On November 11th, we will pause to honor the men and women who have served in the US military in times of war and peace. According to the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics there are nearly 22 million veterans in the US, with more than 4 million receiving disability benefits through the Veterans Administration. Service-connected disabilities include traumatic brain injury (TBI), limb loss, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), spinal cord injury (SCI), and burn injuries. In addition, veterans are experiencing aging-related disabilities such as diabetes, stroke, and dementia.

If you are a veteran or someone caring for a veteran, we’ve gathered some resources from the NIDILRR community which you may find helpful:

• Assistive Technology Information and Resources for Veterans from AbleData
• Factsheets, guides, and videos from the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center on
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Burn injury
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Veterans with TBI and their caregivers are invited to participate in an MSKTC study to understand their health information needs.
• Webcast from the VCU Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Community Re-Integration of Veterans: Resilience, Well-being, and Employment
  • Plus Self-Employment Q&A: Disabled Veterans and Self-Employment
• ADA National Network Factsheets:
  • 10 Tips for Employers: Tapping into the Talents of Veterans with Disabilities
  • 10 Tips for Families: Supporting a Veteran with a Disability Returning to Work
  • You Have a Lot to Offer: 10 Points for Veterans to Consider When Returning to Work with a Disability
  • plus Employment Data for Vets with Disabilities and New Rules: Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.
• The Life Skills Manual is a four-part curriculum to teach people with mental health disabilities, including veterans, the life skills they need to transition from homelessness to stable housing: Food and Nutrition Management, Home and Self Care, Money Management, and Safe Community Participation. All four parts are available to order free of charge at http://naric.com/?q=en/content/order-life-skills-manual

Other resources you may find helpful:

• The Department of Veterans Affairs – your source for benefits, healthcare, educational support, employment, and much more.
• Directory of Veteran Service Organizations (PDF) – a directory of organizations, including non-profit organizations, offering services, programs, and supports to veterans. While this guide is published by the VA, these organizations are not endorsed by the Department.
• 211 – your local community-level information and referral service to find veteran support services in your area.
• Veterans History Project – the Library of Congress’ project to record and preserve the memories of American veterans.
• Military Voices – part of the Story Corp project, provides a platform to service members, caregivers, and families to share their stories to be preserved in an archive at the Library of Congress.

You may also be interested in research on veterans with disabilities available from our collection:

• NIDILRR-funded articles, books, reports, and videos on veterans with disabilities
• Research from both the NIDILRR community and other sources:
  • Veterans and SCI
  • Veterans and brain injury
  • Veterans and PTSD
  • Veterans with disabilities and employment
  • Veterans with disabilities and housing
  • Veterans and aging

These are just a few examples of ways to explore our REHABDATA database. If you are interested in any items available in our collection, or if we can assist you in searching our databases or other resources, please give us a call at 800/346-2742 or email us at naricinfo@heitechservices.com.

To all active and retired members of the US military: Thank you for your service, stay safe, and be well.