Enjoy Your Monthly Newsletter!
JULY 2025 | ISSUE #39 | PVA SUPPORTER EDITION
MEET LE'TOI, U.S. ARMY VETERAN
Le'Toi, a U.S. Army Veteran and PVA Wisconsin Chapter member, lost her mother when she was just 16 years old. With no father figure in her life and a desire to serve her country and travel, she joined the military as a truck driver after high school.
After completing her military service, Le'Toi began experiencing back pain that eventually paralyzed her from the waist down. Despite numerous medical visits, she remained undiagnosed until finally an MRI revealed a lesion wrapped around her spine. It was later determined that she had stage four non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The news was initially overwhelming for her, and she felt depleted and helpless. She was 27 years old and felt she had no more than a year left to live.
Le’Toi went to the VA Hospital in Long Beach, California where she met PVA members who were demonstrating adaptive sports. Once she got into a basketball chair, she knew that was what she wanted to do. She saw other people in a wheelchair like herself enjoying life and playing sports, and she knew she had something to look forward to.
Every year PVA connects more than 7,000 participants to adaptive sporting events and organizations. Thanks to donors like you, PVA opened a world of freedom for Le’Toi and thousands of paralyzed Veterans.
The 2025 national veterans wheelchair games begins july 17th!
The National Veterans Wheelchair Games is the world’s largest annual wheelchair sports and rehabilitation event solely for military Veterans.
The Department of Veterans Affairs launched the Wheelchair Games in 1981 with 7 events and 77 athletes. PVA joined the VA in 1985 to help expand the event’s mission and reach.
This year's Games will be held in Minneapolis, MN from July 17th - 22th.
Learn more about the National Veterans Wheelchair Games.
AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND AI SURVEY
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) invites you to fill out a survey about whether you’ve been using AI, what you use it for, what you think about AI, and any problems you have had with AI systems.
The goal of the survey is to learn how AI experiences differ between people with and without disabilities. The data will be used to inform AI companies and policymakers, so they can make AI as accessible as possible to everyone.
Anyone in the United States who is at least 18 years old can fill out the survey. You do not have to have a disability to take the survey. The survey should take about 30-45 minutes to complete. If you take the survey, you can enter a raffle to win one of 20 $50 gift cards.
Click here to complete this form to receive access to the survey.
PVA Architects educate and inform attendees at boston conference
In June, PVA architects attended an annual continuing education conference in Boston. Along with 15,000+ architecture and construction professionals from across the country, PVA architects built relationships, spread PVA’s mission, and educated attendees about PVA Architecture’s services.
Learn more about PVA's Architecture Department
You counted on their service
now they're counting on you
Protect access to life-changing care and services.
As a PVA donor, you provide the opportunity for Veterans to see challenges as something to overcome — and drive them to explore their competitive spirit.
You can help us continue to fund our important work with a donation of any amount today.
How else can you help? Find volunteer opportunities near you.
PVA IN THE NEWS
Paralyzed Veterans of America Announces Its FY2026 Executive Committee Election Results, PVA.org
U.S. Army Veteran and Cleveland native Robert Thomas will remain PVA's national president. Thomas was re-elected to serve a third term of the organization’s highest elected office by PVA’s Board of Directors during the organization’s 79th Annual Convention in Austin, TX.
The Milwaukee VA and the Wisconsin Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America hosted an adaptive sports bootcamp at the Milwaukee County Sports Complex.
Paralyzed Veterans of America Launches its Inaugural Outdoor Experience Event in the Grand Tetons, Improving Access to Outdoor Recreation for Disabled Veterans, PVA.org
Designed exclusively for PVA members—Veterans with spinal cord injuries and diseases, like MS and ALS—as well as their caregivers, the PVA Outdoor Experience program offers an immersive opportunity to engage in outdoor activities to promote physical and mental health, skill development, and connection.
PVA is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, non-profit organization.
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