VA to fund $8 million in grants for adaptive sports

VA is issuing a Notice of Funding Availability for up to $8 million in grants for fiscal year 2015 to provide adaptive sports opportunities for disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces throughout fiscal year 2016.

“We encourage non-profit organizations, Veterans’ groups, universities, municipalities and other eligible groups to apply for this funding,” said VA Secretary Bob McDonald. “Adaptive sports are more than recreation. Adaptive sports can play an important role in Veterans’ rehabilitation process and help ease the transition from the military to the civilian sector.”

Grants are available to non-federal entities with experience in managing a large-scale adaptive sports program for persons with certain disabilities. The grants call for planning, developing, managing and implementing appropriate adaptive sports activities geared to disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces. Adaptive sports are those that have been adapted or created specifically for people with disabilities.

Recipients may use grants for training, program development, coaching, sports equipment, supplies, program evaluation and other activities related to program implementation and operation. The deadline to apply is May 26, 2015.

Applications for the adaptive sports grant program may be found at www.grants.gov/view-opportunity.html?oppId=275304. Additional details are posted on the VA Adaptive Sports website www.va.gov/adaptivesports/va_grant_program.asp.

In FY 2014, VA awarded $8 million in adaptive sport grants to 65 organizations providing services throughout the United States to approximately 10,000 Veterans and Servicemembers.