[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 121 (Tuesday, October 3, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1654]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SECTION, WESTERN BLIND REHABILITATION CENTER, 
VA PALO ALTO HEALTH CARE FACILITY, PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA RECEIVES OLIN 
                            E. TEAGUE AWARD

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                             HON. BOB STUMP

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 3, 2000

  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, in a ceremony on Wednesday, September 13, 
2000, in the House Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing room, the 
Orientation and Mobility Section, Western Blind Rehabilitation Center, 
VA Palo Alto Health Care Facility, Palo Alto, California, received on 
Olin E. Teague Award for their efforts on behalf of disabled veterans.
  The Teague Award is presented annually to VA employees whose 
achievements have been of extraordinary benefit to veterans with 
service-connected disabilities, and is the highest honor at VA in the 
field of rehabilitation.
  The Orientation and Mobility Section was selected to receive this 
prestigious award in honor of their work to develop the first power 
scooter training program for low vision blinded veterans with 
ambulatory problems. Realizing that current support items such as 
canes, walkers and scooters did not meet the needs of the less mobile, 
blind veteran, the team determined to find a solution. The team worked 
with specialists in Physical Therapy, Physical Medicine, and 
Prosthetics Service to study the various types of power scooters 
available for sighted individuals. In addition to their full daily 
schedules, the team members made the time to actually become power 
scooter travelers to learn to navigate on the scooters as sighted 
individuals. When they became fully knowledgeable of power scooter 
travel, they began to develop options to adapt the power scooter for 
use by blind veterans. Their enthusiasm, persistence and creativity 
paid off. Two distinct power scooter programs were developed to meet 
the differing needs and capabilities of legally blind low vision 
veterans. These programs offer veterans a higher quality of life and a 
highly valued commodity--their independence.
  Mr. Speaker, the name Olin E. ``Tiger'' Teague is synonymous with 
exemplary service to the Nation's veterans. The late Congressman Teague 
served on the House Veterans Affairs Committee for 32 years, 18 of 
those years as its distinguished chairman. No one who opposed him on 
veterans' issues ever had to ask why he was called Tiger. He set the 
standards by which we can best serve all veterans. I know my colleagues 
join me in offering our deep appreciation to the Orientation and 
Mobility Section for their concern, dedication, and innovation in 
meeting the special rehabilitation needs of disabled veterans. We 
congratulate them for the excellence of their work and for the 
distinguished award they received.

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