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.
Our Mission
The Paralyzed Veterans of America - Wisconsin Chapter (PVA-WI) aims to improve the quality of life for our American veterans and others with spinal cord injury, dysfunction, or disease through our programs:
- Quality Healthcare and Access to Benefits
- Adaptive Sports and Recreation
- Membership and Outreach
- Advocacy and Legislation
- Research and Education
PVA-WI strategically collaborates with the Zablocki VA Medical Hospital Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Center to identify and address gaps while developing a course of action to continue to support the SCI Center and its external clinics in delivering exceptional results.
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Our Objectives
- To advocate for and monitor the delivery of high-quality and appropriate healthcare 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 and physical and legal barriers that 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
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Our Committees
The Wisconsin PVA Chapter has several committees that assist the Board of Directors in making decisions for the chapter. Any person can be on a committee and offer ideas and assistance to the board members. The following is a list of ways you can support your Wisconsin Chapter. If you are interested, please contact the office.
Advocacy and Legislation
Architectural barriers, ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) issues, veterans' issues
Sports and Recreation
SCI (Spinal Cord Injury) sporting events, chapter and national events
Hospital Liaison
VAMC (Veterans Affairs Medical Center), volunteers, outpatient clinics
Membership
Members, outreach, membership events, elections
Communication
Newsletter, website, advertising, chapter literature
Finance
Audit, budgets, bookkeeping, scholarships, investments
Fundraising
Grant writing, raffles, events
Strategic Planning Committee
Short and long range
