The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced the availability of up to $8 million in grant funding to provide adaptive sports opportunities for disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces; adaptive sports are those sports that have been created or modified for persons with disabilities.

“Adaptive sports can help Veterans confront challenges and redefine their capabilities, which is critical to successful rehabilitation,” said VA Acting Secretary Sloan Gibson.

The new program provides grants to eligible entities to plan, develop, manage, and implement appropriate adaptive sports activities geared to disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces. Funding may be used for such things as training, program development, equipment, recreation therapists, coaches, sports equipment, supplies, program evaluation and other activities related to program implementation and operation.

 Details of the new grant program may be found in a July 1 Federal Register notice under the grant program tab at www.va.gov/adaptivesports/. Information about the VA’s adaptive sports initiatives may be found at www.va.gov/adaptivesports. Applications for the adaptive sports grant program may be found at

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=258778.

The application deadline is Aug. 11, 2014.

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Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov

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