Organization: PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA
Mission: PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA - NEW ENGLAND CHAPTER, INC. (THE "CHAPTER") IS A CHAPTER OF PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA, A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION. THE CHAPTER, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION, PROVIDES BENEFITS TO PERSONS WHO HAVE SUFFERED INJURIES OR DISEASES OF THE SPINAL CORD BY MONITORING THE DELIVERY OF HEALTH CARE, PROMOTING MEDICAL RESEARCH, EDUCATING SOCIETY ON THE ATTITUDINAL, PHYSICAL, AND LEGAL BARRIERS THAT CONFRONT PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECREATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND CAMARADERIE FOR SPINAL CORD INJURED, DISEASED VETERANS AND OTHERS.
Activities: SPORTS AND RECREATION THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY, THE CHAPTER HAS STOOD BY THE BELIEF THAT ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN WHEELCHAIR SPORTS AND RECREATION PAYS TREMENDOUS DIVIDENDS IN TERMS OF PHYSICAL FITNESS, BUILDING SELF-ESTEEM, CHAIR MOBILITY AND COMPETITIVENESS. THE INFORMAL PEER MENTORING THAT OCCURS DURING THESE ACTIVITIES IS INVALUABLE TO RECENTLY INJURED INDIVIDUALS, AND AIDS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO RE-ENTER THEIR COMMUNITIES AFTER THE REHABILITATION PROCESS. THROUGH THE CHAPTER'S WHEELCHAIR SPORTS & RECREATION PROGRAM, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE THIS VALUABLE NEED TO OUR MEMBERS. BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, MANY OF THE PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED SPORTS AND RECREATION ACTIVITIES WERE CANCELLED OR POSTPONED IN THE HOPES OF ENSURING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR MEMBERS AND ALL OTHER PARTICIPANTS AND SPECTATORS.
HOSPITAL LIAISON THE HOSPITAL LIAISON PROGRAM REMAINS THE CENTERPIECE OF CHAPTER'S ACTIVITIES. VOLUNTEER CHAPTER HOSPITAL LIAISONS (CHL) INTERACT WITH NATIONAL SERVICE OFFICERS, PATIENTS AND STAFF WITHIN THE VA HEALTHCARE SYSTEM THROUGHOUT THE NEW ENGLAND REGION, WHICH INCLUDES THE BOSTON HEALTHCARE SYSTEM (VABHS), WEST HAVEN, CT SCI CLINIC, MANCHESTER NH VAMC PRIMARY CARE CLINIC, TOGUS, ME SCI CLINIC, NORTHAMPTON VA PRIMARY CARE CLINIC, WHITE RIVER JCT., VT SCI CLINIC AND PROVIDENCE MEDICAL CENTER PRIMARY CARE CLINIC. IT IS THROUGH THIS INTERACTION THAT CHLS ASSIST MEMBERS, PATIENTS, AND OFTEN, FAMILY MEMBERS WITH PROBLEMS OR ISSUES THAT ARISE DURING A STAY IN THE MEDICAL CENTERS. THE CHLS VISIT THE MEDICAL CENTERS AND CLINICS FREQUENTLY AND SPEAK WITH OUTPATIENTS, INPATIENTS, AND STAFF. THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN EXTREMELY ASSISTIVE IN KEEPING THE CHAPTER INFORMED OF THE HEALTHCARE RECEIVED AND OTHER PERTINENT ACTIVITIES GOING ON AT THE SCI CLINICS AND VAMC'S THROUGHOUT THE NEW ENGLAND REGION. SERVICE THE CHAPTER HAS AN EXTREMELY CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH ITS AREA SERVICE OFFICERS AND STAYS IN REGULAR COMMUNICATION WITH THEM REGARDING MEMBER AND FACILITY NEEDS. THIS PAST YEAR OUR AREA SERVICE OFFICERS TOTAL CONTACTS WERE 6,594 OF WHICH 82% WERE MEMBERS/ELIGIBLE. OUR SERVICES OFFICERS WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN ASSISTING THESE VETERANS RECEIVING 3,976,114 IN BENEFITS FOR MASSACHUSETTS & RHODE ISLAND AND 4,397,711 IN VERMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND MAINE.
COMMUNICATIONS THE CHAPTER'S CORDWORD NEWSLETTER IS PUBLISHED TWELVE TIMES A YEAR AS A VEHICLE TO PROVIDE RELEVANT AND CURRENT INFORMATION ABOUT CHAPTER PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES AND ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO OUR MEMBERS. ARTICLES AND INFORMATION APPEARING IN THE CORDWORD CONTAIN REPORTS FROM CHAPTER OFFICERS, PROGRAM DIRECTORS, VOLUNTEERS, LEGISLATIVE NEWS (NATIONAL AND LOCAL) AND OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST. THE CORDWORD IS DISTRIBUTED TO OUR MEMBERS, AFFILIATE MEMBERS, PATIENTS ON THE SCI UNITS AT THE BROCKTON AND WEST ROXBURY VAMC, AS WELL AS THE 3 SCI CLINICS AND 3 PRIMARY CARE CLINICS IN OUR SPOKE SYSTEM. DISTRIBUTION ALSO EXTENDS TO VOLUNTEERS, VAMC OFFICIALS, PVA NATIONAL OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS, ALL CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS REPRESENTING NEW ENGLAND, AND ALL CHAPTERS OF PVA FOR A TOTAL CIRCULATION OF APPROXIMATELY 12,000 COPIES ANNUALLY. THE CHAPTER PRIMARILY DISTRIBUTES THE CORD WORD VIA EMAIL TO ITS READERSHIP, BUT ALSO DISTRIBUTES IT IN PRINT TO EACH VAMC AND CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATOR, AS WELL AS, TO THOSE MEMBERS REQUESTING COPIES. CURRENT AND ARCHIVED ISSUES ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE IN THE OFFICE AND ON THE CHAPTER WEBSITE WWW.NEWENGLANDPVA.ORG. BASED ON OUR CURRENT ANALYTICS, WE KNOW THAT THE AVERAGE CORDWORD IS READ TWICE BY A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL AND 3 TIMES BY DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS. THE CHAPTER ALSO MAINTAINS A WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK PAGE, WHICH PROVIDE TIMELY AND UPDATED INFORMATION IN BETWEEN DISTRIBUTION OF THE NEWSLETTER. THE WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK PAGE ALSO PROVIDE A NUMBER OF MEMBER, VETERAN, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES IN ADDITION TO CAREGIVER SUPPORT.
Religious classification: None