Independence Through Prosthetics
By Predeoux, Alethea; PN: Paraplegia News, Vol. 63, No. 8, pp. 47-50Publication Date: August 2009
Article outlines the process of obtaining prosthetic devices for injured veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) within the VA works to provide a wide range of prostheses to aid veterans with disabilities. The VA defines a prosthesis as a device that supports or replaces a body part or function. Devices, in addition to artificial limbs, that can be prescribed at VA medical centers and furnished through PSAS include (1) wheeled-mobility devices such as manual and power wheelchairs and motorized scooters, complete with support including maintenance assistance and repair; (2) recreational and sporting equipment such as handcycles, mono-skis, and sports wheelchairs for various games; (3) assistive devices for activities of daily living, including button hooks, patient lifts, reachers, long-handled sponges, grab bars, and bathtub benches; and (4) adaptive equipment to enter, exit, and operate a vehicle, provided through the PSAS Automobile Adaptive Equipment Program to veterans eligible for an Automobile Grant from VA’s Veterans Benefits Administration. Also described is the PSAS Home Improvement and Structural Alterations (HISA) Grant Program, which finances home modifications such as ramps and widened doorways. More information about PSAS can be found at http://www.prosthetics.va.gov/.
Published by: PVA Publications (Website:http://www.pvamagazines.com)
Paralyzed Veterans of America (Web Site: http://www.pva.org )
