Accessible Vehicle Options Grow
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PARAPLEGIA NEWS JULY 2020 Leading PVA 2020 virtual convention coverage Ensuring Access PVA’s role in the ADA Cruise Control Accessible vehicle options grow Disaster Relief Grant COVID-19 Request The Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Disaster Relief Grant Program is available to PVA mem- bers suffering financial hardship resulting from natural disasters. During the current novel corona- virus (COVID-19) pandemic, Paralyzed Veterans of America leadership has opened the Disaster Relief Grant Program to qualified applicants who are experiencing hardship directly related to the unex- pected impact of the COVID-19 virus. Possible financial hardship resulting from the impact of COVID-19 includes funds needed to purchase medical supplies normally provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs but that are now limited as a result of supply rationing or any additional costs directly resulting from changes in your health care protocol because of the impact of COVID-19. Qualified applicants must provide documen- tation illustrating the direct financial burden resulting from COVID-19 and complete the Disaster Relief Grant Application on pages 7–8 of this issue of PN. To assist requesters in the distribution of relief funds, members must comply with the following accountability procedures: 1. Funds will only be provided to PVA members. 2. A maximum of $1,500 per individual or family will be granted. Each application must be evaluated for need. Maximum disbursements will not be made in all cases. 3. Funds may be used for transportation, temporary shelter, food, modifications for accessibility, prosthetic appliances and medical supplies. The funds will not be provided if other assistance has been provided to pay for the items in the request (insurance, FEMA, etc.). Funds will also not be approved to clean up, fix or replace damages not related to the veteran’s primary dwelling. Applications can be received by the PVA chapter or the national service office. Once an applica- tion is received, it is to be reviewed by the chapter president or designee and the national service officer (NSO). All applications require the approval of the chapter president or designee and the NSO. After approval from the chapter and national service office, the application is to be faxed to the associate executive director of the Veterans Benefits Department for final approval. Include all estimates and receipts. Disbursements exceeding $1,000 must have verification that the assistance requested is valid (inspection by PVA, etc.). In cases where the NSO and chapter disagree regarding approval, or either is not available, the application will be faxed to the attention of the associate executive director of the Veterans Benefits Department for final decision. All original documentation will be forwarded to the associate executive director of Veterans Benefits for accounting and review purposes. Copies of applications are to be maintained in the PVA chapter offices. A copy of the Disaster Relief Fund Application can be found on pages 7–8 or PVA.org/COVID-19. contents JULY 2020 VOL. 74 NO. 7 ON THE COVER Jose Hernandez of Texas is pictured with his Chevrolet Silverado Z71 conversion by ATC. Photo courtesy of ATC 22 2418 28 17 FEATURES 22 What A Ride 28 Advocating Accessibility Brittany Martin Paralyzed Veterans of America Options are opening up for drivers who want Government Relations staff more than the traditional accessible van. The ADA celebrates 30 years this month, and from its beginning to today, PVA has played a key role in ensuring access for people with disabilities. DEPARTMENTS 6 Contributors 14 PVA Points 42 Classified Ads 6 Editor’s Desk 36 Newsbeat 42 Index of Advertisers 12 PVA Chapter Roster 39 Sports & Rec 13 You Said It … 40 PVA Service Office Roster Visit us online at pnonline.com If you like wheelchair sports and recreation, you’ll love our sister publication — SPORTS ’N SPOKES! Preview online at sportsnspokes.com “It’s outside, it’s healthy. It’s a forever learning hobby, and I feel like those are the ways to keep going.” — Virginia Rose 17 22 32 COLUMNS Now in its 74th year and the official publication of Paralyzed Veterans of America, PN is a national, monthly magazine that covers news, health, research, lifestyle and issues of interest and concern to veterans and others with spinal-cord injury and disease. Anyone interested in submitting an 9 PVA From the Top article to PN should consult the Contributors Guidelines found on our website at pnonline.com. David Zurfluh PN neither endorses nor guarantees any of the products or services advertised in the magazine. Readers should thoroughly investigate any product or service before making a purchase. 