|
On March 28, we pause to recognize Blinded Veterans Day—a day that honors the strength, resilience, and service of veterans who are blind or have low vision.
For many veterans, vision loss is a life-changing experience that comes after their service to our country. Yet, time and again, blinded veterans demonstrate remarkable determination by adapting, rebuilding, and continuing to lead in their communities, workplaces, and families.
Blinded Veterans Day marks the anniversary of the first formal training program established in 1945 to support veterans with vision loss. Today, a wide range of services, including rehabilitation programs, assistive technology, and orientation and mobility training, help ensure that blind veterans can live independently and pursue their goals.
Organizations like the Blinded Veterans Association also play a vital role by offering peer support, advocacy, and resources to help veterans adjust to vision loss and maintain independence.
In Texas, blind veterans and their families may also find support through the Texas Veterans Commission, which helps connect veterans to benefits and services, and through the Texas Workforce Commission, which offers the Older Individuals Who are Blind Program and vocational rehabilitation resources that can support independence, employment, and daily living skills. Additionally, Texas Health and Human Services works with people who are blind and have low vision to help them reach their independence goals. These resources can be especially valuable for veterans adjusting to vision loss and navigating life after service.
This day is also a reminder of the importance of accessibility and the role we all play in creating communities where every Texan can fully participate.
As we observe Blinded Veterans Day, in his proclamation, Governor Abbott “invites Texans to learn more about the ways blindness and vision impairments affect the veterans in their communities and to express gratitude to the men and women who have sacrificed so much in defense of our freedoms.”
|
