Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1947-08-01
HOJU VA Helps The
Disabled Veterans

No amount of hoping and wishing
can repair the scars of war that are
carried by Americas disabled vet
Grams. The blinded, the deafened,
those suffering from speech impair
ment, neuropsychiatric disorders,
amputatiOns, bone, muscle, nerve
injuries, tuberculosis, and cardiac
ailments, have received maximum
medical benefit in Army, Navy, or
Veterans Administration hospitals.
Despite their disabilities they
must find gainful employment in a
job which they are capable of doing.
True, they have pensions, but these
young Americans are not satisfied
to spend their lives in idleness,
They strive toward the dream and
goal of every human being; con-
tentment and prosperity.
Must these disabled veterans find
the road back alone? The American
people didn't think so, and the Con-
gress passed Public Law 16, which
charges the Veterans Arministra-
tion with the rehabilitation and re-
turn to employability of this coun-
try's disabled veterans.
The story of how VA rehabili-
tates a disabled veteran is a fasci-
mating one, but it would be an I'M
finished tale were it not for the
magnificent cooperation of the
American employer. Forthere is no
point to training a disabled veteran
until he is capable of doing a good
days work unless he can find job
when he has completed his rehabili-
tatiOn training.
Let's see how this team of the
disabled veteran, VA, and the en-
ployer achieve the common goal.
The disabled veteran is contacted
by a VA representative as he leaves
the service hospital. All of the bene-
fits he is entitled to, and particu-
larly the advantage to him of voca-
tional rehabilitation, are thoroughly
explained. He is urged to take this
job training, because VA knows
that keeping busy is natures best
physician. If he definitely decides
that he does not want to start
training Immediately he is told that
he should apply for it later.
Let's follow the veteran along the
road back.
He indicates his desire to enter
training. First, he is interviewed by
a representative of VAS Advise
ment and Guidance Division. This
representative is a specialist, who
is thoroughly familiar with job OPP
portunities, requirements, and
working conditions in the general
field for which the veteran will be
best qualified in view of the type of
his disability.
The first step on the road to re-
Mobilization is a personal interview
by the VA specialist which results
in an individual survey of the dis
abled veteran, including personal
data, family status, education, pre-
sent interests, hobbies, work his
tory, and job possibilities.
Next the veteran is given series
of psychological tests to find his
interests, aptitudes, abilities, and
personality traits.
Then the specialist reviews the
results of these tests with the vet
eran, comparing the veterans abili-
ties with the physical and mental
requirements of various jobs, to de-
termine which type of job is the
most suitable for him and to him.
The VA representative explains to
the veteran that although he may
think he wants to work in a Ger
tain field, that by reason of his
background, or previous training,
or his disability, he might not be
suited for this work and would not
be successful or happy in it.
After the job objective has been
decided upon, the veteran is turned
over to a VA Training Officer who
places him in training and constant
ly supervises him to insure that the
ex-serviceman is making satisfac-
tory progress and to counsel him
on any problems that arise con-
corning his job.
After the veteran is thoroughly
trained in his job and has demon
strated his ability to do the work
without further training, he is
ready for full employment. Then is
the time when the employer can dc
his part by providing job oppor-
tunity for the veteran.
However, VAS role does not end
here. 1t is awlays ready to assist
the veteran whenever possible, and
in the case of the severely handi-