed to locating blinded veterans who need the services that will help them overcome the challenges of blindness and lead productive and fulfilling lives. The Association’s leadership, membership, and staff are anxious to guide blinded veterans through the rehabilitation process and to continue their

work as advocates for blinded veterans and their families in the public and private sectors. BVA fulfills its unique mission by:

Promoting access to technology and the practical use of the latest research.

list of 4 items

• Supporting vocational and recreational programs that foster rehabilitation.

• Offering encouragement and emotional support

• Providing role models who have conquered seemingly insurmountable challenges.

• Serving as a medium of communication for and about issues of concern to blinded veterans and their families.

 

“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 above paragraph was copied from the MidAtlantic RG website)

 

National Field Service Officers

The Field Service Program Resource Center is a one-stop shop for services provided by BVA, featuring a dedicated toll free number which any blind veteran across the nation can call and receive services from any BVA National Field Service Officer regardless of where they live. This will streamline services and provide consistency to all veterans.

BVA Field Service Officers are all legally blinded veterans. They serve as role models and empower blinded veterans to find and follow the road to independence. They work as access specialists, providing inspiration, encouragement, and practical assistance with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) claims and appeals. They also educate veterans about VA benefits and services, as well as local resources.

 

They also serve as a Veterans’ Care Review Team, collaborating with VA clinic staff to ensure that veterans receive the best possible service.

 

BVA Field Service Resource Center

 

 125 N. West St, 3rd Floor

 Alexandria, VA 22314

 Phone: 844-250-5180 (Toll Free)

 Fax: 202-780-4638

 Email: fieldservice@bva.org

 

The BVA consists of 6 District Directors who hold positions on the BVA National Board of Directors and presides over regional groups in their area.

The District 1 Director presides over Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey & Pennsylvania.

District 1 Director

Dennis J. O’Connell

26 West Broadway

Unit 403

Long Beach, NY 11561

1 516 328 3438

navy1vet@optonline.net

 

Visual Impairment Services Team Coordinator (VIST)

The Visually Impaired Service Team (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 modalities (e.g., referrals to Blind Rehabilitation Centers (BRC’s) and/or Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist (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.

 

VIST Coordinators of New York

 

The VA & Blind Veterans

 

 

THE chief and LOCATION OF THE VA BLIND REHABILITATION CENTER

Chief EBRC

VA Medical Center
950 Campbell Avenue
West Haven, CT 06516

1-203-932-5711

clinic office at blind center  ext. 2175

 

Other Regional Group Web Sites:

BVA Regional Groups

 

 

Regional Groups Manual:

Updated Regional Group Manual as of 2002

 

TEE (Training, Experience, Exposure) Tournament

For more information about the TEE Tournament go to:

http://www.va.gov/opa/speceven/tee/index.asp

In 2018 the TEE Tournament celebrated its 25th season and It is the only National VA Sponsored event mainly for blind veterans.

 Every Sunday after Labor Day blind veterans from around the country arrive to enjoy golf instructions, playing golf and bowling in Iowa City, Iowa.

The registration fee is $100 (this includes lodging, food, golf fees, bowling fee, transportation to these events & transportation from & to the airport). The other cost to a participant is transportation to the TEE Tournament. Applications are sent out normally by the winter of the prior year. So either ask your VIST coordinator to acquire one for you or you can contact:

Kirt Sickels

VA Medical Center
601 Hwy 6 West
Iowa City, Iowa 52246

1 319 358 5963

Kirt.Sickels@va.gov

 

Web Sites that might be helpful:

(Some of the links in these web sites might also be interpreted in other areas too)

 

Anti Virus and Hoaxes
blindness & related issues
Computer Information
Consumer Web Sites
Dogs, mainly Guide Dogs
Games for the blind & visually impaired
Government, Federal
Government, New York, the Empire State
Health & Medicine
Humor from the Internet
Libraries
Music
Patriotic
Search Engines
Shopping
Software & Updates
Sports
Time

Toll Free Numbers for Contacting VA.doc
Travel
Veterans
Weather

 

 

The National Blinded Veterans Association New York Regional Group is approved by the IRS as 501(c)(4) not for profit organizations and donations are tax deductible.

If you want to make a donation to the New YorkRegional Group, Send donations to:

Blinded Veterans Association

245 West Houston Street
Room 203
New York, NY 10014

 Make checks payable to BVA-NYRG

 

If you have any comments, suggestions or questions send to: 

Navy1vet@optonline.net