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VA and Non-VA Services for Blind and Deaf Veterans

Joe Wallace

Veterans transitioning to civilian life must often cope with issues related to service-connected disabilities. Among these issues, vision and hearing impairments can affect a veteran’s ability to live and work independently. Fortunately, a support network exists through the Department of Veterans Affairs and private or civilian organizations to help these veterans.

Department of Veterans Affairs Services for Visually Impaired Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides extensive services through the VA Blind Rehabilitation Service (BRS), which is integrated into its health benefits system. The BRS helps visually impaired veterans develop skills for independence and reintegration.

VA Blind Rehabilitation Centers and Clinics offer intensive, tailored programs focusing on communication, mobility, daily living, manual skills, computer access, and social activities. Veterans receive training to regain confidence and navigate daily life despite vision loss.

Upon enrollment, a Visual Impairment Services Team (VIST) conducts a health and benefits review and develops a personalized rehabilitation plan. This plan may include adjustment-to-blindness training with counseling and group therapy. The VA acknowledges the emotional aspect of vision loss.

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Services are also available at all VA medical facilities through the VIST Coordinator, connecting veterans with resources like low vision clinics.

These clinics help veterans maximize remaining vision with training and devices for reading, writing, medication management, cooking, and navigation. They also offer optical, electronic, and ergonomic aids. Advanced Low Vision Clinics provide more intensive support for significant vision loss.

The VA also provides assistive technology, including canes, magnifiers, and screen readers, to promote independence and supports the use of guide dogs for eligible veterans.

Non-VA Resources for Visually Impaired Veterans

Non-VA organizations also support visually impaired veterans, often collaborating with the VA.

• The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) can assist veterans in understanding and applying for VA benefits related to vision loss.
• The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) provides information on assistive technology, independent living skills, and employment opportunities for those with vision loss.
• The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) offers advocacy, support, and programs to achieve equality and opportunity for the blind.
• Blinded Veterans Association (BVA): The BVA is a national organization dedicated to serving blind and severely visually impaired veterans and their families. Programs include field service officers who provide counseling and assistance with VA benefits, employment assistance, peer support, and advocacy on legislative issues affecting blinded veterans.
• VisionServe Alliance: While not exclusively for veterans, VisionServe Alliance is a network of agencies and organizations serving individuals who are blind or visually impaired. They can help connect veterans with local community services and resources, including rehabilitation centers, low vision clinics, and support groups. Their website offers a directory of member agencies across the country.
• The Carroll Center for the Blind: Located in Massachusetts, the Carroll Center offers comprehensive rehabilitation services for veterans. Its programs include independent living skills training, assistive technology training, orientation and mobility instruction, and low vision services. While based in New England, the center often serves veterans from across the country.
• Leader Dogs for the Blind: While the VA supports guide dog services, Leader Dogs for the Blind is a non-profit organization that provides guide dogs to individuals who are blind or visually impaired at no cost. Eligible veterans can apply for a highly trained guide dog through their program, enhancing their mobility and independence.
• Operation Sight: This program is managed by the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) Foundation. It provides pro bono cataract surgery to individuals who cannot afford it, including veterans. Cataracts are a common cause of vision loss that can often be treated with surgery, significantly improving a veteran’s vision and quality of life.
• Hadley: Hadley offers a wide range of free distance learning courses on topics such as independent living, technology, braille, and adjusting to vision loss, providing valuable learning opportunities for veterans from the comfort of their homes.
• State-Specific Agencies for the Blind: Most states have agencies dedicated to serving individuals who are blind or visually impaired. These agencies often provide various services, including vocational rehabilitation, independent living support, and assistive technology training. Veterans can find their state’s agency online (e.g., “Illinois agency for the blind”).

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Services for Hearing Impaired Veterans

VA Audiology Services offers comprehensive hearing healthcare to eligible veterans. Enrolled veterans can access a range of audiology services without referrals at over 650 VA sites, including teleaudiology for those in rural areas. Services include hearing evaluations, hearing aid fittings, follow-up care, auditory rehabilitation, and tinnitus management. The VA also explores in-home service delivery through technology.

VA audiology services include diagnostic evaluations, hearing aids, and ongoing support. They also offer auditory rehabilitation, including speechreading and communication strategies, and counseling for the psychosocial impact of hearing loss. The VA also provides specialized services for tinnitus.

Non-VA Resources for Hearing Impaired Veterans

Many non-VA organizations support hearing-impaired veterans.

• The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) offers a Veterans Chapter, specifically for the needs and experiences of veterans with hearing loss.
•  Heroes with Hearing Loss offers resources, support networks, and mentorship opportunities for veterans and active-duty military personnel with hearing loss.
• The National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes conducts research and provides resources aimed at improving educational and employment outcomes for deaf individuals, including veterans.
• The Association of Late-Deafened Adults (ALDA) provides support and community for adults who have lost hearing later in life.
• The National Association of the Deaf (NAD), a civil rights organization advocating for the hearing-impaired.
• Center for Hearing and Communication (CHC) offers a range of services, including audiology, speech therapy, and mental health support
• Hearing Health Foundation (HHF) funds research on hearing loss and related conditions.
• State-Specific Offices for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Many states have government offices dedicated to serving the needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. These offices can provide information on state-level resources, assistive technology programs, and advocacy. Veterans can find their state’s office through an online search (e.g., “California office for the deaf and hard of hearing”).

These additional organizations, alongside the VA’s audiology services and the support offered by HLAA, Heroes with Hearing Loss, and the National Deaf Center, provide a comprehensive network of resources for veterans experiencing hearing loss, aiming to improve their communication, quality of life, and overall well-being.

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