In the opening of season two interviews of Vets First Podcast, hosts Levi Sowers and Brandon Rea welcome Marine Veteran Dan Standage. In this podcast, listeners will hear from the Arizona native, starting with a brief overview of his childhood and career in the Marines, his emotional and physical journey after becoming legally blind during his time stationed in Japan, and finally his contributions and career in blind rehabilitation services. Levi, Brandon, and Dan discuss the importance of mentorship in the development as individuals. They also talk about the importance of adaptability and perspective in the face of change.
Dan has overcome a tumultuous health journey in which he became legally blind during his service. He managed the emotional stress as he adapted to the changes on his life such as fatherhood, driving, basic skills and more. Dan used VA to formally learn how to manage the changes to his daily life.
With a bachelor of science and master’s degree in blind rehabilitation from University of Arizona, Dan worked at the time of this recording as the vice president of Diversity and Inclusion at Student Veterans of America. His job focused on connecting the fraternal order of the military to education and employment as Veterans become leaders.
Student Veterans of America (SVA) strives to support student Veterans to succeed after their services are completed. The organization provides on campus chapters, research and advocacy for Veterans in higher education. Visit https://studentveterans.org/ to learn more about SVA.
Blind Veterans Association (BVA) strives to serve and support Veterans with vision loss. BVA advocates for visually impaired Veteran-focused issues and mentorships for Veterans and family. BVA offers four different programs: Veterans Service, Care Review, Operation Peer Support, and Scholarships. Visit https://bva.org/ to learn more about BVA and how they can support Veterans and loved ones experiencing vision loss.
Listen to episode three with Keith Queen to learn more about blind and low vision rehabilitation services VA and Visual Impairment Services Teams offers Veterans.
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