1.1. Help Hope Live-fundraising after catastrophic injury (formerly NTAF)

HelpHOPELive is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps patients and families facing transplantation or catastrophic injury afford uninsured medically related expenses through grass-roots fundraising.

HelpHOPELive provides the consultation needed to raise funds to bridge the gap between what health insurance will pay and what is actually needed to heal, live and thrive.

Patients, their families and community volunteers are given the tools to launch and sustain successful fundraising campaigns, providing:

• expert fundraising guidance and ongoing support;
• fiscal accountability in the collection, management and disbursement of funds raised;
• tax deductibility for donors.

Our office is located in Radnor, Pennsylvania, but we HELP HOPE LIVE for patients and families nationwide.  Call us: 800.642.8399.

 HelpHOPELive Online Application

1.2. Funding Your Handicap Accessible Van with a Grant

Funding Your Handicap Accessible Van with a Grant

1.3. Funding Sources Directory for iPads and other Mobile Devices

Funding Sources Directory for iPads and other Mobile Devices

BridgingApps has created a funding source directory or iPads and mobile devices.  We have received many questions from the BridgingApps community about how to get a device funded. We have begun to compile a list of organizations that grant iPads and similar devices to families who have children with special needs. Please use this list as a guide to explore ways to find such funding.

2.1. The Adam Taliaferro Foundation-(Athletes injured in NJ, PA and DE)

The Adam Taliaferro Foundation provides emotional, financial and educational support to student-athletes who suffer catastrophic head or spinal injuries in sanctioned team events in New Jersey, Pennsylvania or Delaware. The foundation also provides educational and financial support related to the research, prevention and care of such injuries.

2.2. The Bryon Riesch Paralysis Foundation

The Byron Riesch Paralysis Foundation's goal is to find a cure for paralysis through funding the latest in medical research and to provide assistance to those that suffer from neurological disorders.

2.3. Challenged Athletes Foundation's Access for Athletes Grants

Stepping in where medical treatment, rehabilitation and health insurance ends, Access for Athletes provides such equipment as adaptive sports wheelchairs, handcycles, and mono skis. After being awarded grants for new adaptive sports equipment, prosthetics and/or training and competition expenses, participants in the program can pursue a full and active life that includes sports.

2.4. The Chanda Plan Foundation (programs offer access to integrative therapies)

The Chanda Plan Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life for people with physical disabilities through education and programs to access integrative therapies.

Their  goal is to continue giving the disabled population services that can improve their overall health & participation in life. The ultimate aim is to help persons with disabilities heal their whole body in a Proactive! and Preventative! way.

Programs provide the means for people to be empowered to take control of their health vs. letting it take control of them. To determine eligibility and learn more about our programs, please visit the program session of our website:

Programs of the Chanda Plan Foundation

Contact Information:

The Chanda Plan Foundation

4226 Raritan Street

Denver, CO 80211

303.246.4290

2.5. Christopher Reeve Foundation Grants (for organizations only)

The Christopher Reeve Foundation (CRF) does not make grants directly to individuals with SCI. Instead, CRF provides Quality of Life Grants and Heath Promotion Grants to organizations nationwide that help improve opportunities, access and day-to-day quality of life for individuals living with SCI and their families.

2.6. CMMS Deshae Lott Ministries Quality-of-Life grants

CMMS Deshae Lott Ministries Inc works to help American citizens with severe mobility limitations maintain hopeful, purposeful, engaged lives by providing some financial support for medically-necessary home-health-care services not covered by insurance, private or governmental, and not covered by any other non-profit organization.  The 2013 grant cycle is accepting applications through July 1, 2013.

2.7. Conover Mobile Technology Grant

Conover Mobile Technology Grant

The purpose of the Conover Mobile Technology Grant is to promote the use of mobile technology and our apps to improve an individual's freedom and independence. Individuals, parents, caretakers, teachers, counselors, religious leaders, private organizations and public organizations within the United States are eligible to apply for this grant. The grants are currently targeted to the use of iPod and iPad devices to assist individuals in improving their ability to function independently in their homes, schools, workplaces and communities. Successful grantees will receive either an iPod or an iPad preloaded with all Conover Company Functional Skills System videos to assist individuals in developing freedom and independence.

