Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 11/17/2003

Dear Sgt. Shaft,
We wish to thank you for your continuing support in preserving the Department of Veterans Affairs Blind Rehabilitation Service (BRS) and its continued service to our nation’s’ blinded veterans. Within the last decade however, VA decentralization has resulted in the deterioration of the VA's renowned Blind Rehab centers and their programs. In order to reverse this deterioration of the esteemed Blind Rehab Programs, we must regain the ability to retain uniformity in quality training nationwide plus the oversight capability by restoring CENTRALIZATION of this vital program. Amateurs, newcomers not attuned in the field of rehabilitation and those who think they can save public money with their so called new ideas are actually going back to the practices of the past that have consistently failed for decades. Too many people tried to fix something that was not even broken. Years of decentralization have devastated the VA BRS by reckless local micro-management.

Blind Rehabilitation Services have been severely diluted, as rehabilitation teaching positions in Brace’s have been abolished, frozen or deferred. Several vacant VIST Coordinator and other BRC positions have been offered to unqualified individuals or targeted for abolishment. Frequently personnel standards utilized in selection of critical BRS positions have been ignored by local Medical Centers. Several local Medical Centers have considerably diminished the value and level of services provided blinded veterans by assigning Visual Impairment Service Team (VIST) Coordinators to other collateral duties. The lines of supervision of the various BRS components, at the local level, are varied, confusing and lack professional expertise in providing adequate oversight and guidance. The level of blind rehabilitation training and services offered to blinded veterans and their families, nationally, including the determination of prosthetic aids issued depends unfortunately on local management's level of budgetary support for the program.

Another issue is the need for a balance system of oversight and establishment of lines of supervision within all components of Blind Rehabilitation Services from local to VA Central Office level insuring accountability and maintenance of national standards. Within the new decentralized structure - there is a deep sense that centralized guidance is not needed, wanted or required. Each Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), in fact each hospital, attempts to function independently with different governing philosophies, goals and priorities while operating under mounting pressures created by shrinking resources. Within such an environment, it is highly improbable that all twenty-two VISN’s will adequately provide or properly manage Blind Rehabilitation Services without a check and balance system under guidance from VA Headquarters. The uniformity and equity of programs for blinded veterans is at great risk under the current system. There is no oversight or unifying force for this small, but highly visible program.

Local management teams within VISN's and Medical Centers do not possess the professional expertise to strategically plan blind rehabilitation services nor can they provide strong oversight and peer review to the blind rehabilitation specialists scattered in the field. Currently the three components of the Blind Rehabilitation Service delivery system have no common lines of reporting, authority or accountability for their performance. The Director of Blind Rehabilitation Services has no significant authority in the running of the Blind Rehabilitation Service Programs or the control of their standards at the local level.

What we are describing is a system of blind services influenced and controlled by local officials who are not attuned to blind rehabilitation, with no good system of quality control, no system of stakeholder oversight, and no significant subject matter (BRS VACO) oversight, all in an environment of fiscal shortages. There can be little hope for any continued and sustainable success if this scenario does not change.

We need immediate and viable corrective measures to restore CENTRALIZATION of BRS because we strongly believe the CENTRALIZATION of the Blind Rehabilitation Program is the best insurance we can give our blinded veterans. CENTRALIZATION was the reason for the success of the program for blinded veterans in the past.

Respectfully submitted,
Steve M.
Chicago, Illinois

Dear Steve
As I have stated in past columns, History has shown us what works, a standardized, centralized, and comprehensive approach to rehabilitation for our American blinded veterans; a program dedicated to the individual blinded vet, his or her psychological adjustment to blindness, inclusion of family and of course, vocational testing, training and job placement.

I urge the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and his Undersecretary of Health to restore centralization of the VA’s blind rehabilitation program.

Shaft Kudos
Congratulations to fellow Viet Nam Vet, Gordon H. Mansfield on his nomination to be the Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Gordon is well known for his dedicated service to our nation's veterans. He currently serves as the

Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Legislative Affairs in the Department of Veterans Affairs. He also served as executive director of the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) since April 1993. In that position, the highly decorated Vietnam veteran oversaw daily operation of PVA's national office in Washington, D.C. Mr. Mansfield received his undergraduate degree from Villanova University and law degree from the University of Miami. Following his 1964 enlistment in the Army, he served two tours of duty in Vietnam. While serving as company commander with the 101st Airborne Division during his second tour, he sustained a spinal cord injury. His combat decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, the Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts, the Combat Infantryman's Badge and the Presidential Unit Citation. Gordon also is a recipient of the Presidential Distinguished Service Award and the Villanova University Alumni Human Relations Medal. He was inducted into the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame in 1997.

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-462-4430 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

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