“Veterans, their families and their survivors are entitled to benefits that keep pace with the cost of living,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “VA is also using the latest technology to provide Veterans and their families with access to current information about their benefits.”

The new compensation rates will range from $127 monthly for a disability rated at 10 percent to $2,769 monthly for 100 percent. The cost of living adjustments (COLAs) also apply to disability and death pension recipients, survivors receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, disabled Veterans receiving automobile and clothing allowances, and other benefits. The full rates are available on the Internet at www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/#BM01.

Under federal law, COLAs for VA’s compensation and pension rates are the same percentage as for Social Security benefits. The last COLA for VA benefits was in 2008 when the last Social Security increase occurred.

“Veterans receiving VA disability and pension payments can now check their new 2012 COLA increase online,” said Under Secretary for Benefits Allison A. Hickey. “I encourage all Veterans, their dependents and survivors to sign up for eBenefits, VA’s popular website that recently crossed the one million mark in registrations.”

In close collaboration, the Department of Defense (DoD) and VA jointly developed the eBenefits portal as a single secure point of access for online benefit information and tools to perform multiple self-service functions, such as checking monthly benefit rates, filing a claim, or checking its status.

Veterans may enroll in eBenefits and obtain a Premium account by verifying their identity in-person at the nearest regional office or online depending on their status, or calling VA’s toll free number at 1-800-827-1000.

Servicemembers may also enroll in eBenefits using their Common Access Card at any time during their military service, or before they leave during their Transition Assistance Program briefings.

VA is enhancing its online eBenefits services with newer features such as online selection of Veterans organizations or other advocates to represent applicants for benefits where representation is desired.
Another new feature automates messages sent to Veterans and Servicemembers to notify them of benefits that they may be eligible to receive based on recent life events, such as military separation or marriage.

The site also continues to consolidate access to other VA and DoD systems through the portal, recently incorporating a gateway to vocational rehabilitation benefits under VA’s VetSuccess program.
Web access to information and benefits management tools for Servicemembers, Veterans and their families is part of VA and DoD’s lifetime engagement strategy from an individual’s entry into the military through the twilight years in civilian life as a Veteran.

VA provides non-taxable compensation and pension benefits to over four million Veterans, family members, and survivors. Disability compensation is a non-taxable monetary benefit paid to Veterans who are disabled as a result of an injury or illness that was incurred or aggravated during active military service.

For more information about VA benefits or new payment rates, visit www.vba.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000. You can also contact VetsFirst at http://helpdesk.vetsfirst.org/.

The NVGAG is a prime example of the preventative and therapeutic value of sports, fitness and recreation. Being fit and staying active are huge priorities of the VA’s National Rehabilitation Special Events section. Older individuals that are physically active on a regular basis are clinically proven to be healthier, recover from injuries faster, and have a higher overall quality of life.

The events themselves include a huge variety of sports and recreational activities, including: swimming, cycling, golf, shot-put, discus, 10-meter air rifle, table tennis, dominoes, shuffleboard, horseshoes, nine-ball, bowling, checkers and croquet.

Furthermore, with each event, the participants will be separated by age brackets, with a total of seven age categories for each event. (55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84 and 85 and up).

Veterans with visual impairments and those who use wheelchairs for mobility can compete in the additional Visually Impaired or Wheelchair divisions, respectively, but these divisions are limited to only bowling, horseshoes, shuffleboard, and golf.

Some events are also separated by gender, and these include: cycling, bowling, horseshoes, shot put, discus, javelin and swimming. Please note that all athletes must enter at least two but no more than four events, excluding exhibition events.

NVGAG is hailed as one of the most progressive and adaptive rehabilitative sports programs in the world, but there is a lot that you need to know before becoming an athlete, non-athlete or volunteer.

To begin, the NVGAG will be held May 31st through June 5th, 2012, in St. Louis, Missouri. This wonderful city is famous for its music and performing arts, as well as some fantastic architecture, such as the Gateway Arch.

