2017 ANNUAL AD/LEGLEGISLATIVE PRIORITIESINSIDE THIS EDITION

Rolling Through Capitol Hill: Our Annual Advocacy & Legislative SeminarI have had many questions about whether it is still worth going to DC every year especially

under the current administration. This is/was my 13th year. So yes, it is worth it because if we don’t do this, who will stand up for us? We must be a voice for ourselves, our members, veterans, and the disabled community. It is one of the reasons I am proud to be a PVA/PVA New England member because we do work than ...continued on page 8.

Paralyzed Veterans of America Urges Protection of VA Specialized Services, CARF Standards in Private Healthcare, and Enforcement of VA Staffing Capacity Requirements. PVA National President Al Kovach, Jr. testified before the Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committees, urging support for Paralyzed Veterans’ top legislative priorities—ensuring that VA specialized care services are protected and that veterans with catastrophically injuries hace access to these ...continued on page 2.

PVA PRESIDENT AL KOVACH 2

CAREGIVER LEGISLATION 4

A VETERANS VOICE MATTERS 5

ANNUAL AD/LEG SEMINAR 8

NSO HEATHER CHERNIACK 11

CLASSIFIEDS 15

CORDWORDThe Monthly Newsletter of the New England Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America

MARCH 2017

COPYRIGHT © 2017. NEPVA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

PVA National President Al Kovach, Jr. on Capitol Hill

www.newenglandpva.org2

Paralyzed Veterans of America Urges Protection of VA Specialized Services, CARF Standards in Private Healthcare, and Enforcement of VA Staffing Capacity Requirements.

Paralyzed Veterans of America (Paralyzed Veterans) National President Al Kovach, Jr. testified before the Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committees, urging support for Paralyzed Veterans’ top legislative priorities—ensuring that VA specialized care services are protected and that veterans with catastrophically injuries receive the “gold standard of care” wherever they seek treatment.

“VA is differentiated by its nationwide ‘hub and spokes’ framework and high standards defined by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities—also known as CARF,” stated Kovach. “CARF places emphasis on the needs of special populations by ensuring programs meet ‘patient-centered and state-of-art national standards.”

Kovach went on to say that evidence suggests not all rehabilitation centers in the private sector that claim to provide the gold standard of care are actually CARF-certified.

Kovach presented testimony on a group panel of nine veterans service organizations, presided over by House Veterans Affairs Chairman Phil Roe. While Paralyzed Veterans submitted eight core policy priorities for the Congressional year, President Kovach focused on VA healthcare in his brief oral testimony, opening with this statement: “We are among the most profoundly disabled, yet resilient, contingent of the veteran population, and with all of the legislative priorities we entered into the written record, none is more important to us than protecting the specialized system of VA healthcare.”

Approximately 29,000 veterans with spinal cord injuries are currently served by the VA, and VA remains the best provider of health care for veterans. VA’s specialized services, such as spinal cord injury care most often cannot be duplicated in the private sector, but VA has not maintained its capacity to provide for the unique health care needs of severely disabled veterans. “Over the past seven years, the VA has fallen short of its mandated staffing of bedside clinicians by operating at only 60 percent capacity,” stated Kovach. He urged Congress to enforce legislation passed last year (P.L. 114-223) that reinstated the annual capacity reporting requirement originally established by the “Veterans’ Health Care Eligibility Reform Act” (P.L. 104-262) in 1996.

Kovach ended his testimony by challenging Congressional members who are veterans to learn more about the quality healthcare offered at VA by seeking their care there. He stated, “If you want oversight of veteran healthcare, you need to have a little skin in the game.”

To read President Kovach’s full written statement from March 9, 2017, click here. http://www.pva.org/pva/media/PVA_Media_Library/Documents/research-resources/2017-Kovach-Annual-Testimony.pdf

Veterans’ Affairs Committees, urging support for Paralyzed Veterans’ top legislative priorities.

National President Al Kovach, Jr. testified before the Senate and House

CORDWORD 3

In each monthly edition of the CordWord, you’ll see a focus on different stories and issues surrounding a specific topic. In this edition of the CordWord, you’ll see the focus on PVA’s legislative priorities and issues.

This month was PVA’s Annual Legislative and Advocacy Seminar in Washington, D.C.. There was well over a hundred attendees representing Chapters all across the country.

Each Chapter’s delegation spent two day with PVA’s Staff learning and discussing PVA’s priorities, then rolled on Capitol Hill to personally meet with their Senator’s and Congressmen to discuss the issues and challenges facing the VA, Veterans and the Disabled community a large.

It is a rare opportunity to actually meet face-to-face with any Congressional legislator and spend time to advocate on behalf of our New England members.

This month Chapter member Mike Savicki submitted an article about his work in getting the Veterans Mobility Safety Act passed.

