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 that we enjoy every day. Their choice to serve the in the military comes with incredible sacrifice. Now imagine, as a result of that sacrifice being injured; coming home from a foreign land without the use of your legs or arms or both. Or surviving a tour of duty where bombings and gunfire is an everyday occurrence, only to suffer a life changing injury in your home town. Every year, more than 12,000 people in the US sustain a spinal cord injury, and this doesn’t take into account the thousands more diagnosed with a spinal cord disease, MS or ALS.
The Paralyzed Veterans of America (Paralyzed Veterans), 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 or dysfunction, (disease, MS, ALS). Paralyzed Veterans will use the expertise to be the leading advocate for:
- Quality health care 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 that have served in the military and have a spinal cord injury or disease, or dysfunction such as Multiple Sclerosis or ALS.
Our Mission
The Wisconsin Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America aims to improve the quality of life for our American veterans and others with spinal cord injury or disease through our programs: advocacy, research, sports and recreation, education and communication. We work closely with the Zablocki VA Medical Hospital Spinal Cord Injury Unit, to promote involvement in national and local activities that support PVA's mission.
Our Objective
- To advocate for and monitor the delivery of high quality and appropriate health care benefits and services.
- To assist in identifying and securing veterans' benefits and other benefits for spinal cord injured and diseased veterans and others.
- To promote medical research to cure spinal cord dysfunction.
- To educate society on the attitudes, physical and legal barriers which confront persons with disabilities and to influence the removal of those barriers.
- To provide opportunities for health promotion, recreation, employment, sports, services and camaraderie for spinal cord injured veterans and others.
Our Credentials
- 4-Star Charity Navigator and Guidestar Platinum Seal - Click Here
- BBB Accredited Nonprofit - Click Here
- Great Nonprofit Seal - Click Here
- Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions Certificate - Click Here