Due to the fast approaching date for this event, the registration deadline has been set for February 29, 2012. This is important to note, because everyone, including athletes, coaches, support staff, and volunteers, must complete a separate registration form.

The forms themselves can be found online at the following website:
http://www.va.gov/opa/speceven/gag/docs/registration.asp

Please make sure that you complete all of the required forms for your specific class of participant, as any missing documents will cause a delay in registration and possibly prevent enrollment.

If you are unable to access the internet, you may also visit your Veterans Affairs medical facility’s Voluntary or Recreation Service for more information and to download a copy of the 2012 registration package. The completed forms can be faxed to (314) 894-6114, or be mailed to the address below:

Administration Subcommittee
2012 National Veterans Golden Age Games
St. Louis VAMC
1 Jefferson Barracks Dr 128/JB
St. Louis, MO. 63125

At this time, the hotel to be used has not been released to the public, but instead will be forwarded to athletes after acceptance of registration. Despite this, the pricing has been made public, and has been locked in at $104.00/night plus taxes $18.45 per night and round trip portage fees of $8, for a multi-day total of $865.15 per person.

Disabled veterans will be happy to note that the selected hotel is ADA-compliant in all rooms. Though the cost may seem high, please keep in mind that all meals will be furnished at no cost to all athletes of the 2012 NVGAG, starting with breakfast on May 31st, 2012 and ending with dinner on June 5th, 2012.

If you’re planning on flying to the NVGAG, the closest airport is the St. Louis Lambert Airport, approximately 20 minutes from the hotel which the VA has partnered with for this specific event.

If you’re a wheelchair user, make sure to contact the airline you’ll be using, and inform them of your needs. To ensure that your wheelchair or scooter is properly handled, please provide the airline with written, equipment handling instructions.

The organizers for the Games will be at the St. Louis Lambert Airport on May 30, 2012, to greet all participants and provide transportation free-of-cost to the aforementioned hotel. Transportation will also be provided to the airport for departures on Wednesday, June 6, 2012.

There are two more key points that you should be aware of, and these are the traditional NVGAG “Wall of Heroes” and the local St. Louis climate, with instructions on what you should bring to the event. Each year, the NVGAG asks that veterans include with their registration packet two photos of themselves; one photo should be of them at some point in their military past, preferably in uniform, and the other should be a current photograph of the veteran. Once registration for the event has closed out, event organizers will begin to create the aptly named “Wall of Heroes” by putting up each set of pictures with the participating veteran’s name.

As for the climate, the weather in May and June for this part of Missouri is normally warm and sunny, with the occasional late-spring shower. Be advised that it can also get rather humid in St. Louis, if that is an issue for you.

Temperatures will range from mid to high 80s and can drop to the high 60s or low 70s at night, so dress accordingly. (The hotel is fully air-conditioned, though, with each room having individual temperature controls).

If you are an athlete, you should bring the following items: clothes for layers, tennis shoes, hat, sunscreen, insect repellant swimsuit, umbrella, sunglasses, medication, personal identification and personal equipment (i.e., golf clubs, bowling ball).

So, if you happen to have some free time in the end of May and beginning of June, and finances to cover travel and lodging costs, check out the National Veterans Golden Age Games, and see if it’s something that you’d be interested in.

Should you have any further questions, you can contact a Games representative at nationalveteransgoldenagegames2012@va.gov or 1-888-374-3046.

Best of luck to all those that sign up as an athlete, and thank you to the wonderful people that sign up as volunteers!

Stephen Fricano
National Service Officer

In 2011, our National Service Officers provided advice and support to the brave men and women who have served our country proudly. And in return, we have been proud to serve them, along with their families.

We filed 347 new claims at the various VA Regional Offices and VA Medical Centers and had 206 claims approved–obtaining awards in excess of $2,185,831 for those we serve.

