The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) addresses many of a servicemembers concerns with adapting to civilian life with a disability.

The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability, in employment, State and local government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and telecommunications.  It also applies to the United States Congress.  It provides legal recourse should you be discriminated against as a result of your disability.

To be protected by the ADA, you must have a disability or have a relationship or association with an individual with a disability.  An individual with a disability is defined by the ADA as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such impairment. The ADA does not specifically name all of the impairments that are covered.

Home Accommodations

Veterans that have specific service-connected disabilities may be entitled to a grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs for the purpose of constructing an adapted dwelling or modifying an existing to meet the veterans needs. The goal of the Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Program is to provide a barrier-free living environment which affords the veterans a level of independent living he or she may not normally enjoy.

$50,000 Grant: VA may approve a grant of not more than 50 percent of the cost of building, buying, or adapting existing homes or paying to reduce indebtedness on a previously owned home that is being adapted, up to a maximum of $50,000. In certain instances, the full grant amount may be applied toward remodeling costs.

Veterans must be determined eligible to receive compensation for permanent and total service-connected disability due to one of the following:

1. Loss or loss of use of both lower extremities, such as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes or a wheelchair.
2. Loss or loss of use of both upper extremities at or above the elbow.
3. Blindness in both eyes, having only light perception, plus loss or loss of use of one lower extremity.
4. Loss or loss of use of one lower extremity together with (a) residuals of organic disease or injury, or (b) the loss or loss of use of one upper extremity which so affects the functions of balance or propulsion as to preclude locomotion without the use of braces, canes, crutches or a wheelchair.

$10,000 Grant: VA may approve a grant for the actual cost, up to a maximum of $10,000, for adaptations to a veteran’s residence that are determined by VA to be reasonably necessary. The grant also may be used to help veterans acquire a residence already adapted with special features for the veteran’s disability. Veterans must be entitled to compensation for permanent and total service-connected disability due to (1) blindness in both eyes with 5/200 visual acuity or less, or (2) anatomical loss or loss of use of both hands.

Transportation Accommodations

VA does have an Automobile Grant that can be used for purchasing a motor vehicle. Veterans and servicemembers qualify for this benefit if they have service-connected loss of one or both hands or feet, or permanent loss of use, or permanent impairment of vision of both eyes. Veterans entitled to compensation for ankylosis (immobility) of one or both knees, or one or both hips, also qualify for adaptive equipment for an automobile. There is a one-time payment by VA of not more than $8,000 toward the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance. VA will pay for adaptive equipment, and for repair, replacement, or reinstallation required because of disability, and for the safe operation of a vehicle purchased with VA assistance. the application form is VA Form 21-4502 Application for Automobile or Other Conveyance and Adaptive Equipment, which can be downloaded from http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/candpforms.htm. For more information, please call 1-800-827-1000.

VA does have an Automobile Grant that can be used for purchasing a motor vehicle.  Veterans and servicemembers qualify for this benefit if they have service-connected loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands or feet, or permanent impairment of vision of both eyes to a certain degree. Veterans and servicemembers entitled to compensation for ankylosis (immobility) of one or both knees, or one or both hips, also qualify for adaptive equipment for an automobile. There is a one-time payment by VA of not more than $11,000 toward the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance. VA pays for adaptive equipment, and for repair, replacement, or reinstallation required because of disability, and for the safe operation of a vehicle purchased with VA assistance. To apply, contact a VA regional office at 1-800-827-1000 or the nearest VA medical center.

Workplace Accommodations and Assistive Technologies

Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP)

CAP is committed to providing assistive technology and support to returning wounded service members. Accommodations are available for wounded service members with vision or hearing loss, upper extremity amputees as well as persons with communication and other disabilities to access the computer and telecommunication environment.

VA Independent Living Program

The Independent Living program is to make sure that each eligible veteran is able, to the maximum extent possible, to live independently and participate in family and community life increasing their potential to return to work. Services may include the following:

• assistive technology
• specialized medical, health, and / or rehabilitation services
• services to address any personal and / or family adjustment issues
• independent living skills training
• connection with community-based support services
   

Resources

DisabilityInfo.gov - A comprehensive online resource designed to provide people with disabilities with the information they need to know quickly and easily. With just a few clicks, the site provides access to disability-related information and programs available across the government on numerous subjects, including civil rights, community life, education, employment, housing, health, income support, technology and transportation.

U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) - HUD's one-stop resource for People with Disabilities.

ABLEDATA -  ABLEDATA, a federally funded project,  provides objective information about assistive technology products and rehabilitation equipment available from domestic and international sources.

Adaptive Environments Center Inc. - Adaptive Environments is an educational non-profit organization committed to advancing the role of design in expanding opportunity and enhancing experience for people of all ages and abilities.

Center for Universal Design - The Center for Universal Design is a national research, information, and technical assistance center that evaluates, develops, and promotes universal design in housing, public and commercial facilities, and related products.

Homes for Our Troops - Homes for Our Troops is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization strongly committed to helping those who have selflessly given to their country and have returned home with serious disabilities and injuries.  Assists injured service men and women and their immediate families by raising donations of money, building materials and professional labor and coordinating the process of building a new home or adapting an existing home for handicapped accessibility.

National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modification - a university-based, non-profit organization dedicated to promote aging in place and independent living for persons of all ages and abilities.