Please keep in mind as you read, we’re always looking for member contributions to the CordWord. It can be of any subject, whether a written article or photo display that you feel might be of interest to other members.

If you’d like to submit something for the CordWord, please email it to media@newenglandpva.org. You can also send any feedback or suggestions to the same address.

As always, I welcome any thoughts, feedback or suggestions you may have for the CordWord.

CordWord Editor

From the Editor’s Desk

NEPVA OFFICERS

President Wayne Ross Vice President Mike Guilbault Secretary Peter Moore Treasurer Charles Schena National Director Neal Williams ADA Coordinator Neal Williams

EXECUTIVE BOARD

John Brako Walter Farrington Michael Moran Michael Negrete Mark Sanders Jim Wallack

STAFF Debra Freed Executive Director Jerry Cole Admin/Bookkeeper

PVA, New England Chapter1208 VFW Parkway, Suite 301West Roxbury, MA 02132T (617) 942-8678 or 1-(800) 660-1181F (857) 203-9685

NEPVA ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM DIRECTORS PVA NATIONAL SERVICE OFFICES

Michael G. Negrete Board of Directors Media and Communications Chairperson

USMC and USCG Veteran Cold War and Persian Gulf Veteran

www.newenglandpva.orginfo@newenglandpva.orgOffice Hours: Mon-Fri, 9:00am-4:30pm

PROGRAM DIRECTORS

Bass Trail Liaison Jim Wallack Community Outreach Mike Guilbault Cord Word Editor Michael Negrete Development Director Wayne Ross Membership Officer Mike Guilbault MS Liaison John Brako NEPVA Peer Mentor Rep. Mike Guilbault Scholarship Chairman Wayne Ross Sports Director Mike Guilbault Assistant Sports Director Michael Moran Volunteer Coordinator Debra Freed Women Veterans’ Liaison Debra Freed

Boston VA Regional Office J.F.K. Federal Bldg - Room - 1575 C Boston, MA 02203 T (617) 303-1395 or 1-800-795-3607 F (617) 303-1396 Joseph E. Badzmierowski Eastern Region Director

West Roxbury VAMC 1400 VFW Parkway, Room AG 60 West Roxbury, MA 02132 T (857) 203-6091 Heather Cherniack Interim Eastern Region Director East-North Area Manager

Togus, VARO, 1 VA Center Bldg 248, Room 112 Augusta , ME 04330 T (207) 621-7394 or 866-795-1911 F(207) 621-4829 Scott Eggleston, National Service Officer Serving Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont

www.newenglandpva.org4

Paralyzed Veterans of America (Paralyzed Veterans) Executive Director Sherman Gillums, Jr. has been named among 100 of 2016’s most impactful leaders in veteran advocacy by HillVets. The HillVets 100 list annually highlights the most effective veterans, service members and supporters. HillVets compiles a list encompassing individuals from many diverse sectors and areas, including those in the arts, politics, business, philanthropy, and personal achievements.

Executive Director Gillums was recognized under the “Traditional Non-Profits” category, which honors some of the longest standing, non-profit supporters of the veteran community. Awardees were selected based on their continuous dedicated and committed efforts to bring veteran and service members’ interests to the forefront of national dialogue and ensured that the veterans’ issues remained prevalent in public discourse.

“I am humbled by this recognition and see it more as a testament to the great work carried out by my amazing staff and Paralyzed Veterans’ champions of the past who paved the way,” said Gillums, the first post-9/11 veteran to lead Paralyzed Veterans of America. “This award validates my commitment to fighting hard for the paralyzed veterans of this country and their

caregivers as our nation continues to depend on our military for the preservation of our freedom and democracy—often at great personal sacrifice for many veterans.”

Other selectees for the HillVets 100 list include Congressman David Phillip “Phil” Roe, Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee; Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator Edward Byers, Jr., who received the Medal of Honor on February 29, 2016; Robert “Bob” Joseph Dole, former United States Senator and United States Senate Majority Leader; and General Joseph Dunford Jr., whose military career spans 40 years with the United States Marine Corps, and includes serving as its 36th Commandant and currently as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation’s highest ranking military officer.

HillVets is a professional network for veterans serving our nation again in the

National Capitol region, and is mission is to transform the power and presence of veterans in government, policy, and politics. Learn more and view the complete Top 100 list at hillvets.org

PVA Leader Recognized for Positive Impact on Veteran Advocacy

New Hampshire Veteran Community Members Speak Out in Support of Bill

Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) today co-introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to expand veteran caregiver support services. The Military and Veteran Caregiver Services Improvement Act would extend critical support services, such as monthly stipends and travel expense reimbursement to caregivers of all veterans. Currently, these benefits are only available to caregivers of post-9/11 veterans.

“The family members who make sacrifices each day to care for those who have served are helping both our veterans and our nation. We owe a great debt to all veterans and their families, and we should recognize that by providing these hardworking caregivers with the support they deserve,” said Congresswoman Shea-Porter.