VetsFirst continued to assist large numbers of vets quickly and efficiently, answering around 1,500 benefits-related inquiries while still maintaining a personal approach–thanks to our innovative online support and resource center Ask VetsFirst.

Our mission was also supported through a multi-faceted media campaign that brought national visibility to our advocacy efforts and valuable resources and services.

VetsFirst shared its message through print, web, social media, and a variety of media outlets across the country to keep our community in the loop on what we are doing and how we can help.

VetsFirst also testified before the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the EEOC regarding the need for increased access to employment and vocational rehabilitation opportunities for disabled veterans.

We elevated employment for disabled veterans through United Spinal Association’s 2011 Disability Leadership and Policy Summit held at Temple University in April.

VetsFirst promoted access to service dogs for disabled veterans and access for service dogs to VA facilities through legislation and regulatory comments.

We increased awareness of the importance of Social Security benefits for disabled veterans and successfully advocated against changing the formula for determining the cost of living adjustment.

Lastly, we raised awareness about the need to increase VA caregiver assistance for veterans of all eras and met with key players in DC to ensure veterans’ issues are kept high on the agenda.

For 2012, VetsFirst will focus its advocacy efforts to promote key policies that will foster community integration and independence; ensure access to quality VA health care and benefits; and promote the rights of veterans in the US around the world.

Tom Scott
Staff Writer
VetsFirst

A new video produced by VA’s Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service discusses how service dogs might be a good option for some veterans living with disabilities.

VA also provides a Q&A on Guide and Service Dogs that explains eligibility and other info.

For anyone interested in this benefit, it may be a solid starting point in your journey to acquiring your very own service dog.

VetsFirst has actively advocated for greater availability of service dogs for veterans who need them. For many, these animals are critical to greater quality of life and independence. They are beneficial to veterans living with a variety of disabilities, including hearing loss, traumatic brain injury, seizures, and mobility issues.

For most of your average airline customers, the heightened security and screening procedures are no picnic. And if you’re traveling with medical and mobility equipment the entire process can be extraordinarily draining. It’s enough to keep some from opting out of a dream vacation for a staycation at home. What fun is that?

The good news––at least we hope––is that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently created a toll-free helpline called TSA Cares to assist travelers with disabilities with questions about screening policies, procedures, and what to expect at the dreaded security checkpoint.

For instance, “Hi TSA rep, I have multiple sclerosis and I’m traveling with 20 needles to inject my medicine, is this going to be a problem?” You get the idea.

You can call the TSA Cares helpline number at 1-855-787-2227, Monday through Friday 9 am – 9 pm EST, excluding federal holidays.

According to the TSA, the helpline will serve as an additional, dedicated resource specifically for passengers with disabilities, medical conditions or other circumstances or their loved ones who want to prepare for the screening process prior to flying. When a passenger with a disability or medical condition calls TSA Cares, a representative will provide assistance, either with information about screening that is relevant to the passenger’s specific disability or medical condition, or the passenger may be referred to disability experts at TSA.

TSA recommends that passengers call approximately 72 hours ahead of travel so that TSA Cares has the opportunity to coordinate checkpoint support with a TSA Customer Service Manager located at the airport when necessary.

Will the TSA Cares program make a difference for many travelers with disabilities? That has yet to be determined. If the customer service manager remains open and impartial and the TSA screening agent is properly trained and sensitive to the person’s disability, this new helpline could help ease the burden many encounter when heading to the airport.

VetsFirst is interested in just how much the TSA cares. If any of you have called the new helpline with questions, we’d enjoy hearing about your experiences, good and bad. Please leave us a comment below.

Tom Scott
VetsFirst Staff Writer

Late in the day on Tuesday, December 20th, I received a phone call from my friend and work colleague of more than 31 years, United Spinal Association Senior Vice-President Jim Weisman. He was close to home on his return trip from Albany where he helped to negotiate a wheelchair-accessible taxi bill for New York City. While it still has to be ratified by the State Legislature next month, Jim told me over the telephone that New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo was the key person in the negotiation process.