2.8. The David Lytle Memorial Foundation

The David Lytle Memorial Foundation assists persons with spinal cord injuries in exploring opportunities they may not have realized were available to them.

2.9. Different Needz Foundation

The Different Needz Foundation has a mission to provide special needs individuals, families and organizations that support them with money to purchase medical equipment, therapy devices, adaptive toys and/or services.

2.10. The Dream Society (Florida only)

The Dream Request Program assists people with physical challenges to obtain the necessary equipment to achieve their dream of independence.

2.11. Dreams of Recovery Foundation

The Cindy Donald Dreams of Recovery Foundation is committed to creating a positive change for those individuals facing the many challenges which accompany spinal cord and/or brain injuries.

This foundation strives to help individuals receive therapies that are desperately needed and the necessary equipment that will help promote nerve regeneration and restore muscle mass.   Download an application to apply for a funding grant.

2.12. Faith's Hope

FAITHS HOPE is an acronym for Family Assistance In The Hospital Specializing in Helping Others Pay Expenses.The mission of Faith's Hope is to assist families who are facing homelessness and poverty due to the long-term illness or hospitalization of a loved one.The emotional and financial stress of serious illness and long-term hospitalization often results in families losing their jobs, their homes and even each other as the family unit dissolves under the pressure. Faith's Hope works with these families to pay utility bills, rent or mortgage and car payments, purchase groceries, and help cover other necessary costs that, because of major medical bills, the families may not otherwise be able to afford.

2.13. Fans Across America Assist-A-Family Registry

The Fans Across America Charitable Foundation is committed to helping families with seriously ill and special needs children. The Fans Across America Assist-A-Family Registry features families and their specific life needs (i.e. gas, groceries, utilities) and encourages the Fans Across America community as well as the family and friends of the designated family to make tax-deductible contributions to help fulfill their specific needs.

2.14. Friends of Man

Friends of Man, the charitable arm of the Institute for the New Man, gives help to people who find themselves in a situation where they have nowhere else to turn. It may be an elderly person on a fixed income, a working family whose child is struck by severe illness, an accident victim, a disabled person, or a schoolchild whose family can't afford basic needs.

Friends of Man helps people of all ages with a large variety of needs:

• Mobility Equipment: (prostheses, wheelchairs, van lifts, and modifications, ramps, home modifications)
• Medical Equipment and Procedures
• Hearing Aids, Dentures,Glasses
• Basic Needs: Clothing for Children, Food
• Short-term Daycare, Prescriptions, Cobra/Health Insurance
• And More!!

2.15. HeadNorth (San Diego, CA)

HeadNorth is dedicated to providing HELP and HOPE for spinal cord injury survivors.

HeadNorth meets the transitional needs of SCI survivors, from recovery to rehabilitation to the reintegration into an active lifestyle. HELP is provided through our two core programs; the Recover program and the Thrive program. Through each program, resources, Peer Support and financial assistance helps the injured and their families as they face the daily challenges of living with a SCI and paralysis. Along with our Day in a Chair awareness program, HeadNorth makes a positive impact in our entire San Diego community.

2.16. The Kevin Kitchnefsky Foundation for Spinal Cord Research(PA only)

The Kevin Kitchnefsky Foundation for Spinal Cord Research offers differnt types of grants that are given to individuals and organizations located in Pennsylvania who help people with Spinal Cord Injury.

2.17. Modest Needs Emergency Fund

Modest Needs offers grants to low-income but generally self-sufficient households, displaced workers struggling to return to the workforce, permanently disadvantaged persons struggling to afford medical care, and small non-profit organizations. The Emergency Fund exists to fund qualified applications for assistance under any of our standing grant programs that are both critically time-sensitive and which, in the judgment of management of Modest Needs, will have a substantial, positive, long-term impact on the life of the grantee if funded absolutely as quickly as possible.

2.18. Parker's Purpose Foundation Assistance

Parker's Purpose Foundation Assistance
PHONE:  (419) 334-7275
Any family who has a minor (18 and under) with a life altering illness or disability that is in an immediate financial crisis due to unforeseen medical expenses. Families who live in Ohio will be first priority in providing assistance but will extend outside the state if deemed necessary.

