About Us
INTRODUCTION
Minnesota Paralyzed Veterans of America (MNPVA), founded in 1993, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization assisting veterans with spinal cord injury and disorders (SCI/D), including such diseases as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We are a local chapter of the National Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), working together to enhance the lives of SCI/D veterans. MNPVA also works with many veteran and disabled partners, allowing collaboration on joint goals.
MNPVA strives to enhance the quality of life for disabled veterans. We accomplish this with our core programs:
Advocacy – MNPVA promotes barrier-free design through legislative and advocacy programs.
Medical Research – We support research, education, and innovative adaptive technology to enhance the lives of those with disabilities.
Sports and Recreation – Our organization provides and facilitates access to adaptive sports and recreation opportunities.
Membership – MNPVA supports our members through various programs, including mentoring and educating others about our services.
Liaison – We work with our VA Medical Centers to ensure our members stay well connected with healthcare resources.
We operate all of our programs with the belief that all disabled veterans should be able to live with dignity and independence. We energetically focus on advocacy, financial support for medical research, and recreational opportunities; we help remove barriers to everyday life, treatment, and care.
Legislative & Advocacy Programs
Minnesota Paralyzed Veterans of America considers advocacy one of our primary goals. We strive to be the voice for our disabled veterans, especially those with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D). Individuals with disabilities face obstacles in their everyday lives that many people never know about. We seek to educate both the disabled and nondisabled communities about these challenges and to provide opportunities and resources to remove the barriers. By utilizing our national, state, and local affiliations with lawmakers, veterans organizations, and disability groups, we serve as a vital force for facilitating change.
We partner with many organizations in our state to be a resource for ADA compliance in many areas, including indoor and outdoor recreation, facilities, and business settings. We assist our members with their unique needs by helping them identify resources and solutions to enhance their everyday life by reducing the barriers they face.
Sports & Recreation Opportunities
Our organization provides many accessible opportunities for SCI veterans to stay active, such as hunting, bowling, target shooting, archery, sports events, and more. MNPVA developed our equipment to make these fun activities more accessible for our veterans, like our specialized bowling ramps.
We provide opportunities to attend major league sporting events such as Twins baseball, Vikings football, and Wild hockey games at no cost to our members. Additionally we send members to the National Veterans Wheelchair Games each year along with other participatory tournaments and clinics designed to encourage activity, foster camaraderie, and build self-confidence. Resources and support are also available for recreational activities outside of our planned events. Inactivity is dangerous for disabled veterans, and MNPVA is passionate about creating ample accessible opportunities to stay active.
MNPVA also seeks to eliminate obstacles veterans encounter during engagement in sports and other forms of leisure. Making these opportunities available to all veterans, regardless of physical or mental ability, entails providing the resources, equipment, and space required for activities. Our mission is to provide all veterans with the necessary resources to live a happy, productive life.
Medical Research
MNPVA supports research, adaptive technology innovation, and educational programs that affect those living with SCI/D. This support includes financial contribution and collaboration with researchers as they explore treatment and seek a cure for SCI/D. PVA provides various Clinical Practice Guidelines and other publications to help educate others about living with spinal cord injuries and disorders, including related complications.
Peer Mentoring
MNPVA values a veteran's access to the community, including social interaction. For this reason, our members can take advantage of our peer mentoring program. MNPVA connects veterans who have experienced a spinal cord injury or disorder and can get support from others in a similar situation through this service. We strive to be a welcoming group where veterans may interact, share their experiences, and learn from one another. The peer mentorship program promotes a more positive and happy lifestyle by decreasing veterans' feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Conclusion
Veterans who have suffered a spinal cord injury or disease have a vocal ally in the Minnesota chapter. Our organization continues to improve the quality of life for veterans through advocacy and legislative efforts, persisting to remove barriers to employment, education, housing, healthcare, community access, and recreational activities. Paralyzed Veterans of America positively and comprehensively impacts the lives of our nation's veterans. MNPVA plays an essential role in connecting our Minnesota veterans affected by spinal cord injury and disorders to services available to them.
Hours & Location
Address
1 Veterans Drive SCI 238
Minneapolis, MN 55417
Hours of Operation
Monday-Thursday: 8am – 4pm
Friday: 9am-1:30pm
Closed
Saturday & Sunday
All Federal Holidays
Contact