Great work, Jim. And thanks, Governor Cuomo, for understanding that moving around Manhattan in a yellow cab is something that should be available to ALL citizens and visitors.

The agreement is fairly complex so I’m going to break it down to numbers that I can easily understand. Probably sometime in 2012 or early 2013, there could be up to 2,000 new yellow taxi medallions sold at public auction. All would have to be used only on wheelchair-accessible yellow taxis. Eventually, over a reasonable period of years, the entire yellow taxi fleet here will become accessible to all people with disabilities.

New York City has five “boroughs” (known elsewhere as counties). Our yellow taxis operate mainly in the borough of Manhattan south of 96th Street, and to and from Kennedy and LaGuardia airports. The taxis that operate in the northern part of Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island are known as livery vehicles.

So, the aforementioned agreement also establishes a new type of livery vehicle called a “street-hail livery.” These vehicles, expected to number 18,000 over a period of time, will require a special operating permit that will allow them to both pick up street hails and accept requests for service via radio dispatch. A total of 20 percent of these vehicles, or 3,600 such vehicles, will need to be wheelchair-accessible street-hail liveries.

Later in the evening of December 20th, I searched the Governor’s website and I found a release used for the earlier press conference, with a link to a video of it. Jim Weisman was the first speaker, and his was the shortest and best speech. He thanked the Governor for his hands-on involvement; said that this was a good agreement for the world-class city that is New York City; and, concluded by mentioning that it will benefit disabled people, veterans and the aging population.

I might be putting words in my friend’s mouth, but I don’t think so. It doesn’t matter who you are now. If you are a person with a disability today, veteran or non-veteran, the advantage of an accessible taxi and livery system in New York City is obvious. And if you are not a veteran or you don’t have a disability, and you live here or you don’t live here, if you live to be an aging person, you may one day need on-demand access to taxi and livery service, too. It is the beginning of the aging of America.

One of the two other events that happened last week is that I changed age, so now I’m part of all three populations noted above.

Last but not the least, on Friday, December 23rd, the judge in a U.S. District Court case in Manhattan, in which United Spinal Association is one of many plaintiffs, granted our motion for summary judgment against the Taxi & Limousine Commission under one section of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, noting in part that persons who must use wheelchairs or scooters “are not provided meaningful access to the benefits of New York City taxicab service.” To me, this decision adds great credibility to the new State bill agreement.

Paying it forward? I want everybody in this country with a disability, or who works for or volunteers with an organization of persons with disabilities or veterans or aging Americans, to know about the agreement detailed above. If it happened here, it can happen anywhere. Pay it forward with me.

Terry Moakley
Chair of the VetsFirst Committee

Further Reading: Judge Rules NYC Taxis Violate Americans with Disabilities Act

VetsFirst and its parent organization, United Spinal Association, enjoy a long history of accessible housing advocacy. My first job here back in 1972 involved helping disabled vets transition from physical rehabilitation at VA hospitals to community living. The main lesson that I learned from that experience was that disabled veterans need permanent accessible housing.

A few years later, in 1977, I was one of many disability advocates to work on a New York City local law that improved accessibility in new construction and substantial renovation, including multi-family housing. A few years later, I was a member of a similar group that developed better building and housing design standards for the state of New York.

Later on, in 1988, I was fortunate to be appointed to the New York State Building Code Council. During my 14 years there, I was one of many Council members who helped to bring New York’s building code into alignment with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as the federal Fair Housing Amendments Act.

The FHAA, which became effective in 1989, amends the Civil Rights Act of 1968 to prohibit discrimination based on disability in housing sales, rentals or financing. This law was passed to increase housing opportunities for persons with disabilities.

