Noteboom The Law Firm

Blind Veterans Helped With New Devices

March 18, 2011 - Although mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) dominate headlines as plaguing young veterans, thousands of veterans suffer from other debilitating conditions such as blindness and other visual impairments. Although independent living is by no means impossible, it can be somewhat challenging. Last year alone, more than 4,000 blind and/or visually impaired veterans relied on various devices, equipment, and apparatus to achieve and maintain their independence.

As demand for those devices grows, so does their sophistication. Eight years ago, Chicago Lighthouse For People Who Are Blind and Vision Impaired, which is a not- for-profit company and a leader in the industry, offered 750 such devices. Today they offer 2,000, including equipment that talks to the blind veteran, such as microwaves and blood pressure equipment, and they know their products as they operate with a legally blind staff.

More troops are returning from deployments with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), which has lead to more veterans being diagnosed with visual impairments. As more WWII veterans age, they are reporting more age-related vision problems, as opposed to vision problems stemming from combat. These veterans require treatment similar to what is
done for other blind and visually impaired veterans, which sometimes requires the use of equipment.

Some veterans cannot maintain their independence due to their blindness, and it is these situations where having the best and most advanced equipment available is imperative. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) does pay for equipment, devices, and services Chicago Lighthouse provides.