Washington – Nearly 400 disabled Veterans are hitting the slopes this week at the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village, Colorado. The Clinic, sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and DAV (Disabled American Veterans), is the largest adaptive event of its kind in the world and will take place April 3 – 8.
“This Clinic is an excellent example of how VA uses a holistic healthcare model to provide every Veteran with physical and mental treatment options that work for them,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald. “Through sports and other forms of recreation therapy, we can greatly improve the quality of life for many of our nation’s heroes.”
The Clinic teaches Veterans with disabilities about adaptive Alpine and Nordic skiing. It also introduces them to a number of other adaptive recreational activities and sports. Now in its 30th year, the clinic is an annual rehabilitation program open to U.S. military Veterans with traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, orthopedic amputations, visual impairments, certain neurological problems, and other disabilities who receive care at a VA medical facility or military treatment center.
“This event changes lives for some of our most profoundly injured military Veterans,” said DAV National Commander Moses A. McIntosh. “It’s inspiring to see how it changes their lives. We’re proud to partner with the VA and a wide range of private, non-profit and corporate donors to make these ‘miracles on a mountainside’ possible.”
During the 6-day event, Veterans also learn rock climbing, scuba diving, snowmobiling, curling, sled hockey and self-defense. For more information, visit www.wintersportsclinic.org.
To find out more about VA sponsored adaptive sports in your community, visit: http://www.va.gov/adaptivesports/ or the national calendar of events at: http://go.activecalendar.com/adaptivesports.
Contacts:
Jordan Schupbach, VA Public Affairs, at (202) 664-3733 or jordan.schupbach@va.gov
Steven Wilson, DAV Communications, at (859) 240-1956 or swilson@dav.org
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Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov
Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.
Veterans can also use our chatbot to get information about VA benefits and services. The chatbot won’t connect you with a person, but it can show you where to go on VA.gov to find answers to some common questions.
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