It applies to all types of housing whether it is financed by private or public funds, and it prohibits such discriminatory actions as refusing to sell or rent based solely on an individual’s disability, or refusing to allow a tenant with a disability to make modifications at the tenant’s expense.

Moreover, the FHAA allows for two types of “reasonable accommodations:” structural modifications and policy changes. Structural modifications must be reasonable but paid for by the individual with a disability. A good example of a policy change would be reserving a parking space for a tenant with a mobility impairment which is nearby this tenant’s apartment, in a parking lot that is otherwise utilized on a first-come, first-served basis.

Also, since March of 1991, the FHAA requires that any newly constructed multi-family dwellings with four or more units must provide basic accessibility for persons with disabilities. Multi-story townhouses are exempt from these requirements. Examples of required accessibility elements are at least one accessible building on an accessible route, and accessible public and common use spaces.

The Fair Housing Amendments Act is much more than what you read in this piece. Disabled veteran, you can learn about it in the publications section of UnitedSpinal.org. There, you can download a PDF of our FHAA publication in English or Spanish. You will learn much more about exercising your housing rights if you believe that you are a victim of discrimination.

VetsFirst will be promoting the need for accessible housing in Washington, D.C., too. The fight for accessible housing continues, including the need to increase opportunities for veterans who need help making their existing homes accessible. As long as there are veterans who need accessible housing, we will be here.

Recently, Congress passed the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, which was then signed into law by the President of the United States. One of the most beneficial parts of this Act for the unemployed veterans is the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP). This is a joint program between the Department of Labor and the Department of Veteran Affairs who plan to have it ready for implementation by July 1, 2012. The main goal of VRAP is a noble one; to provide retraining for veterans hardest hit by current economic conditions.

In order to qualify for this program, a veteran must meet the following criteria:

• Be between the ages of 35 and 60
• Be unemployed, with special consideration given to Veterans who have been unemployed for more than 26 weeks
• Have an other than dishonorable discharge
• Not be eligible for any other VA education benefit program, such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Assistance
• Not be in receipt of compensation due to unemployability
• Not be enrolled in a federal or state job training program

Participants must be enrolled in a VA approved program of education offered by a community college or technical school. The program must lead to an Associate Degree, Non-College Degree, or a Certification, and train the Veteran for a high demand occupation.

There are some other important items worth mentioning:

Those interested in Applications for the VRAP will be through the Department of the Labor, and the financial distribution will occur through the Department of Veterans Affairs, as opposed to being handled by the VA alone.

The program offers 12 months of training assistance to unemployed veterans, but is limited to 45,000 participants during fiscal year 2012, and then to 54,000 participants from October 1, 2012, through March 31, 2014. T

he best part about the VRAP is that participants may receive up to 12 months of retraining assistance at the full-time payment rate under the Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty program. The total for this monthly rate is currently $1,473 per month, though COLA adjustments may show change this amount.

If you’d like to find the most current information about the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program, the best location is the VA GI Bill website.

Stephen Fricano
National Service Officer

Further Reading: Employment Helps Disabled Veterans Regain Their Independence

Some injuries and disorders are more severe in nature and result in several additional debilitating residual conditions that can have additional adverse affects on an individual’s socioeconomic state. To better assist with meeting the specialized needs of these individuals, additional benefits are available under Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) ratings provided under Title 38 of U.S.C. 1114. These ratings are in addition to the numerical ratings established under the standard rating schedule and are identified by letters such as SMC (k), SMC (l), SMC (m), SMC (n), SMC (o), SMC(p), SMC (r), SMC (s) and the recently added SMC (t). These rates are simply named after the subsections of the Code of Federal Regulations that outline the required eligibility requirements for each level of SMC. SMC provides additional monetary compensation awards and where applicable can establish entitlement to additional ancillary benefits such as the VA’s Specially Adapted Housing Grant and the Automobile and Adaptive Equipment Grants.

