Paralyzed Veterans of America volunteers do invaluable work that makes a real difference to veterans, their communities and Paralyzed Veterans’ chapters. Volunteering can be a life-changing experience for both you and the paralyzed veterans you are benefitting. WHY IS IT SO REWARDING? Volunteers make their communities a better place to live You can work for an organization and […]

Paralyzed Veterans of America supports efforts to enforce and extend laws and regulations that advance accessibility in housing – both publicly funded and privately financed. Paralyzed Veterans was an early supporter of the Fair Housing Amendments Act (FHAA) and works closely with the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) to advance housing opportunities for Americans […]

#GivingTuesday is a day when we pause in our holiday traditions to recognize the importance of giving back. When you give a gift to Paralyzed Veterans of America, you’re supporting nearly 60,000 American veterans living with spinal cord injury or disease.  Donate today and become a part of something bigger than you’ve ever imagined – helping […]

July 11, 2016 Letter to Chairman Jeff Miller, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Support for HR 5620, the “VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act”Read the letter (PDF)  June 13, 2016 Letter to senators and representatives Support to preserve IVF funding in the final FY 2017 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Approprations ActRead the […]

Paralyzed Veterans of America’s Appellate Services program has maintained one of the highest rates of success among all veteran’s service organizations in representing veterans before VA’s Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA). Veterans may turn to the Appellate Services program for representation when their benefits or medical claims have been denied by local VA facilities for issues […]

Submit your travel story at www.AirAccess30.org Read Myths and Facts about the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). In 1986, Congress passed the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), which guaranteed that people with disabilities would receive consistent and nondiscriminatory treatment when traveling by air. The ACAA states simply: “No air carrier shall discriminate against any otherwise qualified handicapped […]

As the landmar Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA) celebrates its anniversary each July, it is an important time to reflect on the impact the law has had on improving accessibility and shaping attitudes and perceptions about people with disabilities – and how that progress might shape the future. “What’s interesting is that we have an ADA […]

Paralyzed Veterans of America National President Al Kovach has never lived a day post-injury without knowing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – the landmark law that celebrated its 25th anniversary on July 26, 2015. But that does not mean Kovach has not felt the impact of poor design and limited access, from restaurants to […]

As a result of the serious scrutiny that the VA health care system experienced last year, Congress approved on a bipartisan basis P.L. 113-146, the Veterans’ Access to Care Through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act (VACAA), to expand purchased care outside of the VA to address the problems that were identified.  We cannot overemphasize the fact that […]

In an effort to expand opportunities for disabled veterans to participate in water sports, Paralyzed Veterans of America offers two-day clinics to introduce members to adaptive sailing. The clinics begin with classroom instruction on common sailing language, rudimentary sailing techniques and safety. Once the basics have been covered, participants typically have an opportunity to sail […]

Sciatica refers to pain involving a problem with the sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in the human body that extends from the lower back through the hips and buttocks and down each leg. While in most cases no cause can be found for sciatic pain, it can be caused by a ruptured intervertebral disk, an […]

Sciatic nerve pain refers to pain associated with pressure of the nerve roots that lead to the sciatic nerve, which controls muscles in the back of the knee and lower leg and provides feeling to the legs and feet. The pain usually begins in the lower back and extends down the leg to the calf, […]

Arthritis of the spine is a degeneration of the cartilage of joints and discs in the neck and lower back. It often presents as stiffness and pain in the neck and back, but if severe enough to affect spinal nerves or the spinal cord, can result in weakness or numbness in the legs or arms as […]

There are many different types of spinal cord disease. Living with any one of them can make daily life very challenging at times.   Veterans who are living with a spinal cord disease can take advantage of ongoing support and helpful resources and benefits through Paralyzed Veterans of America membership. With knowledge and information, you […]

A spinal tumor is a mass or growth of cells within or near the spinal cord. The tumor – whether malignant (cancerous) or benign (noncancerous) – can affect nerves located nearby, resulting in pain, neurological problems and sometimes paralysis. Even benign tumors of the spinal cord can result in death or permanent disability. Symptoms of […]