Adaptive sports are competitive or recreational sports and activities customized to fit the needs of Veterans with disabilities, including paralympic sports, archery, cycling, skiing, hunting, rock climbing, and sky diving. These activities allow Veterans to rehabilitate through recreation and encourage an active and fit lifestyle.

“These grants help ensure that Veterans with disabilities have access to sports and activities that build independence and quality of life,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “These heroes served and sacrificed for our country, and we are proud to help them play the sports they love.”

Army Veteran Freddie De Los Santos joined the military after 9/11. After losing a leg in a devastating injury, he took up hand cycling as part of his rehabilitation. De Los Santos is now a para-cycling champion and proud to represent the U.S. through adaptive sports. He touts VA’s Adaptive Sports program’s benefits as a compliment to his VA health care services.

“The program helped me to incorporate myself back into society – mentally, socially, and physically,” said Army Veteran Freddie De Los Santos. “It has been the most rewarding experience being able to compete despite my disability.”

Over the last nine years, VA has awarded more than $100 million in adaptive sports grants to improve Veterans’ well-being and independence. Recipients of this year’s grants are located in 30 states and Puerto Rico.

VA awards grants to a range of organizations, including Veterans Service Organizations, city and regional municipalities, and other community groups. In addition to equine therapy, the grants will support a variety of sports opportunities for disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces, to include cycling, kayaking, archery, hunting and pickleball.

Learn more about the awardees and details of VA Adaptive Sports Program or @Sports4Vets on social media.

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Adaptive sports are competitive or recreational sports and activities customized to fit the needs of persons with disabilities, including paralympic sports, archery, cycling, skiing, hunting, rock climbing, and sky diving. These activities allow Veterans to rehabilitate through recreation and encourage an active and fit lifestyle.

“Adaptive sports improve Veterans’ physical and mental health,” said VA Director of the National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events Leif Nelson, DPT. “These VA grants will help ensure that Veterans with disabilities have access to sports and activities that build independence, well-being, and quality of life.”

“Without [the VA Adaptive Sports Grant] program, I never would have believed that I could ski with my disabilities,” said U.S. Army Veteran and retired infantry sniper Landon Ranker. “This program opened new doors for me in that way and allowed me to be a part of an active and athletic world that I never thought possible.”

In 2022, VA awarded $16 million in adaptive sports grants to 108 organizations headquartered in 32 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. VA has awarded a total of $100 million in adaptive sports grants in the last eight years to improve Veterans’ well-being and independence.

To be eligible for a grant, an organization must be a non-federal entity with significant experience in managing a large-scale adaptive sports program for persons with disabilities. Applications must be submitted online at www.grants.gov by 3 p.m., ET, April 11, 2023. VA will announce award decisions this fall based on a competitive selection.`

Details of the Notice of Funding Availability, including frequently asked questions and additional information can be viewed at VA Adaptive Sports Grant Program.

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Adaptive sports are competitive or recreational sports and activities customized to fit the needs of disabled Veterans and athletes, including Paralympic sports, archery, cycling, skiing, hunting, rock climbing and sky diving. These activities allow Veterans to rehabilitate through recreation and encourage an active and fit lifestyle.

This year, participants in VA’s Adaptive Sports Grant program also have the opportunity — for the first time ever — to receive certification in scuba, CrossFit and sailing. 

                      “Adaptive sports empower Veterans to live without limits,” said VA National Veterans                            Sports Programs & Special Events Director Leif Nelson, DPT. “These Veteran                                  athletes should be focused on having fun, staying healthy, competing, and rehabilitating                        – free of concern about the structural or financial challenges associated with adaptive                            sports – and that’s exactly what these grants will help them do.”

Navy Veteran Brad Snyder is a six-time gold medal winning Paralympic athlete who credits VA with the opportunity to participate in grant programs that support the Paralympics. 

“VA’s grant program goes a long way toward alleviating the financial burdens associated with athletic competitions, paving the way for some of our country’s most promising athletes to pursue dreams of victory and success in elite competitions such as the Paralympic Games,” said Snyder.

VA has awarded a total of $100 million in adaptive sports grants in the last eight years to improve Veterans’ well-being and independence.

Learn more about the awardees and details of the program. Follow @Sports4Vets for information on VA’s adaptive sports and arts programs. 

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