2.19. Ray Tye Medical Foundation

The Ray Tye Medical Foundation charter and mission is dedicated to funding in-hospital life saving medical treatment and surgeries for those who do not have medical insurance, and for which no other financial resources are available.

2.20. Repair and Rehabilitation Grant (for persons over 62)

A grant is available to dwelling owner/occupant who is 62 years of age or older. Funds may only be used for repairs or improvements to remove health and safety hazards, or to complete repairs to make the dwelling accessible for household members with disabilities.

2.21. Rick Hansen Foundation (Canada only)

 Rick Hansen Foundation individual grants provides direct funding to Canadian individuals with disabilities including spinal cord injury and other injuries, diseases and birth conditions, including (but not limited to) stroke, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who have specific needs that cannot be met by existing programs, services or funding sources.

2.22. SCORE (Spinal Cord Opportunities for Rehabilitation Endowment)

SCORE aims to assist young people who have been injured while participating in sporting events or athletic recreation. SCORE endeavors to improve the quality of life for people with a spinal cord injury, assisting with the substantial out-of-pocket costs associated with obtaining the best medical care, home amenities and transportation. The end goal is to facilitate rehabilitation and independent living.

2.23. The Sunshine Lady Foundation

The mission of the Sunshine Lady Foundation is to invest in organizations and programs dedicated to providing opportunities for the advancement of education, well being and new life choices for disadvantaged people with special empathy for the working poor and families in crisis.

Acknowledging that good luck does not shine equally on everyone, the Sunshine Lady Foundation directors, staff and volunteers, known as Sunbeams, seek out ways to effectively share financial support, goodwill, energy and vision with those who need it most, and to encourage collaborative efforts within the community to help achieve this mission.

The Sunshine Lady Foundation is a private family foundation founded in 1996 by Doris Buffett and funded through her generosity. The mission of the foundation reflects the mid-western values and no-nonsense approach to decision-making that Doris grew up with in Omaha, Nebraska.   Each Sunshine Lady Foundation grant is considered an investment, and the decision to grant funds is always based on an expected successful return.  Doris Buffett is grateful to her father, Howard Buffett, and brother, Warren Buffett, not only for providing her with the wealth to fund the foundation but also for their inspirational examples of integrity and generosity.

The Sunshine Lady Foundation does not accept requests for consideration of funding from individuals or organizations outside of the United States, or for the following purposes:

• -  business investments of any type or grants to businesses
• -  loans of any type, either personal or business
• -  payment of medical debt or school loans
• -  academic or scientific research
• -  graduate study
• -  conferences, seminars or trips
• -  environmental or animal protection causes
• -  general fund-raising drives or events
• -  religious organizations for religious purposes
• -  the Arts

Please contact the foundation directly to learn more about grant possibilities. 

103 S 11th Street # B, Morehead City, NC, 28557-4105

Phone: (252) 240-2788

2.24. Travis Roy Foundation

Travis Roy Foundation gives grants to individuals who have a spinal cord injury.

2.25. Triumph Foundation

Triumph Foundation is a 501c(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to help individuals with Spinal Cord Injury triumph over their disabilities and to inspire them to keep moving forward with their lives by pushing themselves to get better every day. 

Triumph Foundation works to minimize the obstacles that one faces after suffering Spinal Cord Injury.  We specialize in galvanizing and restoring lives after Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). 

The cornerstone of our outreach is giving newly injured people Care Baskets that are like tool-kits which provide information and resources about the many organizations, assistance programs, and activities that exist to help people with an SCI with their new beginning and to enable them to keep living their lives to the fullest potential.

We are also involved within the SCI community by taking leadership roles in support groups, helping people plan home modifications for wheelchair accessibility, assisting people with financial constraints to get needed equipment & supplies, expanding Disabled Sports & Fitness opportunities, and providing mentorship & advocacy.

2.26. Walking with Anthony

Walking with Anthony will raise funds to expand Project Walk and other rehabilitation centers, support research relating to spinal cord injury rehabilitation and, most importantly, provide financial assistance to spinal cord injured persons.

3.1. 180 Medical-College Scholarship Program

3.2. 1800wheelchair Scholarship

1800Wheelchair.com offers an annual scholarship award to an undergraduate student. The scholarship is open to students of any major or concentration. Although not a requirement, preference will be given to students with mobility disabilities.

