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Since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Hines VA Hospital has hosted 65 members of the armed forces who served in Iraq and Afghanistan – more than any of the nine other VA blind centers across the country. Since 2005, the influx has more than doubled the number of blind or visually impaired 20- to 39-year-olds who stay for weeks at a time or longer to learn important survival skills, from operating a stove to walking unfamiliar streets, such as the stretch in downtown Forest Park. “It gives individuals the self-esteem and confidence to take back their lives,” said Gerald Schutter, chief of the center.
Continue reading Blind-Vets Program Getting Younger Clients