The crisis facing the nation in meeting the physical and mental health needs of the 1.8 million members of the Armed Forces having served in Iraq and Afghanistan is overwhelming and continues to grow. Thousands of injured military service members are returning home with hopes of successfully transitioning to civilian life. Many communities are not equipped to respond appropriately to their unique needs, nor are they aware of how to best work with military and veterans systems in the process.

Easter Seals' Military and Veterans Initiative responds to this call for action. As the largest provider of disability-related services to individuals with disabilities and their families, Easter Seals is positioned to offer military and veterans systems of care with viable options to support and augment current reintegration efforts.

Services for Military and Veterans' Communities
In communities nationwide, Easter Seals is being asked to help meet the needs of America's military service members and veterans with disabilities and their families. Our goal is to promote their successes by helping them attain their personal and family goals while becoming full participants within their own communities.

Camping and Recreation
Easter Seals has significant expertise in providing therapeutic recreation and camping services, and are tailoring these accessible programs and facilities to meet the needs of veterans with disabilities and their families.

Easter Seals has also partnered with the National Military Family Association to host week-long Operation Purple experiences for children of deployed parents at five Easter Seals affliate camp sites. Later this year, the partnership will stage Operation Purple Healing Adventure for service members and veterans with disabilities and their families at Easter Seals Camp ASCCA in Alabama.

Public Policy
Easter Seals believes that service members, veterans and their families deserve services delivered in an appropriate, timely, and accessible manner. Easter Seals' government relations team is working to influence federal and state legislation affecting service members, veterans and their families and actively engages with congressional staff in pursuit of these goals.

Transportation
Easter Seals is leveraging its federally-funded Project ACTION to provide transportation expertise and resources for veterans with disabilities and transportation systems.