3.3. American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD) Scholarship Program

In 2009, AAHD created the AAHD Scholarship Program, which will support students with disabilities who are pursuing higher education. Preference will be given to students who plan to pursue undergraduate/graduate studies in the field of public health, health promotion, disability studies, to include disability policy and disability research.

3.4. AmeriGlide Achiever Scholarship

The AmeriGlide Achiever Scholarship is a scholarship offered to full-time college students who use either a manual wheelchair, power wheelchair, or a mobility scooter. One applicant will be selected to receive a $2,500 scholarship award. Their goal is to contribute to the future of a wheelchair user by offering the winning student financial assistance to help cover the expenses of tuition and books. 

In addition, the school of the applicant who wins will receive a free swimming pool lift that allows them to offer more accessibility to their handicapped students and staff, as well as comply with new ADA requirements.

3.5. The Bryon Riesch Paralysis Foundation

A $1000 to $2000 scholarship shall be awarded to two to three individuals with neurological disabilities, or the child of that person, for post high school education by The Bryon Riesch Paralysis Foundation.

3.6. ChairScholars Foundation

The ChairScholars Foundation provides scholarships for college or vocational training to low-income students with severe physical disabilities - allowing them the opportunity to pursue their dreams. Any young person with a physical disability and a dream can apply for a scholarship.

3.7. CMMS Deshae Lott Ministries postgraduate scholarships

CMMS Deshae Lott Ministries Inc works to help American citizens with severe mobility limitations maintain hopeful, purposeful, engaged lives by providing some financial support for medically-necessary home-health-care services not covered by insurance, private or governmental, and not covered by any other non-profit organization. Many students pursuing an education beyond a bachelor's degree require scholarships, assistantships, or student loans to fund their education; students with disabilities often have higher costs of living, and these scholarships seek to address such needs.

3.8. College Scholarships for Students with Parents with Disabilities

Through the Looking Glass and its National Center for Parents with Disabilities and their Families announce new scholarships specifically for high school seniors and college students who have parents with disabilities.

***EXPANDED ELIGIBILTY FOR 2013 THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS SCHOLARSHIPS

Through the Looking Glass and its National Center for Parents with Disabilities and their Families have expanded the eligibility requirement for its 2013 Scholarships for Students who have Parents with Disabilities.   In addition to students enrolled in a two- or four-year college, students who attend an accredited technical or vocational school are also eligible to apply for these scholarships.  

A total of fifteen $1000 scholarships will be given out Fall 2013.  There are separate eligibility requirements for high school seniors and for college students:

1. High School Seniors.  To be eligible, a student must be a high school graduate (or graduating senior) by Summer 2013.  The student must be planning to attend a two-year or four-year college in Fall 2013, or enrolled in an accredited vocational or technical school during 2013.  The student must be pursuing a certificate, license, AA, AS, BA or BS degree, and have at least one parent with a disability.

2. College Students. To be eligible, a student must be currently enrolled in a two-year or four-year college in Fall 2013, or enrolled in an accredited vocational or technical school during 2013.  The student must be pursuing a certificate, license, AA, AS, BA or BS degree, be 21 years of age or younger as of  March 11, 2013, and have at least one parent with a disability.

All application materials must be postmarked by March 11, 2013.  Individuals may submit only one application per award period. 

3.9. Craig Hospital Alumni Scholarship

With support from the Denver Alumnae Chapter of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, the Trigiano Foundation and other community contributions, graduates of Craig can apply for financial support for higher education from the Craig Hospital Alumni Scholarship Fund.

3.10. disABLEDperson, Inc. National Scholarship

disABLEDperson Inc. will be holding their annual nationally based scholarship competition for disABLED college students. It is an essay competition with a $1500 dollar award.

3.11. Ethel Louise Armstrong Foundation

The ELA Scholarship provides financial assistance to women with physical disabilities who are enrolled in a college or university graduate program in the United States.

3.12. Foundation for Science and Disability

FSD has established a Science Graduate Student Grant Fund, which is available to fourth year undergraduates (who are disabled and have been accepted to a graduate or professional school in the sciences) and graduate science students who have a disability. Awards of $1000 each are made to qualified college or university students in any field of Mathematics, Science, Medicine, Technology, or Engineering.

