• This survey is to express interest only – there is no firm commitment through completing the survey
• Should Move United match your needs with a training opportunity, we will contact you to confirm inclusion in our grant application
• Any training activities awarded can be completed October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025
•  Typically we apply for the costs to provide the training, certify attendees and for any equipment needs.  We may also provide support to local partnering organizations for an ongoing partnership to provide activity for your Veterans in the sport for which training was provided.  We do not cover internal (VAMC or DOD) costs such as onsite facility rental, VA staff travel or wages.
• Beneficiaries of the training must be VA staff, coaches, volunteers and trainers who teach disabled Veterans (at no cost to the Veteran).  Or also disabled Veterans themselves (trained or teach to train).
• Disabled Veterans under Move United’s Warfighter program include anyone in need of adaptive equipment and/or instruction.  Examples include TBI, Amputation, SCI, visual impairments, joint/nerve/muscle damage that impedes movement or function.
• Completing this survey United does not guarantee that training activity can be provided.  Projects will be dependent on matching training providers as well as whether our application is successful.
• Surveys may be completed without a support letter, however if training activities are included in our VA proposal a letter must be received by March 26, 2024

1. Complete the form below no later than March 15, 2024

2. Provide a support letter from your facility either by attaching directly to the form or emailing to jray@moveunitedsport.org no later than March 26, 2024

3. Move United will reach out to confirm whether we will include your site in our application. If so, VA internal approval process should begin at this time.

4. Move United is informed by the VA of projects/funding awarded in September

5. Partner sites are notified in September/October

6. Planning commences

Individuals with disabilities face far greater obstacles to healthy living than the general population.  According to the CDC and BLS, individuals with disabilities are more likely to be unemployed, poor, inactive, and obese.

Move United provides adaptive sports to individuals with disabilities as a means to (1) improve health, (2) increase access to employment and economic stability, (3) strengthen social support and (4) advance social norms and attitudes about people with disabilities. Each of the four items above are social determinants of health, according to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Healthy People 2020. Each are described below.

• Improve health

Participation in sports and recreation is known to benefit everyone, but especially people with disabilities. Adults with disabilities are 300% more likely to have heart disease, stroke or diabetes than adults without disabilities. A great deal of peer reviewed research validates the physical (strength, flexibility, cardiovascular) and psychological (confidence, quality of life, motivation) improvements that results in sports participation for youth and adults with disabilities (citations available).

• Increase access to employment and economic stability

Sports participation leads to improved health and confidence, which in turn leads to increased employment levels. In 2015, peer reviewed research showed that “playing an additional year of adaptive sport is associated with an approximately 4 percent increase in likelihood of employment every year for 10 years.”

• Strengthen social support

A key need for people with disabilities is having the social support networks that allows them to participate in society and interact with others with disabilities to learn ways to extend those networks.  Parents and family members, most often the strongest source of social support for individuals with disabilities, are unfamiliar with the support available. Move United’s network of 210 chapters across the U.S. provide an effective social support network based on sports that includes coaches, peers, friends and mentors.  In addition, Move United member organizations work with families, schools, hospitals and other organizations to extend support systems for youth and adults with disabilities.

• Advance social norms and attitudes

Although improving over time, society continues to stigmatize individuals with disabilities in social settings, including schools, media and the workplace. By having individuals with disabilities participating in sports with the public on the slopes, rivers and streets in communities across the U.S., personally held negative attitudes about disability change and society becomes increasingly inclusive of people with disabilities. Attitudes also change for people with disabilities as they see people with similar disabilities excel in life.

Trainees can be:

• Move United Member or Partner Organization volunteers or staff who serve Veterans and members of the Armed Services with disabilities at no cost to the Veteran.
• VA and Military employees who are delivering adaptive sports services to Veterans with disabilities
• Disabled Veterans who wish to to train as coaches, officials and sport providers

Event fees, educational materials and certification are provided at no cost to the trainees.  Travel funds are limited (typically only provided to the lead trainers)

*The VA-SPORT-24 grant may not pay for VA employee travel expenses.  Training and certifications may still be offered at no cost to the employee.

**Training participants may not profit from certifications gained through this grant opportunity 

Training activities are led by qualified individuals that are certified by their NGB or sports certifying agency at the train the trainer level.  Move United identifies and coordinates the qualified trainer/s.  No sport is excluded from this application as long as the training is accredited by a nationally recognized certifying agency.  It is the intention of the program that trainees receive some level of certificate of advancement through the training project, i.e. this grant is not designed for in-house volunteer training programs.  We particularly would like to hear from VAMC’s who would like to develop or expand their air rifle and pistol programs, or who have underutilized existing facilities due to lack of qualified instructors and/or adaptive equipment.

• Paradox Sports Adaptive Climbing Initiative training (particularly good for for VAMC’s that have an onsite climbing wall)
• USTA wheelchair tennis coach certification
• USMS Swimming Workshops
• ACA Adaptive Paddling Workshops
• USAWFL (Wheelchair Football) Clinics and Training
• Bike Instructor Certification Program Training (BICP)
• Level I Air Rifle Certification
• Track and Field Officials Trainings
• Para-Powerlifting Coaches Training
• Archery level 1 Certification
• Enhance Fitness Workshops (by Sound Generations)
• Certified Inclusive Fitness Trainer (CIFT)
• NOLS Wilderness Risk Management Training
• PSIA-AASI adaptive ski/snowboard instructor certification
• USA Triathlon Paratriathlon Coaching Certification