Many veterans rely on caregivers to provide essential support services, such as communicating with the veteran’s health care team, helping with daily routines, and managing medication. Providing these services can be difficult for caregivers, and family members are not always prepared to

take on these responsibilities. This has led to higher rates of depression and financial difficulty among caregivers.

New Hampshire veteran Michael Negrete, a Member of the Board of Directors of Paralyzed Veterans of America, New England Chapter, has experienced and seen firsthand how caregivers are essential in providing support and services to New Hampshire’s veterans. As a post-9/11 veteran, Mr. Negrete and his wife currently benefit from caregiver support services.

“I strongly support Congresswoman Shea-Porter’s bill, as a quadriplegic veteran with spinal cord injury, I personally know how critically important caregivers are in making sure our veterans receive the care they need. So many of us prefer to receive medical care at home with our families, and caregiver support services make this possible. We need to expand these services so that all veterans, regardless of when - continued on pg 12.

Shea-Porter Co-Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Support Veteran Caregivers

CORDWORD 5

In the waning days of President Obama’s administration, as our nation was almost singularly focused on debating what the results of the recent election might mean for a country divided, a bill arrived on the President’s desk. Having already passed both the House and the Senate, H.R. 3471, The Veterans Mobility Safety Act of 2015 - 2016, the piece of legislation directing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to develop a comprehensive policy regarding quality standards for providers who dispense modification services to veterans under the Automobile Adaptive Equipment (AAE) Program, needed only the President’s signature to become law. As a disabled veteran who has been enrolled in the program since 1991, a NEPVA Life Member, an advocate for safe and reliable transportation, not to mention a die-hard car guy, I was glad to see the bill I began supporting four years earlier finally become law.

If you have ever wondered how an idea becomes a law, I invite you to join me as I recount our steps. For many years, the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) and I engaged in discussions with the VA about establishing minimum quality standards for providers of AAE. After struggling to make headway, and in an earnest effort to be proactive in catalyzing outdated policy keep pace with a rapidly modernizing adaptive automotive mobility industry, we took our voice to Capitol Hill. Visiting Congressional office after office, speaking both with staffers and elected officials by the hundreds, we shared our story; disabled veterans on America’s roadways have earned the right to drive and be transported in safe, reliable vehicles with updated quality standards and certifications in place. Let’s not let negative headlines recounting casualties on the roadway catalyze change, we argued, let’s be proactive with policy change.

I worked with NMEDA staff, volunteer leaders, and lobbyists to make our point as politely but relentlessly as possible. The result? Our message was received. We first found a champion in the House of Representatives, where our idea was written as a bill, discussed in committee, and put up for a vote. Then it was on to the Senate. But with an election looming and change unknown, our efforts slowed. We redoubled our efforts, inviting VSO’s like PVA to lend expertise and support, while continuing to knock on doors for almost a year. With merely weeks remaining in

session, we found a Senate champion who introduced the bill, led it through amendment, and brought it to a vote. When the House voted on the revised bill, a longstanding requirement, we began to anticipate a finish line. President Obama’s signature became the final step in our bill’s journey to law.

While the 114th Congress might be remembered more for what it did not achieve – of the 11,830 individual bills introduced, only 2% or 248 of substantive legislative proposals passed both the House and Senate and

were signed into law, the lowest enacted in a two year Congress since 1974 - I was proud to have been a part of a team that made change happen. Our grassroots efforts and persistence, along with strong support from VSO’s led by PVA, helped keep the bill moving when it could have easily stalled and been lost. Thanks to a committed House effort led by Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN-2) and Senate effort led by Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), plus a bi-partisan array of co-sponsors and supporters, the law has now entered the year-long “Rulemaking Phase.”

While there is still work to be done here as there are on so many other invaluable veteran initiatives, I hope our efforts might serve as a reminder that America’s veterans have fought for, earned, and deserve the support of our nation’s elected officials. Ours is proof that a veteran voice matters.

MIKE SAVICKI - NEPVA, Chapter Member

A Bill’s Journey to Law, A Veteran Voice Matters

Chapter Member Mike Savicki on Capitol Hill

Million Veteran Program (MVP)

MVP is a national, voluntary research program funded entirely by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Research & Development. The goal of MVP is to partner with Veterans receiving their care in the VA Healthcare System to study how genes affect health. To do this, MVP will build one of the world’s largest medical databases by safely collecting blood samples and health information from one million Veteran volunteers. Data collected from MVP will be stored anonymously for research on diseases like diabetes and cancer, and military-related illnesses, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

Learn more at http://www.research.va.gov/mvp/

www.newenglandpva.org6

&

Wheelchair Curling Demonstration and Open House

When: Sunday, March 26, 2016

4:00-7:00 pm Where: New England Sports Center

121 Donald J Lynch Blvd Marlborough, MA 01752

Cost: There is no cost to attend this event. If you are in a wheelchair and would like to curl, experts will take you

on the ice and give you an opportunity to try! What: Wheelchair curlers will show off their amazing curling skills in this event. They will join the existing teams

and demonstrate the differences in techniques. All wheelchair curlers and other wheelchair-bound community members are welcome to join in this opportunity to learn and watch demonstrations on just how easily Wheelchair Curlers can compete with able-bodied players. This will be an outstanding opportunity to see some of the best wheelchair athletes in the area and learn something too!

