In 1946 Robert Moss rolled his wheelchair down to Grand Central Terminal in New York City and led his fellow World War II veterans in a passionate protest. The comrades, who suffered spinal cord injuries in combat, had only one goal in mind: to reintegrate back into society and be afforded the rights and benefits they deserved. Sounds easy right? Not so much.
The lack of resources, accessibility and knowledge of disabilities left the men lacking proper healthcare, the ability to get an education, and unable to work. But their courageous actions and determined spirit to fight for what they deserved spawned a movement that would play a major role in the formation of United Spinal Association and improve the lives of future generations of Americans through the organization’s VetsFirst program.
Although United Spinal Association now represents all people living with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D), it started as a veterans’ advocacy group.
Pushing for greater independence, equal civil rights, and better treatment at VA hospitals, this group formed a chapter of the congressionally chartered Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) called Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association (EPVA) to vent their grievances and raise awareness on the needs and rights of those who were left paralyzed fighting for their country. These were the humble beginnings of United Spinal Association.
These veterans sought to re-enter the workforce or get an education through the new G.I. Bill. However, they were often not able to get physical access to those things. They organized an order to push for action to allow them entry to those opportunities that they had earned through their service.
All categories of Americans living with disabilities owe a debt of gratitude to these veterans, for if it was not for them calling attention to their difficulties in getting access, wheelchair accessibility would not be what it is today.
For 75 years, with the support of our growing community, United Spinal’s VetsFirst program has blossomed into a premier program of United Spinal Association helping paralyzed veterans and their families acquire the benefits they deserve.
Throughout its history, VetsFirst has provided veterans valuable programs and services that maximize independence, enable successful community living, and provide opportunities to become leaders, advocates, and innovators.
VetsFirst helps all generations of veterans advocating for such things like optimal healthcare, benefits, education and employment services, disability compensation, rehabilitation, and counseling services just to name a few. And the group’s voice goes far beyond assisting those with paralysis, advocating for wounded veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries as well.
VetsFirst has three core principles by which is stands: 1) Community Integration and Independence; 2)Timely Access to Quality VA Health Care and Benefits; and 3) Rights of Veterans with Disabilities.
Providing much more than just supportive words or encouragement, VetsFirst takes their advocacy straight to Capitol Hill to bring awareness and fight for solutions to the issues that affect injured veterans, achieving numerous major victories over the past seven decades.
During the leadership of the renowned James J. Peters, who served as United Spinal’s president for three decades between the 1970s and 1990s, the organization helped improve the quality of health care for veterans by winning denied benefits for individual veterans and securing money for VA programs and infrastructure.
Peters’ spent the majority of his career working tirelessly to expose the unfair treatment imposed upon veterans. In 1970, the organization made history when Peters’ persuaded Life Magazine to publish a cover story revealing the appalling conditions that spinal cord injured Vietnam veterans were enduring at the Bronx VA Medical Center. The article uncovered a harsh reality and brought the somewhat hidden issues facing veterans to the national stage. Triggering a public outcry and grabbing the attention of leaders in Washington D.C., the Bronx VA Medical Center was completely demolished and rebuilt from the ground up per Congressional order. Renamed in honor of Peters’ in 2005, the hospital now specializes in spinal cord injury care and recovery.
VetsFirst believes that in order to see improvements it is imperative to continually spread awareness and keep the public engaged on the unseen struggles of many veterans. If the public are not aware of the issues facing the veteran community, then they will not have reason to push their elected officials to act in ways that help veterans.
A recent successful tool to spread awareness and engage injured vets as well as the general public is the addition of the Ask VetsFirst online helpdesk. Available at vetsfirst.org, the helpdesk is a fully stocked online resource center with information on a wide variety of veteran’s issues and topics. Counselors are available to answer questions on every topic ranging from claim appeals to state benefits. A call center is also available to provide a friendly voice, answer questions, provide support and offer guidance.
What makes it so successful is that any category of veteran, caretakers, family members, lawyers representing a veteran, and even veterans’ service organizations, can email VetsFirst a question about benefits. Their team responds within 72 hours.
Although commonly acknowledged as a VA service organization, VetsFirst insists on being recognized as a direct representation of veterans and their families instead of a formalized government institution.
For more information, visit www.vetsfirst.org.