What We Do

There are men and women who are away from their families and friends, putting on a uniform and protecting the rights and freedoms we enjoy daily. Their choice to serve in the military comes with incredible sacrifice. Imagine being injured as a result of that sacrifice, coming home from a foreign land without the use of your legs, arms, or both. Or imagine surviving a tour of duty where bombings and gunfire are an everyday occurrence, only to suffer a life-changing injury in your hometown.

Every year, more than 18,000 people in the U.S. sustain a spinal cord injury, and this does not take into account the thousands more diagnosed with spinal cord diseases such as MS or ALS.

The Paralyzed Veterans of America, a congressionally chartered Veteran service organization founded in 1946, has developed a unique expertise on a wide variety of issues involving the special needs of our members - veterans of the Armed Forces who have experienced spinal cord injury, dysfunction, or diseases (MS, ALS).

Paralyzed Veterans use their expertise to be the leading advocate for:

• Quality healthcare for our members
• Research and education addressing spinal cord injury and dysfunction
• Benefits available as a result of our members' military service
• Civil rights and opportunities, which maximize the independence of our members

Membership is free and is open to those who have served in the military and have a spinal cord injury, dysfunction, or diseases such as MS or ALS.