Paralympians Inspire Others to Be Better and Do More

Committee Aims to Ensure US Military Paralympics Program Capable of Supporting Veteran Athletes

Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, July 30, 2009, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Bob Filner conducted a hearing focused on the U.S. Military Paralympics Program.  Twice a year, the U.S. Paralympics host Military Sports Camps, which are multi-day events for veterans with physical disabilities.  During each camp, participants attend sports clinics conducted by paralympic athletes and coaches and participate in light competition.  Paralympians provided testimony detailing rehabilitation, resilience, and regaining their inherent competitive spirit as a result of their participation.

“For many service members and veterans who have been severely-injured, their rehabilitation can be a disheartening experience,” said Chairman Filner.  “The U.S. Military Paralympics Program allows injured service members and veterans to heal and grow, while providing an environment of athletic competition and sport.  For so many wounded warriors, this program provides a valuable opportunity to explore new limits, dream new dreams, and continue their active lifestyle.”     

The hearing specifically focused on the VA’s Office of National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events that was authorized upon the enactment of Public Law 110-389 on October 10, 2008.  This law authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make grants to the U.S. Olympic Committee to provide paralympic instruction, competition activities, and training program development activities for service members and veterans with physical disabilities.

Paralympian Carlos Leon testified: “This money will go a long way toward reaching out to disabled veterans and involving them in this great program. This money can also be used toward ‘recruiting, supporting, [and] equipping,’ a new generation of paralympians…With this money we can build more centers for veterans to train and more resources to train them with.  I was lucky – I found out about the Military Paralympic program soon after my injury.

I was able to start training quickly, before the physical and emotional strains set-in.  Not all handicapped veterans are that lucky. I know this new VA grant program will make it easier to reach out to vets soon after their injury, introduce them to veterans like me, start their training, and give them hope.”

Paralympians shared their experiences of healing from the wounds of war and credited their participation in the U.S. Military Paralympics Program with regaining their inherent competitive spirit and recovering their drive to be the best.  They discussed the critical need to stay active in sports, maintain lifelong fitness, and interact with other disabled athletes.      

Captain Nathan Waldon offered the following description of Disabled Sports USA ski trip:  “I came away from this weekend with a sense of purpose.  I had a taste of what I could do.  No it was not going to be the same, hence the phrase adaptive sports.  The way I view that term is perhaps different than others; it should be adaptive just from an equipment standpoint. 

I require a certain device to perform, but given the resources and training, I should be as good as anyone on the mountain.  This one event gave me my life back.  I was able to accept who I was, and with this acceptance came a sense of grounding to me life.  I was no longer fighting it by focusing on the negative aspects of what had occurred.  This was just another challenge to undertake. 

Charlie Huebner, Chief of Paralympics for the United States Olympic Committee, testified that in 2009 the Paralympic Military program had created new programs in 99 communities to support injured service members and veterans, distributed grant funding to more than 45 organizations, and provided training to more than 1,200 community, military and veterans leaders.  

Filner concluded: “Today’s witnesses remind us to work to be better and do more in the face of adversity.  It is not often that we, as Members of Congress, see the actual results of debating and allocating resources.  I would like to thank the paralympians that shared their personal stories and inspired us with their courage, resilience, and strength.”     

Witness List

Panel 1

·       Sergeant Kortney Clemons, USA (Ret.), Chula Vista, California

·       Captain Nathan Waldon, USA, Washington, District of Columbia

·       Captain Mark Little, USA, Fairfax, Virginia

Panel 2

·       Adrian M. Atizado, Assistant National Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans

·       Carl Blake, National Legislative Director, Paralyzed Veterans of America

·       Julia Ray, Manager, Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project, Disabled Sports USA, Inc.

·       David Stringer, Representing National Recreation and Park Association on behalf of
Richland County, South Carolina Parks and Recreation

·       Carlos Leon, Member and Paralympian, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

Panel 3

·       Dinah F.B. Cohen, Director, Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, U.S. Department of Defense

·       Charlie Huebner, Chief of Paralympics, U.S. Olympic Committee

·       Diane Hartmann, Director, Office of National Programs and Special Events, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

###

Prepared testimony and a link to the webcast of the hearing are available on the internet at this link:  http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/hearing.aspx?newsid=447