CORDWORD 7

Bldg 23, Brockton VAMC940 Belmont St, Brockton, MA

Competition open to all shooters, able-bodied or with a disability. Space is limited to the first 30 participants to register. Air rifles & pistols are available upon request. Targets, ammunition, and meals are provided for participants.

SEMINAR & COMPETITION ARE FREE.

EVENT AWARDS

APRIL 8, 2017:Clinic & Pre-Registration

APRIL 9, 2017: Competition

Air RifleSH1 Class: Champion & Runner UpSH2 Class: Champion & Runner Up

SH3 Class: Champion & Runner UpOpen Class: Champion & Runner Up

Air PistolSH1 Class: Champion & Runner Up

AIR RIFLE & PISTOLSEMINAR & COMPETITION

SUBMIT: New England Chapter, Paralyzed Veterans of America, 1208 VFW Parkway, Ste 301West Roxbury, MA 02132

Registration must be received by March 31, 2017 in order to be eligible to participate.

DIRECTIONS: Take 24 South from 95 to exit 17b to Brockton, take left at 2nd light, left at first stop sign, drive around until you see signs for Bldg 23.

REGISTER:Fabio Villarroel 800.424.8200, ext. 655 202.416.7655 fabiov@pva.org

Name: _______________________________________

Address: _____________________________________

Phone: _____________ E-mail: __________________

Classification: ▢ SH1 ▢ SH2 ▢ SH3 ▢ Open

www.newenglandpva.org8

Rolling Through Capitol Hill: Our Annual Advocacy & Legislative SeminarDEBRA FREED - NEPVA, Executive Director

I have had many questions about whether it is still worth going to DC every year especially under the current administration. This is/was my 13th year. So yes, it is worth it because if we don’t do this, who will stand up for us? We must be a voice for ourselves, our members, veterans, and the disabled community. It is one of the reasons I am proud to be a PVA/PVA New England member because we do work for just more than our members and the veterans community.

I want to thank the PVA-New England group for their attendance and hard work. Trust me, it is work. Wayne Ross and his aide Bill Riley, Michael & Terry Negrete, Tim Kelly & his aide Merri-Anne Shippee, Neal Williams and his service dog Dieter. Make no mistake folks, without Terry, Bill, Merri-Anne, and even Dieter, the group would have consisted of 1. Their families and jobs also give up a lot so many thanks to their families & their jobs for allowing Bill, Merri-Anne, and Terry to participate.

I would be remiss if I didn’t thank PVA’s staff – in particular - the Government Relations Staff and Meetings. The government relations staff prepared the position papers, the priorities and the packets we would hand out. The meetings staff made sure we had rooms and anything anyone needed, medical equipment, adding, removing a door, etc. Many of them give up a week with the families to be sure our trip and trips to the Hill are accomplished safely and in a timely manner.

Our policy is that even if we don’t have appointments, we will stop by every New England legislator’s office – there are 21 in the House and 12 in the Senate. If we are lucky, we do end up speaking with someone. And again, a reminder to all, while it is nice to catch the ear of the Representative or Senator, we make out a bit better with an aide. The aide usually has more time to spare and can assist their Representative or Senator in making a more informed decision on how and why they should vote yes or no on a particular bill..

The requirements I have when asking folks to assist with this event is they meet with us for dinner either Sunday evening or Monday to go over the schedule. I also ask that they notify me if they become ill or injured. That way, we have time to re-dress the schedule if necessary. I do try to build in a little time for sight-seeing or just to be able to get outside if the weather is good.

The Seminar portion of the week is Monday and Tuesday. We were all available for the first day. The primary topics for Monday were the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). While the ACAA is celebrating 30 years, we hope to see it celebrating

many more. However, over the years Congress and some very powerful business entities have worked hard to pick apart portions of each Act that many of us rely on to get around.

The priorities for this year’s Advocacy & Legislative Seminar are: The ACAA; the ADA; Comprehensive Reform of the Claims Appeals Process; Expand Eligibility for VA Comprehensive Caregiver Program; Improve Benefits for Catastrophically Disabled Veterans; Protect Social Security & Medicare; Protection of Specialized Services; Provision for IVF. You can check out the details of each point paper on the Chapter website.