3.13. Fulbright Programs

The National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange and the U.S. Department of State encourages the participation of people with disabilities in Fulbright programs to reflect diversity and provide overseas opportunities to qualified people regardless of disability. As needed, disability-related accommodations such as adaptive computers, personal assistants or sign language interpreters have been provided to Fulbright award recipients.

3.14. Incight Scholarship

Incight is providing scholarships for disabled students. The only two requirements for application is that the applicant have a documented disability (of any type, be it physical, learning, cognitive, etc.) and that s/he be a full time student at any college, university, trade school, etc.

3.15. Inclusion Scholars Program

AT & T and NAFEO have joined forces to launch the Inclusion Scholars Program (ISP), a scholarship initiative that will provide scholarships to students with disabilities attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). For further information on the Inclusion Scholars Program, please contact Ms. Tamisha Marsh at 202-552-3300 or tmarsh@nafeo.org  .

3.16. Independence Foundation Scholarship

The Independence Foundation Scholarship was created to help individuals with physical disabilities pay for the ever growing expense of college. The Scholarship of $500 will be awarded to Three (3) individuals with a noteworthy physical disability.

3.17. The Orion Fund Grants

Each year The Orion Fund awards grants to California college students with serious illness or injury. If you are in college, under the age of 30, and have a serious medical condition affecting your ability to stay in school, then The Orion Fund can help. Grants generally range from $300 to $3000.

3.18. Physically Challenged Athletes Scholarship Fund

In order to qualify for a scholarship, applicants must have suffered an illness or injury that resulted in a physical disability that substantially limits major life activity; have participated in organized high school or college athletics prior to the illness or injury; meet admissions requirements of the selected university, and maintain a 2.5 GPA while enrolled.

3.19. SpinLife Innovation in Motion Scholarship Program

The annual program will provide one $500 scholarship and is open to students who are manual or power wheelchair users enrolled at an accredited 4-year institution.

3.20. Ted's Dream Scholarship Program

The scholarship from the Dream Society covers living expenses while attending college/university, such as: Personal care attendant, Food, utilities, etc.

4.1. Mobility Vehicle and Access Loans

Available from Digital Federal Credit Union as part of membership benefits through the American Association of People with Disabilities (only $15/year)

4.2. Access Loans from Bank of America

Bank of America Access Loans provide affordable and flexible terms for individuals with disabilities or access needs. Purchase the equipment you need to make your home and car accessible. Available in AZ, AR, CA, CT, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, MA, MD, ME, MO, NH, NJ, NV, NY, NM, NC, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA, & the District of Columbia.

4.3. Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) discharge of student loans

It's Possible to Discharge a Student Loan Because of Disability

As of 2011, the average college student (graduate and undergraduate) left school with $23,300 in debt. Repayment of student loans has always been difficult, but with the economy still working its way back, many recent graduates have no jobs and no way to pay back their loans. People with disabilities that prevent them from working face an even more desperate set of challenges.

Fortunately, people with disabilities can apply for disability discharges of loans from the following programs: Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL), Perkins Loans, William D. Ford Federal Direct Loans (Direct Loans), and Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants.

To qualify for a disability discharge, a borrower must show that she has a physical or mental impairment that will either result in death or has lasted or will be expected to last more than 60 months. (Different, less stringent rules apply to veterans with disabilities.) The borrower's doctor must submit paperwork to the U.S. Department of Education certifying the borrower's condition, and, if approved, the loan will be conditionally discharged.

Once a loan is conditionally discharged, the borrower must not engage in employment that results in income exceeding the federal poverty rate for a family of two for the next three years. Once the three-year period has passed, the loan will be completely discharged.

No one wants to default on his obligations, but if a borrower cannot repay a loan due to disability, he should promptly apply for a disability discharge so that the funds he would normally spend on loan repayment can be directed towards future care.

To read the Department of Education's guidelines for obtaining a disability discharge, click here.

  from the Academy of Special Needs Planners

5.1. Free catheters

CathForFree

A wholesaler who buys in large volumes for their clients and has direct accounts with major manufacturers such as Mentor, Bard, Hollister, Coloplast, etc. Every month they clean out their inventory and send it to individuals who use and need intermittent catheters. The free catheters are all brand-new and individually wrapped but have been taken out of their box. This offer is only good in the USA.