The basic elements of Special Monthly Compensation Ratings include anatomical (or physical) loss or the loss of use of limbs, hands, feet and/or reproductive organs; aphonia; deafness; blindness; loss of bowel and bladder control; being permanently housebound; and a need for regular aid and attendance with activities of daily living or a higher level of care–all of which must be a result of the veteran’s service-connected disabilities. Each level of SMC ratings are successive and are preceded by an entitlement to certain conditions included under SMC level (k).

A rating of SMC(k) would include:
• the anatomical loss or loss of use of:
o one hand.
o one foot.
o both buttocks (where the applicable bilateral muscle group prevents the individual from maintaining unaided upright posture, rising and stooping actions).
o one or more creative organs used for reproduction (absence of testicles, ovaries or other creative organ, ¼ loss of tissue of a single breast or both breasts in combination) due to trauma while in service, or as a residual of a service-connected disability(ies). *(these do not serve as eligible prerequisite conditions for the higher levels of SMC)*
o One eye (loss of use to include specific levels of blindness).
• complete organic aphonia (constant loss of voice due to disease)
• Deafness of both ears to include absence of air and bone conduction.

A rating of SMC(l) would include:
• The anatomical loss or loss of use of:
o Both feet,
o One hand and one foot
• Blindness in both eyes with visual acuity of 5/200 or less.
• Permanently bedridden.
• Regular need for aid and attendance to assist with activities of daily living such as dressing oneself, tending to personal hygiene, care and adjustment of assistive appliances or prosthetics, feeding oneself, and the like. (specific criteria is established in 38 CFR § 3.352(a) ) (*if such services are not being provided at the expense of the U.S. Government due to hospitalization).

Ratings above the SMC(l) level to include SMC (m), SMC (n), SMC (o), SMC (p), SMC(r) and SMC (s) are specialized multifaceted levels which are based on various specific combinations of anatomical loss or loss of use of designated extremities and/or senses, together with seriously disabling conditions and particular degrees of aid and attendance requirements, housebound or bedridden statuses deemed medically necessary, and explicit service-connection ratings. These levels also outline various requirements to include full and half step upgraded SMC level ratings. The conditions providing the basis of these levels are as follows.

A rating of SMC(m) would include:
• The anatomical loss or loss of use of:
o Both hands,
o Both legs at the region of the knee
o One arm at the region of the elbow with one leg at the region of the knee
• Blindness in both eyes having only light perception.
• Blindness in both eyes resulting in the need for regular aid and attendance.

A rating of SMC(n) would include:
• The anatomical loss or loss of use of both arms at the region of the elbow.
• The anatomical loss of both legs so near the hip that it prevents the use of a prosthetic appliance.
• The anatomical loss of one arm so near the shoulder that it prevents the use of a prosthetic appliance along with the anatomical loss of one leg so near the hip that it prevents the use of a prosthetic appliance.
• The anatomical loss of both eyes or blindness in both eyes to include loss of light perception.

A rating of SMC(o) would include:
• The anatomical loss of both arms so near the shoulder that it prevents the use of a prosthetic appliance.
• Bilateral deafness rated at least 60 percent disabling along with service-connected blindness with visual acuity of 20/200 or less of both eyes.
• Complete deafness in one ear or bilateral deafness rated at least 40 percent disabling along with service-connected blindness in both eyes to include loss of light perception.
• Paraplegia – paralysis of both lower extremities along with bowel and bladder incontinence.
• Helplessness due to a combination of anatomical loss or loss of use or two extremities with deafness and blindness or a combination of multiple injuries causing severe and total disability.

A rating of SMC(p) would include:
• The anatomical loss or loss of use of a leg at or below the knee along with the anatomical loss or loss of use of the other leg at a level above the knee.
• The anatomical loss or loss of use of a leg below the knee along with the anatomical loss or loss of use of an arm above the elbow.
• The anatomical loss or loss of use of one leg above the knee and the anatomical loss or loss of use of a hand.
• Blindness in both eyes meeting the requirements outlined in SMC (l), (m) or (n) levels.