Of the eight papers we would present, PVA requested we focus on the Protection of Specialized Services, the ACAA, and Expansion Eligibility for Caregiver Program – we spoke at length about this point paper because it was and remains very true, without the assistance of Merri-Anne, Bill, and Terry, three of our group would never have been able to make the trip. We threw in a fourth and that was IVF because while it was mandated several years ago, it was only instituted in January 2017 and due to end in September 2018. That is truly not enough time for catastrophically

injured veterans to determine when and how big to make their families.

Tuesday’s schedule required that we split up a bit. The day would go over the remaining point papers, present aides from both the House and Senate VA Committees, and introduce the new Executive Director for SCI/D in VA. As Tim and Wayne were the new attendees, they stayed at the Seminar. They were introduced to the new Executive Director for SCI/D in the VA – Dr I. Manosha Wickremasinghe. She will take over for the current Executive Director, our very own Dr. Sunil Sabharwal from the West Roxbury SCI/D floor at the West Roxbury VAMC. We want to wish Dr. Wickremasinghe the best in her new position.

One of the other privileges we have is, we are allowed to park on the Hill in restricted parking. One of our New England Senators again accommodated our request. Terry, Michael and Neal went to the Senate side as they had an appointment and would do some drop-offs and I went over to the House Side as there were a couple of appointments as well as drop offs. We all managed to increase our meetings just by asking if anyone was available. I heard from several folks that they never received the fax I sent out the month before and so didn’t know I had requested an appointment. Several of the offices we visited on Tuesday, both House and Senate were able to work with us and allow time for their legislative aide to spend a few minutes.

On Wednesday, some of us would attend a couple of meet and greets

NEPVA National Director Neal Williams with Service Dog Deiter and BOD Member Michael Negrete

CORDWORD 9

Rolling Through Capitol Hill: Our Annual Advocacy & Legislative Seminar

held on the Senate side. A third meet and greet was held with Senator Warren. Politics aside, she really was very accommodating, taking photos with each one of us and then as a group. We then went over to the House side and again split up because that is the only way we would be able to get to all 21 Representatives and 12 Senators in three days. After our last meeting, I wanted to get some photos. Tim Kelly suggested we take the time to see the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial and so we wheeled from the Capitol on our way to the Metro. It really is something.

Thursday, we would again travel to the Hill and pretty much stay on the Senate side most of the day. The annual Veterans Service Organizations’ (VSOs) testimony before the Joint Committee of Veterans Affairs was held in G-50 Dirksen. Of our 21 Representatives, three are three on the House Committee and two Senators are on the Senate Committee. It truly was a standing room only event. To cap the evening, PVA hosted a group photo in front of the Capitol Building and then we returned back to the Senate side for PVA’s Congressional Reception. It was very nice to see a number of the aides we had spent time with over the past three days take the time to attend. (More pictures on page 15.)

NEPVA BOD Member Michael Negrete, Executive Director Debra Freed, Senator Susan Collins and National Director Neal Williams

NEPVA Executive Director Debra Freed, Senator Angus King, BOD Member Michael Negrete, PVA/NEPVA Volunteer Terry Negrete and National Director Neal Williams

NEPVA BOD Member Michael Negrete, Chapter Member Tim Kelly, Chapter President Wayne Ross and Executive Director Debra Freed

NEPVA BOD Member Michael Negrete, PVA/NEPVA Volunteer Terry Negrete, Exec Director Debra Freed, Senator Susan Collins and Natl Director Neal Williams

Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter and NEPVA BOD Member Michael Negrete

www.newenglandpva.org10

Adaptive Sports USA

2017 National Veteran Airgun Outreach Series Adaptive Sports USA in partnership with Spaulding Adaptive Sports strives to enhance the quality of life

for disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces by introducing them to the inherent benefits of the sport of shooting. This includes fundamental knowledge of air

pistols / rifles, competitive options and the development of a sustainable, satisfying lifetime leisure activity.

For General inquiries on the grant program or Adaptive Sports USA please contact : Susan Rossi at director@adaptivesportsusa.org or 719-439-3823

This program is funded in part by a grant from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The opinions findings and conclusions stated herein are those of the Adaptive Sports USA and our partner organizations and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

Train the Trainer / Veterans Workshop: March 4th and 5th, 2017

Time: 9:00am-3:00pm Program: March 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, April 4th, 8th and 11 Day: Tuesdays Time: 3:00pm to 5:00pm Competition: April 9th, 2017 Location: VA Boston-Brockton—940 Belmont St. Brockton MA. 02301

For more information please contact: Sara Carper 877-976-7272

Boccia &Airgun/PistolClinicat

TheBrocktonVAMCGym,Bldg 23

PleasecomeoutandsupportourfirsteverBoccia &Airgun/PistolClinicIncooperationwithRecreationalTherapy’sJoanieLynch&Jenny

McLaughlin,PVA&PVANewEnglandApril7,8,9.

