Paralyzed Veterans of America Launches Year-Long Awareness Campaign

The campaign will roll out through a series of tactical milestones, beginning September 3, 2026, with the release of a guide for those navigating new spinal cord injury diagnoses. Other key events include a podcast launch, an aviation accessibility summit alongside All Wheels Up, and the debut of the fifth edition of the organization’s home design manual for wheelchair users. The initiative concludes on September 9, 2027, with a gala in New York City.

Robert Thomas, the organization’s National President, noted that their impact spans eight decades of work, from setting standards for barrier-free design to pioneering adaptive sports. By targeting diverse venues—ranging from the Daytona 500 to South by Southwest—the nonprofit aims to shift public perception. CEO Carl Blake described the effort as an invitation for the nation to view the organization through a new lens, deepening awareness of their role as a partner to veterans with spinal cord injuries and diseases like MS and ALS. Through its work with institutions such as Yale and Harvard, the organization continues to push for breakthroughs in medical research while maintaining its status as the only Veterans Service Organization with access to all 25 VA spinal cord injury centers.