Master Sergeant Jeffrey Mittman was killed by a roadside bomb in Baghdad on July 7, 2005. Although Mittman was airlifted from Baghdad to receive treatment within 30 minutes, he suffered permanent bodily injury. He awoke a month later at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C., blind in his left eye, with severe injuries to his right arm and his nose.
Stories like Mittman’s began to appear more frequently after the U.S. invaded Afghanistan 2001. Inflicting more injuries, the wars of Afghanistan and Iraq resulted in blindnessThis is more than any conflict since Civil War. Modern medical technologies have made it possible for more service personnel not to die from serious injuries.
Mittman had many hurdles in his home country to overcome. As it is today, 70% of blind people in work cannot find employment.
Mittman opted to be involved in a National Industries for the Blind (NIB), through the Warrior in Transition Program. He supports the critical mission of employment for persons with disabilities. He was recently awarded the prestigious “Oz Day”This award is presented to a federal employee, or military member, who has shown exceptional service in promoting employment opportunities of people with severe disabilities or blindness.
“I decided long ago — I can either own [my experiences] and learn from these experiences or I can let them own me. I chose the former,” said Mittman. “I am humbled and proud to receive this honor, and I am eager to continue to be an example to our wounded warriors and other individuals with disabilities, showing them what is possible.”
Wounded vets from Afghanistan and Iraq can get information through the Wounded Warrior Programme at NIB about job placement, training, and career opportunities within NIB or any of its 90 affiliated nonprofit agencies. The mission of NIB is to increase economic and personal independence for blind people, primarily by creating, sustaining and improving employment.
Visit www.Wounded Warrior Program for more information www.nib.org.
