Spread the word on Blind Rehab Centers.

I am a student at the Western Blind Rehabilitation Center located at the Veterans' Hospital in Palo Alto, California. Before I arrived at the rehabilitation center months ago, I believed that I was just one of a few sight impaired or blind vets who had learned about the veterans' blind rehab centers by accident. Sadly, I learned that the majority of the students who come here had also learned by chance that the VA has these facilities. I believe that this situation is deplorable and should be corrected by all means possible and that your publications are the best place to start. The VA has 10 Blind Rehabilitation Centers located in different sections of the country so I assume that the students at the other nine locations must have had similar experiences. The purpose of these centers is not to cure blindness but rather to teach the students how to live independently and learn new ways of doing the things they did before they became blind or sight impaired. I do not have the ability to describe how helpful, caring and respectful every employee of this center is to every student. For me it has been one of the most enjoyable and helpful experiences of my life. Because of what I learned here, I will be able to do many of the things I thought I had lost forever. To learn more about this program contact the VIST Coordinator at your nearest veterans' hospital. Please do all that you can to inform all veterans, especially the blind and sight impaired, that attendance at one of these centers can change their life forever. Sid Beausoleil, Anaconda, MT