Paralyzed Veterans Of America

Public Affairs: Keystone PVA uses staff and volunteers to 1. Organize or facilitate participation in recreactional events that include hunting, fishing, bowling, track and field, archery, air rifle training and competition, quad rugby, nine ball and weightlifting. 2. Organize or facilitate attendance at special events with social interaction such as the Chapters annual banquet, Veterans Day parade, and contact with public officials. 3. Advocacy for the rights and care of patients with spinal cord dysfunction, for mobility, accessibility, and other rights covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Keystone, a chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America, produces monthly reports from its representatives who visit patients and clinics in five VA hospitals, which help shape the National PVAs relationship with the VA on behalf of paralyzed veterans. This input helps shape the Independent Budget (IB), an annual document produced by PVA, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled American Veterans. The IB is our recommendation for the VAs annual health care budget; the majority of the IBs authors are from PVA.

Research: Keystone PVA contributes funds to the Yale University Neuroscience & Regeneration Research Center to encourage their work, especially for spinal cord related pain research and mitigation. Keystone PVA also contibutes to the work of the Human Engineering Research Laboratories, a joint project of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the University of Pittsburgh, in funds, consultation, and participation in research projects. Contributions are also made to various other organizations throughout the year to encourage their efforts by supporting their research programs.