PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA

Legislation and advocacy:advocacy - paralyzed veterans of america's government relations program focuses on policy priorities that affect veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders. Through our efforts, we improve the lives of veterans with catastrophic disabilities and all people with disabilities.the legislative staff primarily focus on policy priorities under the purview of the department of veterans affairs (va) and the house and senate veterans' affairs committees. Legislative staff work on protecting access to va's specialized health care services; expanding access to va's long-term services and supports; and improving va benefits and health care services for paralyzed veterans and their survivors, including increased access to home modifications and assisted reproductive technologies.the advocacy staff focus on efforts to improve the lives of our members as people with disabilities. Advocacy staff work on protecting the civil rights of people with disabilities, including improving disability access in travel, health care, and other public accommodations. In addition, staff assist veterans with filing disability-related complaints with federal agencies and work with chapters to increase compliance with the americans with disabilities act in their local communities.architecture - pva's architecture team ensures state-of-the-art healing facilities for veterans with a spinal cord injury or disease at the department of veterans affairs (va) hospitals. Pva's staff of licensed architects work directly with the va and design teams across the country throughout each design and construction process. The architecture team also conducts technical assessments of the condition of existing va medical centers. In addition to health care facilities, pva's architecture team has brought about positive change and furthered accessible design in all public and private building types. Pva architects serve on committees which write accessibility standards and building codes, and work with cities and municipalities to improve access for all. They also help advance accessible design through teaching, public speaking, seminars and publications which deal with accessibility issues and approaches that eliminate barriers in the built environment. Each year, pva's architects work directly with over 100 homeowners, building owners, architects, and contractors requesting help on their design and construction projects in order to improve accessibility for themselves or others with disabilities. Also, through presenting in-person and virtual seminars, pva architects assist approximately 500 attendees per year with their accessible home renovation projects.pva's architects also provide technical assistance and review architectural plans, as requested by different chapters of pva, to ensure the highest level of accessibility for public and private projects in their communities throughout the united states.

Research, consumer and professional education: paralyzed veterans of america supports research and educational programs, and other initiatives that unite people and activities toward a single mission: improved quality of life for individuals living with spinal cord injuries and disorders (sci/d), and diseases like multiple sclerosis (ms) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (als). In 2024, working with expert researchers and clinicians from across the us and canada, pva continues to develop new clinical practice guidelines (cpg) on management of secondary health conditions after sci/d. These are in addition to our present cadre of cpgs, companion consumer guides and our self-care manual "yes, you can!" these are disseminated nationally and worldwide to educate clinicians in order to improve care and treatment of veterans and others living with sci/d. In 2024 we continue to develop new resources for our veterans and their families. Pva research and education staff manage the pva research foundation, dedicated to funding research to find a cure for spinal cord injury. In fy24 the foundation awarded $1m in new spinal cord injury research grants in the areas of basic science, clinical practice, design and development and fellowships. Added to our other ongoing grants, we managed $2.1 million grants in 2024. In 2024 the pva education foundation funded nearly $340,000 in grants to meet this mission. The projects funded vary broadly in topic and scope, but each will have an impact in moving information to education for those who participate, and ultimately help improve the quality of life for veterans and others living with sci, as well as their families and caregivers. We managed $320,000 in grants in 2024.in 2024 we worked to serve the unique needs of women veterans with sci/d. These programs included monthly webinars, sports and other activities including a women veterans empowerment retreat held in long beach, ca, featuring self-advocacy and resilience training and collecting information from women veterans about their needs.

Sports and recreation: paralyzed veterans of america (pva) offers a diverse range of adaptive sports and recreational activities to paralyzed veterans and other individuals with disabilities. Our programs include paracycling, bass fishing, billiards, bowling, rugby, shooting sports, the annual national veterans wheelchair games, and more. These opportunities empower participants to demonstrate their abilities, engage with both disabled and "able-bodied" peers, and build connections with others facing similar challenges.pva's sports and recreation programs challenge stereotypes, raise awareness, and promote inclusivity, contributing to a more welcoming and equitable society for individuals living with disabilities.