Overcoming The OddsTo Create A New Life (NAPSA)—Veteran William “Bill” McGee, a well-knownretired radio and TV broadcaster in the San Francisco area, felt pretty hopeless whenfaced with the misfortune of going blind. Fortunately, he had a helpful resource to turn to. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Blind Rehabilitation Service gave him a newlife that inspired him, with the help of his wife, Sandra, to write a book aboutit. Created with her assistance, the book describes what VA blind rehab can do for veterans, both those who lose their sight as a result of combat operations as well as due to age-related factors such as macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. His book, “Learning to Cope with Sight Loss: Six Weeks at a VA Blind Rehabilitation Center,” recounts McGee’s loss of sight and his subsequent day-to-day experi- “~ A rehab program offers veterans the skills to cope with blindness and invaluable tools for improving their lives. “If my booklet or audio CD inspires a fellow veteran to ‘get up off the couch’ and seek help, then my objective will have been accomplished,” said McGee. These VA programs for the ence at the VA Western Blind Rehabilitation Center (WBRC) in blind, visually impaired, and “This is the best-written description of VA’s blind rehabilitation program that I’ve seen and an invaluable tool for veterans considering participation in one of the regional centers,” said Patrick J. Blinded Veterans Association. Palo Alto, California. Caskey, M.D., North Bay Vitreo- retinal Consultants. It outlines how the center works and what is taught there, training that includes Visual those with low vision exist thanks to the advocacy work of the Chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1958, BVA links veterans with the services they’ve earned. Membershipis opento all legally blind veterans who have served in the U.S. military. Membership is not required for veterans to receive assistance, which is always free. For more informa- Skills, Orientation and Mobility, tion, call BVA at (800) 669-7079 or visit the association’s Web site puter Access Program, Recreation Therapy, and Family Training. For more information about the publication, visit www.bmcpubli online and on audio CD, explains tact Christina Hitchcock at BVA Living Skills, Manual Skills, ComThe publication, also available how such instruction and training improved McGee’s coping skills. McGee hopes to inspire others. at www.bva.org. cations.com/sightloss.html or con- National Headquarters, 202-3718880, Ext. 3303, or at chitch cock@bva.org.
