Tag Archives: disabled

Warrior Games to provide competition and fun for wounded veterans

Posted on by Chris

This May will mark the first ever Warrior Games, a national multi-sport competition for Wounded Warriors. The Games will be held May 10-14 in Colorado Springs, CO. Two hundred men and women–both veterans and active duty service members, from all branches–will compete. Events are to include track and field, swimming, shooting and archery.

“What we have to do with our servicemembers is inspire them to reach for and achieve a rich and productive future, to defeat their illness or injury, whatever lies in the way, to maximize their abilities and know that they can have a rich and fulfilling life beyond what has happened to them in service to their nation,” Cheek said.

You can read the full article at Stars and Stripes here. The Kansas City Infozine also has a good article on John Register, the wounded veteran heading up the Games, here.

2-legged dog gives Faith to disabled veterans

Posted on by Chris

An unusual item today on the Warrior Gateway Blog: MSN reports on the story of Faith, a dog that only has two legs and walks on them upright. The dog has a genetic disorder which prevented its front legs from fully forming, so despite all odds, Faith learned to walk upright on its back legs.

And now Faith is providing inspiration to disabled veterans. Faith has been touring bases around the country, most recently meeting with 5,000 soldiers at McChord Air Force Base and Fort Lewis in Washington State.

“She just walks around barking and laughing and excited to see them all,” Jude Stringfellow said. “There is a lot of crying, pointing and surprise. From those who have lost friends or limbs, there can be silence. Some will shake my hand and thank me, some will pat her on the head. There is a lot of quiet, heartfelt, really deep emotion.”

Faith never fails to bring a smile to a soldier’s face, said Patrick Mcghee, general manager at Fort Lewis.

“To see the children interact with Faith is simply priceless,” he said.

To show you this amazing dog in action, here’s a quick clip from an appearance on Oprah:

Giving wounded warriors the tools they need to re-enter the workforce

Posted on by Chris

Undergoing a disabling injury while serving is a harrowing experience. And unfortunately, its effects can linger indefinitely, as joining or rejoining the civilian workforce as a disabled veteran can be wrought with major challenges. However, there are a number of great resources that work to ease the transition to civilian life for disabled and wounded veterans.

One such resource is the Computer Electronic Assistance Program (CAP) run by the Department of Defense. As its name implies, CAP utilizes assistive technology to help the disabled perform in the workplace. Technological tools provided by CAP include voice recognition, screen magnification software, assistive listening devices, Braille terminals, cueing aids, and applications that help with memory loss. These tools are generally provided while a veteran is being treated in a medical facility such as Walter Reed. To make a request for services from CAP, click here.

“I like to think that each and every time we fill a CAP request, we are making someone’s life a little easier, helping them to be more productive in their work environment and in their own personal lives,” Cohen said.

Read the full article from the Washington Post here. To learn more about CAP, click here.

Program helps disabled veterans golf

Posted on by Chris

A new program is connecting amputee veterans being treated in the Walter Reed Army Medical Center with the opportunity to golf again. A joint effort between Disabled Sports USA, the National Amputee Golf Association and the military, the program brings veterans to a nearby golf course and provides them with specially-designed golf carts for amputees.

The goal is to give veterans a break from endless stir-crazy days at Walter Reed, where it can be all too easy to sit in a room and play video games or succumb to self-pity and depression. Instead they are shown that sports are not off limits to amputees.

“Some are really motivated and want to go do everything in every sport,” said Kat Poster of Disabled Sports USA. “Others, it’s very hard to get them out of the hospital. But what we find is we get them on one event, whether it’s a day of golf or a week of skiing, they’re hooked. They want to do more. If they can do one thing, they can do anything.”

Similar programs at Walter Reed allow disabled veterans to participate in kayaking, scuba diving, rock climbing, and others.

A veteran enjoying a day on the greens

A veteran enjoying a day on the greens, courtesy of the Associated Press

Read the full article here.

Seeking balance as a disabled veteran

Posted on by Chris

This post comes from Veteran to Veteran, the blog of Jim Chambers, a disabled veteran of the Marines. His post is the first of a series on ‘seeking balance.’ In Jim’s words,

My series on achieving balance as a Disabled Veteran will continue on a daily basis for the next week in order to help other Veterans achieve as balanced a life as possible.

Jim’s personal reflections provide great insight into the experience of wounded and disabled veterans, particularly on the struggles and challenges of reintegrating into civilian life, and his blog is highly worth keeping up with.