British blinded veterans hosted locally by U.S. counterparts

Ten American veterans who lost their sight to enemy actions while deployed in the Middle East are continuing to host six British blinded veterans in the greater Chicagoland area June 22-24 during "Technology Week."

The U.S. individuals represent the national Blinded Veterans Association (BVA), and the British men represent their counterpart organization, Blind Veterans UK. They have been gathering at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Central Blind Rehabilitation Center in Hines.

The international group is sharing knowledge of adaptive technology for the blind and visually impaired, and are exchanging personal experiences regarding their adjustments to blindness.

In the next three days the tour will include a stop at Wrigley Field to take in a baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals, with tickets being supplied by American Airlines; a game of blind golf at Riverside Country Club on Des Planes Avenue, in Riverside and a visit at the popular Giordano's Pizza restaurant.

Behind this year's "Technology Week" is the BVA's Operation Peer Support Committee, chaired by blinded veteran Daniel Wallace, a retired Army 1st Sergeant. The week's activities are being supervised by the director of the Hines Center, Denise VanKoevering. The president of the BVA, Al Avina, is also participating.

Some of the information being presented consists of details about current and new innovative instruments that help blinded individuals. Overcoming blindness was once considered a handicap impossible to surmount, but with the help of technology that stigma has disappeared.

Analog and digital products discussed include electronic mobile devices, talking computers, audible money identifiers, barcode scanners, bioptic telescopes that are used as eyeglasses, laptop video magnifiers, hand-held audible libraries, mobility aids, a portable Global Positioning System and audible health monitoring devices.

"The vital relationship BVA has developed with its British cousins has blossomed into numerous opportunities such as the local 'Technology Week' program," said Dr. Tom Zampieri, a BVA director. "It allows us to share so many of our personal 'war stories' that relate to blindness and subsequent rehabilitation."

For more information, contact Dr. Tom Zampieri, (301) 204-3291 or go to bva.org.