Food,Fun,andPrizeswillbeawarded!ContactPVANewEnglandOfficefordetails1-617-942-8678ordafreed13@gmail.com

CORDWORD 11

National Service Officer Spotlight on Heather Cherniack: How Can We Help?Contributed by Brittany Ballenstedt - A freelance journalist whose work has appeared in several publications, including Government Executive, National Journal, Technology Daily and NextGov.com.

Paralyzed Veterans of America National Service Officer (NSO) Heather Cherniack says her career really came full circle when she helped a veteran win an appeal that pulled him out of homelessness.

While that veteran was not a Paralyzed Veterans member or even member-eligible, it was one of Heather’s first glimpses at Paralyzed Veterans of America’s unique mission to help all veterans, regardless of factors like their medical record or period of service, she says.

“Every veteran is different, and there’s no set formula. That’s a big part of what makes Paralyzed Veterans of America unique,” she says. “We know our veterans and have that relationship to ask what their needs are. Some of the veterans from some eras don’t want to ask for a lot, so just making sure they get what they need is a fight.”

Heather came to Paralyzed Veterans of America in March 2012, accepting a position in New Orleans while finishing her Master’s Degree in pastoral care and counseling. Pursuing the advanced degree and accepting the job were part of her efforts to regroup after a 2004 deployment to Iraq as an Army Reservist created new challenges.

“After the deployment, I tried to figure out what I was supposed to do when I grew up, so to speak,” Heather says. “I really felt when I got into this position that it brought everything together. It wasn’t just about the science or health care, it was about helping people and helping veterans, and all the difficulties I had been through myself prepared me for this position.”

After serving a short time in New Orleans, Heather learned of an open NSO position at the VA Medical Center in Brockton, Mass., which was near her hometown of Derry, N.H. Eager to move closer to her family, Heather moved north to accept the position in the Brockton office.

While Heather is the recent recipient of two awards – Region 1 NSO of the Year and the Region 1 Medical Monitor Award – she admits she does not like to talk about those accomplishments. For her, it’s all about the veterans, who, no matter what circumstances they are faced with, maintain a positive outlook and a great level of independence and continue to strive to meet their goals.

“To me, that speaks volumes, and being a part of that and being able to help people do that, lets me put my head on the pillow at night and say, ‘I feel like I accomplished something today,’” Heather says.

And it’s Paralyzed Veterans of America’s mission to address the range of needs of veterans and their families that not only brought Heather to the organization; it’s what keeps her here.

“It’s not just about the veteran themselves, but it’s also about how we reach out to the whole family,” she says. “It’s about how we look at the medical care, employment, prosthetics. Other organizations may help a veteran get a check but not help with the medical care. Or what if a veteran is too disabled to work and there are no services for the dependent to get a job or get help? I think because Paralyzed Veterans does not narrowly define things, we’re able to simply ask, ‘how can we help?’”

How Busy is My HealtheVet? We’ve Got Your Numbers!When you use My HealtheVet, you’re in good company. Veterans and caregivers use My HealtheVet to manage their health care, refill prescriptions, exchange Secure Messages and even learn about different conditions and ailments. From the number of Secure Messages sent, to the number of My HealtheVet users, and even the number of refills requested, you’ll find it all on the new My HealtheVet data page, updated every quarter.

Heather Cherniack Interim Easton Region Director East-North Area Manager

West Roxbury VAMC 1400 VFW Parkway, Room AG 60 West Roxbury, MA 02132 T (857) 203-6091

Brockton VAMC 940 Belmont St., Bldg . 3 Room 207 Brockton , MA 02301 T (774) 826-2219 F (774) 826-3167 Email: heatherc@pva.org

they served, have access to these vital support services. Not doing so diminishes their service and sacrifice to our country,” said Mr. Negrete.

Michelle Pelletier is a registered nurse at the New Hampshire Veterans Home in Tilton. She has seen firsthand how caregivers are essential in providing support and services to New Hampshire’s veterans. As someone who works with veterans every day in a long-term care environment, she understands that without family caregiver support, many veterans would require long-term care services, which are often far more expensive.

“New Hampshire’s veterans’ caregivers do so much for those who have served, including coordinating transportation to and from doctor’s visits, administering medication, and providing critical in-home services. All of us who care for veterans see how VA support for these family members helps them better serve our heroes,” said Ms. Pelletier.