10 Reasons & Remarks PN STAFF Tom Fjerstad TOM FJERSTAD STEVE MAX Editor Advertising Representative 16 On The Hill Ext. 100 / [email protected] 215-284-8787 Lee Page [email protected] SHERRI SHEA Operations Manager ANN GARVEY Ext. 102 / [email protected] Art & Production Director 17 People Ext. 103 / [email protected] Brittany Martin ANDY NEMANN Assistant Editor KERRY RANDOLPH Ext. 112 / [email protected] Production and Graphics/Web Assistant 20 Research Update Ext. 104 / [email protected] JOHN GROTH Aston University Editorial Coordinator SUZI HUBBARD Ext. 105 / [email protected] Circulation Coordinator Ext. 109 / [email protected] 32 Innovations BRITTANY MARTIN Eric He Editorial Coordinator EDITORIAL, BUSINESS, AND Ext. 110 / [email protected] ADVERTISING OFFICE 2111 East Highland Avenue, Suite 180 CHRISTOPHER DI VIRGILIO Phoenix, AZ 85016-4702, USA 34 Caregiver Connection Web Content Manager Tel: 602-224-0500 Dewana Sue May Ext. 106 / [email protected] pnonline.com / [email protected] 41 Veteran Advisor PN (ISSN 0031-1766) is published monthly by Paralyzed Veterans of America, Inc., 2111 East Highland Aaron Stevens, NSO Avenue, Suite 180, Phoenix, AZ 85016-4702. Periodicals postage paid at Phoenix, Ariz., and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to PN, 2111 East Highland Avenue, Suite 180, Phoenix, AZ 85016-4702. Subscription rates: $26 annually. Foreign orders: $38 (U.S. funds drawn on a U.S. bank). 43 And Finally Scoba Rhodes © 2020 Paralyzed Veterans of America, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without permission is prohibited. JULY PARALYZED Editor’s VETERANS DESK OF AMERICA NATIONAL OFFICE 801 Eighteenth Street, NW Washington, DC 20006, USA 202-872-1300 • www.pva.org PVA OFFICERS The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) turns 30 this month. David Zurfluh In my column last month (Gratitude, p. 10), I mentioned Paralyzed President Veterans of America pioneer Patterson Grissom, who was injured in World Charles Brown War II, and how when we first met, he looked at me like I was clueless. Senior Vice President This is another testament to how true to that was. Hack Albertson I had been injured for nine months when this landmark legislation was Vice President passed and have enjoyed the ADA’s protections my entire disabled life. It’s Robert Thomas amazing to learn about the effort that went into getting the ADA passed, Vice President what’s been accomplished and what needs more work. You can read all Tammy Jones about that in Advocating Accessibility on page 28. Vice President Elsewhere in this issue, we found some great ideas if you’re looking for Kenneth Ness Vice President a new vehicle. There are options out there that are somewhat outside the realm of what has traditionally been thought of as an accessibility market. I Tom Wheaton Treasurer hope you find something that stirs your imagination and gets you excited in What A Ride on page 22. Marcus Murray Secretary There’s plenty more to read about this month, and we hope you enjoy Al Kovach Jr. all the great content in this issue. Immediate Past President PVA NATIONAL OFFICE Carl Blake Executive Director Shaun Castle Deputy Executive Director Len Selfon General Counsel Cheryl Topping Chief Financial Officer Peter Gaytan Associate Executive Director Veterans Benefits Heather Ansley contributing Associate to this issue… Executive Director Government Relations Amanda Milisits Director: Medical Services Mark Lichter Director: Architecture & Facilities Cheryl Vines Director: Research & Education Dewana Sue May Lee Page Liz Deakin (p. 34) Aaron (p. 16) Stevens, Director: Communications NSO (p. 41) Fabio Villarroel Director: Sports & Recreation 6 | PN July 2020 () July 2020 PN | 7 APPLICATION MUST BE SIGNED BY THE CHAPTER PRESIDENT AND NATIONAL SERVICE OFFICE. Chapter/President/Designee Approving: National Service Officer Approving: PVA OFFICIAL - Briefly describe how assistance was verified (i.e, pictures, visited applicant’s residence, etc.): PVA OFFICIAL USE ONLY Approved q Denied q Amount Approved q Date Approved By Associate Executive Director, Veterans Benefits Department SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS 1. Complete this form. 2. Tear out and submit to your PVA Chapter or PVA National Service Office (PVA Chapter roster can be found on page 12 and the National Service Office roster on page 40). 3. Upon approval from the Chapter and National Service Office, the application will be faxed to the Associate Executive Director of the Veterans Benefits Department for final approval. Be sure to visit the Paralyzed Veterans of America website for more information on COVID-19 www.pva.org/covid-19/ Remember to contact your PVA chapter for information on what’s happening in your local area. 8 | PN July 2020 DAVID ZURFLUH NATIONAL PRESIDENT P VAfromtheTOP masks, gloves and alcohol wipes carries on for Opening Up the foreseeable future. There’s one area during the last several July is upon us, and cooped up people months of this pandemic that gives me con- are ready to bust out of their lockdown situa- cern for SCI/D veterans — the hyperfocus on tions and re-enter their former lives before the the virus and the slow reopening of outpatient novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.