Ratings under SMC(r) are assigned for seriously disabled veterans in need of advanced levels of aid and attendance. SMC(r) ratings require a minimal combination of entitlement to both SMC(o) and SMC(l). Additionally, Veterans in receipt of SMC rates based on Aid and Attendance are strongly advised to contact their service representative and/or VA Regional Office should they become hospitalized at the expense of the U.S. Government (i.e. a VA medical facility) as failure to do so could create an overpayment of monetary benefits.

Ratings under SMC(s) are also available if the veteran is permanently housebound. The VA defines “permanently housebound” as being substantially (as opposed to completely) confined to a dwelling as the result of service-connected disability and it is reasonably certain that that such disability will continue throughout the veteran’s lifetime. These kinds of determinations should be made by a physician, whose written opinions or reports in this respect would serve as the best evidence to submit in support of a claim for “s” SMC benefits.
Ratings under SMC(t) are available to veterans who need regular aid A&A for residuals of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), but is not eligible for a higher level of A&A under (R)(2), and would require hospitalization, nursing home care, or other residential institutional care in absence of regular in-home aid and attendance.

As Special Monthly Compensation ratings are very complex, this outline is simply to serve as an informational reference. It is important that you consult your service representative for assistance with determining eligibility and filing or maintaining claims for such ratings. please be sure to contact your VetsFirst Service Representative or submit your inquiry to our Ask VetsFirst online service at http://helpdesk.vetsfirst.org.

Melanie Cercone
Veterans Service Representative

On November 16, VetsFirst, on behalf of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities participated in a hearing before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regarding overcoming barriers to the employment of veterans with disabilities.

The most recent statistics available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that nearly 25 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans reported having a disability related to their service. Of those veterans, 114,000 reported having a disability rated at 60 percent or greater. The workforce participation rate was 63.7 percent compared to 86.2 percent for veterans without a service-connected disability.

The barriers to employment for veterans with disabilities differ somewhat from the barriers that prevent other people with disabilities from gaining employment. For instance, veterans with service-connected benefits retain Department of Veteran Affairs’ disability compensation and health care benefits regardless of their employment status. Many other people with disabilities must choose between access to these types of benefits and employment. Unfortunately, delays in processing claims for VA disability compensation and receiving appropriate health care ensure that veterans are not entirely insulated from resource barriers that may hinder their efforts to return to employment.

Other barriers that impact all people with disabilities, including veterans, in gaining and maintaining meaningful employment are beliefs about the abilities of and accommodations needed by people with disabilities.

For the broader disability community, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) serves as the primary statutory source of protection against discrimination due to disability in employment. Disabled veterans may be less familiar with the protections offered by the ADA than they are with veteran specific laws and programs. For many veterans, it takes an encounter with the broader disability rights movement to make them understand their connection to the disability community.

Outreach to disabled veterans is critical to ensuring that they are aware of the employment protections of the ADA . The protections available to veterans and people with disabilities generally should work together to remove any barriers to employment for disabled veterans. The ADA is an important tool, along with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), in protecting veterans from employment discrimination due to their service.

Less than a week after participating in the EEOC hearing, VetsFirst had the opportunity to attend the White House signing ceremony of the VOW to Hire Heroes Act. As part of this legislation, servicemembers will now be required to participate in the Transition Assistance Program, which is designed to ease the transition of servicemembers who are leaving active duty. VetsFirst believes that TAP should include information about the ADA and the right and protections of veterans with disabilities to help ease their transition to the workforce.

Barriers to employment for veterans with disabilities, including those with post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury, must be overcome if they are to benefit from employment opportunities.

Further Reading: VOW To Hire Heroes Act Signed by President Obama; VetsFirst Leads Fight to Ensure Employment Success for Veterans with Disabilities