Shea-Porter is co-introducing the Military and Veteran Caregiver Services Improvement Act with sponsor Rep. Jim Langevin (RI-02), and its Senate companion is being sponsored by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Susan Collins (R-ME). The legislation has been endorsed by the Military Officers Association of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Paralyzed Veterans of America, The Elizabeth Dole Foundation, and the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

BACKGROUND

In 2010, Congress enacted legislation to provide new benefits to eligible caregivers for post 9/11 veterans. These new benefits included a monthly stipend, travel expenses, and access to health care insurance for uninsured caregivers. The Military and Veteran Caregiver Services Improvement Act would expand access to these benefits to caregivers to all veterans. Specifically, the legislation:

• Makes veterans of all eras eligible for the full range of caregiver support services by phasing-in veterans based on need, allowing the VA to manage the new workload and keep service quality high.

• Allows veterans in the VA caregiver program to transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to their dependents in recognition of the fact that a spouse, who may have been unemployed or underemployed previously, may now be required to become the primary source of income for the family. Injured veterans should not be penalized because their injury occurred early in their service, so this provision exempts the veteran from the length of service requirement that would currently bar them from transferring these benefits.

• Expands eligibility for the VA caregivers program by including a wider array of needs which may require caregiving; places greater emphasis on mental health injuries and TBI; and removes restrictions on who is eligible to become a caregiver.

• Expands services available to caregivers by making them eligible for VA child care programs, or providing a stipend to offset the cost of child care; provides caregiver financial advice and legal counseling.

• Creates a national interagency working group to coordinate caregiver policy and services among the different departments and to establish standards of care and oversight mechanisms to ensure the quality of care received through private services.

• Allows the federal government to meet the unique needs of employees who are caregivers with flexible work arrangements so they can stay employed while caring for the veteran.

• Reauthorizes the Lifespan Respite Care Act and expands essential respite options for caregivers.

• Reflects many of the findings and recommendations of RAND Corporation’s Hidden Heroes: America’s Military Caregivers study to improve and expand the VA caregiver program.

The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) was passed by Congress and signed into law on October 2, 1986. This law guarantees that people

Continued from page 4. Shea-Porter Co-Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Support Veteran Caregivers

with disabilities receive consistent and nondiscriminatory treatment during air travel and requires air carriers to accommodate the needs of passengers with disabilities. Prior to the ACAA, passengers with disabilities often encountered air travel policies that varied from carrier to carrier, and even among flights on the same airline. Carriers often required them to travel with companions, and frequently did not provide assistance in a timely manner.

Despite progress, too many travelers with disabilities continue to encounter significant barriers in air travel, such as damaged assistive devices, inaccessible lavatories and in-flight entertainment, and delayed assistance. We need your help in showing the progress that has been made in the last 30 years, as well as, highlighting the work that still needs to be done to accomplish the spirit of the ACAA.

Please use the submission form at www.airaccess30.org to share your stories, photos, videos, and graphics about your air travel experiences as a passenger with a disability. Thank you in advance for your participation!

Share Your Story

www.newenglandpva.org12

CORDWORD 13

The wait is over! For years, so many Veterans, reservists and National Guard members have struggled with a myriad of disabilities associated with the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. On March 14, 2017, the final rule will go into effect and approving claims for presumptive service-connection for Camp Lejeune water contamination.

Similar to Agent Orange Exposure, certain criteria MUST be met in order for your claim to be approved.

Specifically, three items must be met. First, you must have been discharged from active duty, reserves or National Guard with other than dishonorable conditions. Second, from August 1, 1953 to December 31, 1987 you must have served cumulatively no less than 30 days at Camp Lejeune. Lastly, there are eight conditions of which are recognized as “presumptive.” What this means is that the VA has conceded that the exposure to the contaminated water makes you more likely to be diagnosed to one of the conditions. These presumptive conditions are as follows: adult leukemia, aplastic and other myelodysplastic syndromes, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and Parkinson’s disease. If you have a positive diagnosis for one or multiple issues, you are eligible and should seek assistance from your local PVA Service Officer to assist in filing a claim.

To expedite the filing process, find any and all evidence that you have showing service dates at Camp Lejeune. If you are not receiving medical care at a VA Hospital, ask your outside physician to provide medical notes

or statement that you do suffer from one or more presumptive conditions.

It is important to understand and remember that VA is always adding conditions that are deemed presumptive to toxic exposure. If newly diagnosed with a condition, ask your Service Officer if it has been added to the list. Also, if you feel that your condition is directly related to contaminated water, have your Service Officer file a claim to establish the date of claim. Then, work with your Primary Care Provider to collect

evidence to support your claim.

To avoid any confusion, these conditions are similar, but not the same as the 2012 Camp Lejeune health care law. Only the eight conditions listed above are eligible for compensation. There are fifteen conditions associated with the 2012 Camp Lejeune health care law and do overlap with the

eight, but not all are presumptive for claims purposes.

If you meet the criteria listed above, your local Service Officer will be happy to get the process started and get you much deserved benefits.

If you have a positive diagnosis for one or multiple issues, you are

eligible and should seek assistance from your local PVA Service Officer

to assist in filing a claim.

