Creative Arts and Adaptive Sports for Disabled Veterans

Creative arts and adaptive sports for Disabled Veterans have blossomed in recent years.

The essential goal of rehabilitation for disabled veterans is to give them the tools they need to build a rewarding lifestyle.  

Medical professionals have found that participation in creative arts and adaptive sports greatly improves a person’s mental and physical health. The growth in creative arts and adaptive sports programs has given more and more disabled veterans access to activities that significantly increase the effectiveness of their rehabilitation and overall quality of life. 

From dancing and golfing to paragliding and scuba diving, veterans across the nation now have access to these various programs, many of them free of charge.

Local and National VA Creative Arts and Adaptive Sports

The VA offers creative arts and adaptive sports programs on both the local and national level. 

The VA’s national programs include:

• National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic
• National Veterans Creative Arts Festival
• National Veterans Golden Age Games
• National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic
• National Veterans Wheelchair Games
• National Disabled Veterans Golf Clinic

For local programs, contact your local VA to find out about the programs available in your area. 

The VA also provides millions of dollars in grant money to other national and local organizations to run creative arts and adaptive sports programs for disabled veterans in communities across the nation. 

For veteran athletes training for the Olympics and Paralympics, the VA offers a Monthly Training Allowance to assist these athletes with living expenses during their training.

Other National Opportunities

Many Veteran Service Organizations offer creative arts and adaptive sports, but the most active on the national level are the Wounded Warrior Project & Paralyzed Veterans of America. 

Both are 501(c)-3 non-profits and work with the VA to offer disabled veterans a variety of programs. 

Other similar organizations include Veterans and Athletes United, Move United, and more.

Other Local Opportunities

To discover local creative arts and adaptive sports programs available in your area, contact your local VA or the local chapters of the DAV or other Veterans Service Organizations. They will have the most current information on programs available in your area. 

You can also try an internet search for programs near you.