United Spinal Association is a nonprofit membership, disability rights and veterans service organization in the United States. It was formed in 1946 as Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association by a group of paralyzed World War II veterans from New York City. United Spinal Association is recognized by the US

Department of Veterans Affairs The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet-level executive branch department of the federal government charged with providing life-long healthcare services to eligible military veterans at the 170 VA medical centers an ...

as a veterans' service organization; as such, United Spinal Association is authorized to prepare, present and prosecute claims for veterans benefits from the local VA regional office level to the Supreme Court. United Spinal Association's veterans service program is entitled VetsFirst.

History

In 1948, 70 members of Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association (EPVA) held a public demonstration in New York’s Grand Central Station to gather signatures supporting the nation’s first accessible housing bill (Public Law 702) to get federal funds to build accessible homes for paralyzed veterans. In 1968, EPVA advocates for equal access to federally-funded buildings and facilities for wheelchair users and all Americans living with disabilities, leading to the passage of

Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 The Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 ("ABA", , codified at et seq.) is an Act of Congress, enacted by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The ABA requires that facilities designed, built, altered, or leased with funds supplied by the United States Fe ...

. In 1970, Executive Director James J. Peters set out to expose the deplorable conditions on the spinal cord injury units at the Bronx Veterans Hospital, culminating in a ''

Life Life is a quality that distinguishes matter that has biological processes, such as Cell signaling, signaling and self-sustaining processes, from that which does not, and is defined by the capacity for Cell growth, growth, reaction to Stimu ...

'' magazine expose, the creation of the US

's dedicated Spinal Cord Injury Service. In addition, the Bronx Veterans Hospital was modernized, and now bears Mr. Peters' name as the James J. Peters VA Medical Center. In 1987, in conjunction with

Paralyzed Veterans of America The Paralyzed Veterans of America is a veterans' service organization in the United States of America, founded in 1946. The organization holds 33 chapters and 70 National Service Offices in the United States and Puerto Rico. It is based in Washin ...

, United Spinal Association helped found and continues to underwrite spinal cord injury research at the Yale Center for Neuroscience and Regeneration Research. This center remains under direction of Dr. Stephen Waxman. United Spinal played a role in writing portions of the

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 or ADA () is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. It affords similar protections against discrimination to Americans with disabilities as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, ...

, the landmark civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. Among the group's past and present members are

Lex Frieden Lex Frieden (born March 5, 1949) is an American educator, researcher, disability policy expert and disability rights activist. Frieden has been called "a chief architect of the Americans with Disabilities Act." He is also regarded as a founder and ...

Junius Kellogg Junius Kellogg (March 16, 1927 – September 16, 1998) was an American basketball player, coach, and civil servant. He was the first African-American to play basketball for Manhattan College. While playing for the Jaspers, Kellogg became known fo ...

and Frank Genese.

Programs

United Spinal's Spinal Cord Resource Center offers visitors the opportunity to submit questions to experienced information specialists on any aspect of living with spinal cord injuries or disorders or get information and resources to resolve a situation that impacts health, independence and quality of life. United Spinal offers members access to local chapter and peer support groups that promote inclusion and independence, organize local events and projects, advocate for rights and accessibility, and offer information and support. Other services and programs include: * VetsFirst: advice and advocacy services for veterans * Accessibility Services * Advocacy * Pathways to Employment program * Tech Access program * Emergency preparedness/disaster relief

References

External links

United Spinal Association web siteDepartment of Veterans Affairs recognition of United Spinal Association as a veterans' service organization
{{Authority control 1946 establishments in the United States American veterans' organizations Organizations established in 1946