CHARLES TOCCI - Veteran Health and Benefits Specialist

Camp Lejeune Water Contamination

MAKE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION TODAY!

Mail your check of any amount to:

Paralyzed Veterans of America, New England Chapter 1208 VFW Parkway, Suite 301 West Roxbury, MA 02132

Please reference “CordWord” in the memo section.

www.newenglandpva.org14

Being there makes a di� erenceVeterans have unique needs so we treat each of them as individuals. First of all, we listen. Then, we work together to find the best solution. MobilityWorks considers it a privilege to help our nation’s veterans. Every day we work with local VISNs and service organizations to make the process of securing accessible vehicles, lifts and driving equipment for veterans as easy as possible.

For more information, call toll free 1-888-608-1659 or visit www.mobilityworks.com.

Being there makes a di� erence

Connect With What Matters

MW New Eng-VA ad.indd 1 2/15/16 9:02 AM

CORDWORD 15

Isis Quickie Tilt in Space Wheel Chair

Very good condition, $799 or best offer.

Shower Chair

Excellent condition, $750 or best offer.

The FAWSsit Fold Away Shower

42x42x48. Excellent condition, $899 or best offer.

Sure Hands Lift System

Approximately 10 x 19 feet of ceiling track, includes sling and scale attachment. Excellent condition, $699 or best offer. We will uninstall, the buyer is responsible for reinstalling.

Restorative Therapies FES RT300 Bike

Excellent condition, $2,999.00 or best offer.

EasyStand Evolv & Glider

Excellent condition, $999.00 or best offer.

All items located in Waltham, MA and must be picked up. Interested people can call my home phone 781-894-7620 or email me at patcam63@gmail.com. We would like the items to be picked up by whoever buys them

Max Mobility SmartDrive 1st Gen

Excellent condition, $1200.00 or best offer.

Located in Milford, NH. Interested people can call 603-673-0590.

FREE 2-Piece Portable Ramp

Send inquiries to rollingilbo@nepva.org. Must be picked up in Woonsocket, RI.

2008 Ford E-350 with dual post lift

High mileage 2008 Ford E-350 with dual post lift and many extras. $5,000 or best offer non-members or $4,000 or best offer life members of PVA with particular preference given to NEPVA members. Must pick up in Maine!

Call the NEPVA office at 800-660-1181.

CLASSIFIEDSClassifieds are printed at the Editor’s discretion. New England PVA neither endores nor guarantees any of the products or services advertised.

FOR SALE VEHICLES

Your Ad Could Be Here:

Classified ads must be prepaid and not commissionable. $1/word - personal, $1.50/word - business. Bold headers, no extra charge. Email inquiries to media@newenglandpva.org.

Chapter Member Tim Kelly, Exec Director Debra Freed and Chapter President Wayne Ross at the Disabled for Life Memorial

Senator Maggie Hassan, BOD Member Michael Negrete, PVA Volunteer Terry Negrete, and Senator Jeanne Shaheen

Aide Bill Riley, Senator Michael Capuano, Exec Director Debra Freed, Chapter President Wayne Ross, Aide Merri-Anne Shippee and Chapter Member Tim Kelly

Executive Director Debra Freed and Senator Elizabeth Warren

Paralyzed Veterans of AmericaNew England Chapter1208 VFW Parkway, Suite 301West Roxbury, MA 02132

T 800 660-1181F 857 203-9685

info@newenglandpva.orgwww.newenglandpva.org

Office Hours Mon-Fri, 9:00am-4:30pm

Serving Paralyzed Veterans and the Disabled Community Sine 1947.

COMING EVENTS AND IMPORTANT DATESMarch 26th: Wheelchair Curling Demonstration

March 26th thru April 1: Snomass Winter Sports Clinic

Tuesdays in April: Air-Gun Practice Bldg 23 w/Spaulding Rehab

April 1 through April 30th: PVA Awareness Month events TBA

April 5th: Chapter Board of Directors’ Meeting, Chapter Office

April 7,8,9: Boccia & Air Gun Clinics/ Brockton Bldg 23

April 19th: Pizza Party at West Roxbury A-2 Day Room

April 26th: Community Meeting At LTC Bldg 8

May 3rd: Chapter Board of Directors’ Meeting: Chapter Office

May 24: Community Meeting & Pizza Party Bldg 8

June 3rd: Annual NEPVA Bass Trail event: Newton Yacht Club

June 21st: Pizza Party @ West Roxbury, A-2 Day Room

July: NO Chapter Board of Directors’ Meeting

July 16 - 23rd: NVWGames, Cincinnati, OH

July 17 - July 21: NewEngland Summer Sports Clinic: Providence, RI

August 2nd: Chapter Board of Directors Meeting, Chapter Office

August 16: Ice Cream Social: West Roxbury VA A-2.

September 22nd: PVA New England Chapter Banquet: destination TBA