5.2. My Part D USA

My Part D USA is a national organization specializing in Medicare Drug Plan Enrollments, Medicare Drug Assistance Programs, and Coordination of Medicare Health Insurance Benefits. Provide free and confidential comparison of Part D Drug Plans.

5.3. Needy Meds

Needy Medsis a  501(c)(3) non-profit information resource devoted to helping people in need find assistance programs to help them afford their medications and costs related to health care. NeedyMeds was founded in 1997 by Richard Sagall, MD and Libby Overly, MSW when Libby was working as a medical social worker in a rural Mississippi. She developed a database of PAP information to help her meet the needs of her clients. When she described this database to Rich, a friend with a medical practice in Bangor, Maine, he conceptualized making the information available on the Internet to make it available to more people. This was the beginning of NeedyMeds.

NeedyMeds' mission is to be the best source of accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date information on programs that help people facing problems paying for medications and health care; to assist those in need in applying to programs; and to provide health-related education using innovative methods.

NeedyMeds is funded by small grants, donations, sponsorships, subscriptions to PAPTracker, and syndication of various database information. NeedyMeds also works with the patient assistance programs of several pharmaceutical distributors.

Print out your own card and search for participating pharmacies.

For more information about NeedyMeds, click on the links below:

• NeedyMeds' History
• Staff Profiles
• The NeedyMeds' Board of Directors
• Contact NeedyMeds
• Privacy Statement

The NeedyMeds Brochure is available to organizations that assist people who need help paying for their medicine. Click HERE to learn more.

Patient Advocate Newsis a bimonthly free PDF newsletter that keeps advocates current on what changes have occurred in patient assistance programs, contains interviews with people who work for health-related organizationsand noteworthy health care news.

Read our privacy policy.

Copyright ©2013 by NeedyMeds, Inc.
Contents may not be reproduced in any form
except for personal use
and may not be used on any other website without permission.

5.4. NORD's Medication Assistance Programs

NORD works closely with humanitarian-minded pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to ensure that certain vital medications are available to those individuals whose income is too high to qualify for Medicaid but too low to pay for their prescribed medications.

5.5. Partnership for Prescription Assistance

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance helps qualifying patients without prescription drug coverage get the medicines they need through the program that is right for them. Many will get their medications free or nearly free.

5.6. Rx Outreach

ESSDS developed Rx Outreach to provide a safe, affordable, and easy way for people of all ages to get medicines they need. The program offers prescription medicines to uninsured individuals and families, as well as those who have limited prescription drug coverage.

6.1. Keystone Hope Special Needs Foundation

Do you have a child with special needs? Maybe you have an adult dependent living with a condition that requires special attention and care. If you pass away, leaving $2,000 or more in assets, your dependent will lose their Social Security, and their Medicaid card. It's the law.

Many families with special needs children aren't aware of this law or don't know where to turn for help. What can be done to ensure the security for your child or dependent after you are gone? Where will your child live, who will take care of them? Will he or she be dependent on the government for his or her lifetime? Is there hope for a secure resolution?

There is hope. Keystone Hope Special Needs Foundation can chase away that big cloud of worry that hovers over you and your family. We can locate an approved attorney to assist with the estate planning, and develop specific types of trusts so that you can sleep easier. Keystone Hope will assist you with legal fees, and can likewise help to locate meaningful transitional employment for the child or dependent. The goal at Keystone Hope is to remove the doubt, fear, and worry associated with facing the inevitable truth.

6.2. Academy of Special Needs Planners

The purpose of this site, sponsored by the Academy of Special Needs Planners, is to provide a general overview of strategies parents and others can use to plan for their own futures and for those of family members with special needs.

6.3. Qualified Disability Trusts

A Qualified Disability Trust  (QDT) results in lower income taxes for the trust.  This site explains how a 'special needs trust' becomes a QDT.   Attorneys who are unfamiliar with Special Needs Trusts may not be aware of this particular advantage.

6.4. Find a Special Needs Attorney

Members of the Academy of Special Needs Planners all devote a significant part of their practices to working with individuals with special needs and with their families to plan for the future.....

