Adaptive Sports Organizations to Serve Disabled Veterans Through VA Grant to Disabled Sports USA

Introduction

Five-hundred severely disabled veterans will benefit from rehabilitation programs in winter sports and recreation through a $500,000 grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs to Disabled Sports USA (DSUSA). Activities will be conducted as part of Disabled Sports USA's Warfighter Sports program.

Main Item

The Department Of Veterans Affairs Adaptive Sports Grant program provides funding to organizations to increase and expand the quantity and quality of adaptive sport activities for disabled Veterans and members of the Armed Forces in their home communities. The grant program also supports more advanced Paralympic and adaptive sport programs at the regional and national levels. More than 16,000 Veterans are supported through this program annually.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Robert A. McDonald said of the grants:

"Disabled veterans who participate in adaptive sports improve their health and quality of life, make new friendships, and discover that physical rehabilitation healing comes in many forms and can also be great fun."

Specifically, this VA grant to DSUSA will provide free adaptive sports opportunities to severely disabled veterans in alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, snowboarding, sled hockey, biathlon and wheelchair curling through 25 DSUSA chapters in the following 17 states around the country: California, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Last year alone, Warfighter Sports programs offered free adaptive sports to more than 1,500 disabled veterans in more than 30 different sports.

"This generous grant from the Department Of Veterans Affairs will make it possible for disabled veterans to reap the benefits of adaptive sports participation," said Kirk Bauer, Executive Director of Disabled Sports USA and a disabled Vietnam veteran. "Research has proven that disabled veterans who participate in adaptive sports and recreation programs are more likely to lead healthier, more productive and happier lives."

A Harris Interactive research study of more than 1,000 adults with disabilities showed that disabled veterans participating in Disabled Sports USA adaptive sports programs were significantly happier, healthier and more likely to be employed than those not participating in adaptive sports.

Founded in 1967 by disabled World War II and Vietnam veterans, today DSUSA serves over 60,000 people with disabilities through more than 100 chapters operating in 40 states. DSUSA's vision is to ensure that every person, regardless of ability, has an equal opportunity to participate in sports and recreation in their communities. The mission of DSUSA is to provide national leadership and opportunities for individuals with disabilities to develop independence, confidence, and fitness through participation in community sports, recreation and educational programs. Disabled Sports USA's motto reflects this mission: "If I Can Do This, I Can Do Anything!"

Attribution/Source(s):

This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World due to its significant relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Disabled Sports USA, and published on 2014/12/31 (Edit Update: 2023/09/14), the content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarifications, Disabled Sports USA can be contacted at 1-301-217-9837. NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.

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Cite This Page (APA): Disabled Sports USA. (2014, December 31 - Last revised: 2023, September 14). Adaptive Sports Organizations to Serve Disabled Veterans Through VA Grant to Disabled Sports USA. Disabled World. Retrieved December 10, 2024 from www.disabled-world.com/sports/news/warfighter.php

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