Media Contact: Liz Deakin LizD@pva.org, 202-416-7627 WASHINGTON, DC (March 28, 2019)—In April, during PVA Awareness Month, Paralyzed Veterans of America will celebrate the strength and perseverance of its members—veterans living with spinal cord injury and disorders (SCI/D), as well as MS or ALS — by sharing their inspirational stories. The organization will also highlight its efforts to ensure that veterans […]

MEDIA CONTACTS: DAV: Ashleigh Byrnes, 202-314-5214, abyrnes@davmail.org  PVA: Liz Deakin, 202-416-7627, lizd@pva.org VFW: Joe Davis, 202-608-8357, jdavis@vfw.org WASHINGTON, DC — In response to the Administration’s budget request for Fiscal Year 2020 for the Department of Veterans Affairs, DAV, Paralyzed Veterans of America and Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. — authors of The Independent Budget — today issued the following statement: “The FY 2020 […]

Media Contact: Liz Deakin LizD@pva.org, 202-416-7627 WASHINGTON (March 14, 2019) — Paralyzed Veterans of America applauds the release of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s February 2019 Air Travel Consumer Report, which for the first time, includes the number of wheelchairs and scooters enplaned and mishandled by airlines. This new information has been long-sought by disability rights organizations, led by […]

Media Contact: Liz Deakin LizD@pva.org, 202-416-7627 WASHINGTON (March 7, 2019) — The leadership of Paralyzed Veterans of America met with lawmakers this week to ensure veterans’ health care, benefits, and civil rights are prioritized during the 116th Congress. Before a joint hearing of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans’ Affairs today, Paralyzed Veterans of America National President David Zurfluh emphasized the need […]

WASHINGTON, DC (March 7, 2019) Chairman Isakson, Chairman Takano, and members of the Committees. I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you this afternoon on behalf of the tens of thousands of veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders who depend on the VA’s Spinal Cord Injury System of Care. The past two days, advocates […]

Media Contact: Liz Deakin LizD@pva.org, 202-416-7627 WASHINGTON, DC (February 14, 2019) — In advance of the Administration’s budget request for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 and advance appropriations for FY 2021, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) and Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. (VFW) — authors of The Independent Budget (IB) — […]

Media Contact: Liz Deakin LizD@pva.org, 202-416-7627 WASHINGTON, DC (February 14, 2019) — In advance of the Administration’s budget request for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 and advance appropriations for FY 2021, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) and Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. (VFW) — authors of The Independent Budget (IB) — […]

Media Contact: Liz Deakin LizD@pva.org, 202-416-7627 WASHINGTON (Feb. 6, 2019) — Paralyzed Veterans of America received over $1 million through Penske Automotive Group’s 2018 “Service Matters” campaign. Since the beginning of this partnership in 2015, Penske Automotive Group has raised more than $4 million to support PVA. Throughout 2018, Penske Automotive Group’s dealerships encouraged customers to donate toward its “Service Matters” campaign. To […]

Media Contact: Liz Deakin LizD@pva.org, 202-416-7627 WASHINGTON, DC (Jan. 30, 2019) — Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced its proposed access standards required by the “VA MISSION Act.” The law sought to reform VA’s community care programs, including replacing the existing Choice program that sets the benchmark for access to care in the […]

Media Contact: Liz Deakin LizD@pva.org, 202-416-7627 WASHINGTON, DC (Jan. 30, 2019) — Yesterday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit handed down a significant win for tens of thousands of Vietnam War-era “blue water” Navy veterans and their survivors. Paralyzed Veterans of America filed a “friend of the court” brief  in a lawsuit […]

Media Contact: Liz Deakin LizD@pva.org, 202-416-7627 WASHINGTON, DC (December 4, 2018) — Paralyzed Veterans of America issued the following statement today in response to the passing of former United States President George H.W. Bush. He led an honorable and distinguished life, from serving in World War II as one of the youngest naval aviators, to becoming the director of […]

Airlines Required to be in Compliance for Flights Beginning December 4, 2018 Contact: Charisma Troiano, ctroiano@democracyforward.org, (202) 701-1781 Liz Deakin, lizd@pva.org, 202-416-7627 Washington, D.C. — Following a lawsuit brought by Democracy Forward on behalf of Paralyzed Veterans of America, and subsequent Congressional action in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has now reversed course and agreed […]

Media Contact: Liz Deakin LizD@pva.org, 202-416-7627 Washington, DC (November 29, 2018) — Today, Democracy Forward, on behalf of Paralyzed Veterans of America, petitioned a federal court to require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to comply with a Congressional requirement to issue rules about restroom accessibility on airplanes for public comment. The mandamus petition follows reports that many new airplane restrooms are just 24 […]

Media Contact: Liz Deakin LizD@pva.org, 202-416-7627 WASHINGTON (November 20, 2018) — With some of the year’s busiest travel days coming up, and new government research finding that one out of seven Americans has a mobility disability, Paralyzed Veterans of America is trying to help things go smoothly. The organization encourages air travelers with disabilities to plan ahead to avoid injuries, […]

GOVERNMENT TRAVEL ASSISTANCE There are two government agencies who are prepared to assist travelers with disabilities — The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Transportation Security Administration. Both have resources available online to help. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (DOT) The DOT Aviation Consumer Protection Division (ACPD) reviews and responds to consumer complaints and helps all […]