Find a Special Needs Attorney  Search by state or fill out a form for assistance to locate an attorney in your area.

7.1. My money.gov

www.mymoney.gov - An official government website dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics of financial education; filled with information and easy to use.  Provides useful resources to persons seeking information that can help with their personal financial decisions.

7.2. Pediatric funding sources

Pediatric funding sources

8.1. VetsFirst

Our mission continues in the spirit of James J. Peters and his tireless work to help America's veterans.

Our Mission

VetsFirst is a program of United Spinal Association that directly assists veterans and their eligible family members obtain the benefits they are entitled to, deserve and need.

We advocate for all generations of veterans, including individuals living with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries.

Our advocacy efforts go far beyond offering words of support and encouragement. We take this fight to Capitol Hill to bring attention to issues that matter most to the men and women who proudly served our country.

VetsFirst's network of National Service Officers provides free assistance, resources, and representation for veterans struggling to navigate the intricate and often confusing VA claims process.

We connect with over 2,000 veterans annually through our call center and online help desk. Our staff tackles each case individually, taking the time to discuss self-help tips and assist with questions on military separation, claims appeals, and state benefits. We offer assistance and representation in claims for benefits and services before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, other Federal and state agencies and legal representation before the U. S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

In addition to providing individual support and counseling services, VetsFirst offers timely news and information across the spectrum of issues presently impacting veterans, including guides on self-help, state benefits, separating from the military, as well as exclusive feature stories on military health care and VA funding and compensation.

Our History

VetsFirst is an exciting new name for an existing United Spinal Association program. United Spinal, and now VetsFirst, has a long and illustrious history assisting and representing veterans and their eligible family members.

Unlike other organizations, United Spinal––a VA recognized veterans service organization––strives to ensure the organization remains an instrument for veterans rather an institution.

United Spinal's history began in 1946 when a group of paralyzed World War II veterans from New York City and the surrounding area banded together to raise awareness of the alarming plight of their fellow paralyzed veterans. Rejecting the poor treatment they received at their local VA hospitals, they led the charge for greater civil rights and independence, forming the congressionally chartered Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA). United Spinal, formerly known as Eastern Paralyzed Veterans of America (EPVA), was a chapter of PVA.

As the organization matured under the leadership of James J. Peters in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, United Spinal helped improve the quality of health care for veterans, backing words with deeds and dollars by winning denied benefits for individual vets and investing money in VA programs and infrastructure. These efforts have been a boon to every American with a disability.

In 1970, Peters convinced Life magazine to run a cover story exposing the deplorable conditions facing Vietnam veterans with spinal cord injuries at the Bronx VA Medical Center. The story sparked a national outrage and convinced Congress to raze the facility and build a brand new hospital with special attention to SCI. In 2005, the hospital was renamed in honor of Peters and his work to ensure all veterans receive quality health care.

In 2007, United Spinal created its VetsFirst program to better assist members and other veterans. In order to adapt to a changing world and economy United Spinal founded VetsFirst, Inc. in 2009. VetsFirst, Inc., a 501(c)(3) was created for the sole and express purpose of providing financial support to United Spinal's VetsFirst program.

Today, VetsFirst continues the important work to uphold the values, objectives and mission needed for our nation's veterans no matter when or where they served.

8.2. Wounded Warrior Project

The WWP provides vital assistance to severely injured service members at the critical time between their hospital recovery and their transition to civilian life back home.

8.3. Paralyzed Veterans of America's Veterans Benefits Department

VBD provides free, comprehensive benefits and medical counseling, assistance, and representation

8.4. Disabled War Veterans Scholarship

The AFCEA Educational Foundation is pleased to offer the Disabled War Veterans Scholarships. These $2,500 scholarships, co-sponsored by Microsoft employees and the AFCEA Educational Foundation, are offered twice annually to active-duty service personnel, honorably discharged U.S. military veterans, reservists, and National Guard personnel who are disabled because of wounds received during service in Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan or Iraqi Freedom Operations.

8.5. Segs4Vets

DRAFT's Segs4Vets program will present Segways to soldiers, Marines, airmen and National Guardsmen who lost limbs and sustained other disabling injuries serving our Nation in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.