Year-long initiative spotlights PVA's distinctive role in advancing specialized care, advocacy, accessibility, and opportunity for disabled veterans and all people with disabilities

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Paralyzed Veterans of America today announced the launch of a new brand awareness campaign, "ONE of ONE." Designed to spotlight PVA's impact, the campaign also underscores its dual mission: supporting veterans with spinal cord injuries and diseases, like MS and ALS, and advancing the rights and well-being of all people with disabilities. The year-long initiative will feature 53 weeks of storytelling celebrating the people, programs, and impact behind PVA's work, as well as its vision for the future of the organization and disability community. It will also include book releases, program launches, public-facing brand activations, and celebrity PSAs—all uniquely tied to PVA. The series of announcements will culminate with PVA's "ONE of ONE" Gala in New York City on Sept. 9, 2027.

"Over the past 80 years, PVA has helped transform specialized care across the VA health care system, advanced disability rights and barrier-free design, pioneered wheelchair basketball and laid the foundation for the adaptive sports movement, supported groundbreaking research and education with leading institutions, and shared its expertise globally through publications across more than 60 countries in four languages," said Robert Thomas, U.S. Army veteran and PVA National President. "Its impact is not confined to one arena—it is built into the systems, standards, and opportunities that shape lives."

Each campaign moment will bring to life the breadth of PVA's work and its role in advancing change. The campaign will unfold through a series of milestones, including:

• SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 | Yes, You Can!: PVA will release a practical guide designed to help people newly injured or diagnosed with a spinal cord injury navigate life.
• SEPTEMBER 22, 2026 | "Voices of PVA:" PVA will launch its first podcast designed to inform, empower, and connect disabled veterans, people with disabilities, and those who support them.
• OCTOBER 1, 2026 | Access to the Skies Summit: PVA and All Wheels Up will assemble experts in aviation accessibility to discuss ways to break down barriers in air travel.
• APRIL 1, 2027 | Accessible Home Design: PVA will debut the fifth edition of its home design book focused on creating spaces that support accessibility, independence, and everyday living for wheelchair users.
• JUNE 2027 | Barrier-Free America Award: PVA will honor a leader whose work in accessible design is exceptional.
• JULY 14-19, 2027 | National Veterans Wheelchair Games: PVA and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will bring disabled veterans together for a week of competition, camaraderie, and a celebration of what is possible.
• SEPTEMBER 9, 2027 | "ONE of ONE" Gala: PVA will host an evening celebrating the individuals, partnerships, and progress that have defined its legacy while helping shape the future of its impact.
• THROUGHOUT 2027 | PVA on the National Stage: PVA will bring its message to the Consumer Electronics Show, South by Southwest,  major Penske races, like the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600, among other activations soon to be announced.

"What makes 'ONE of ONE' so meaningful is that it reflects PVA at its core," said Carl Blake, U.S. Army veteran and PVA CEO.  "We are not simply launching new resources, convening conferences, or appearing at marquee events. We're inviting the nation to see PVA through a new lens. The campaign is an opportunity to reach new audiences, deepen public awareness of PVA's long-standing role in the disability community, and reinforce our commitment as a trusted partner to veterans with spinal cord injuries and diseases, as well as the broader disability community."

What Makes PVA "ONE of ONE"

• EXPERTISE: PVA has licensed medical professionals, legal experts, and architects on staff who advocate for veterans' rights and benefits, improve access to specialized care, help shape national accessibility standards, and advance barrier-free design.
• ACCESS: PVA is the only nonprofit Veterans Service Organization granted access inside all 25 VA SCI/D centers, helping drive continuous improvements across the VA's specialized SCI/D care system.
• INNOVATION: PVA pioneered wheelchair basketball and helped establish the rules and regulations for adaptive sports, like disc golf, creating new opportunities for disabled veterans and people with disabilities to compete on a more level playing field.
• ADVOCACY: For 80 years, PVA has helped pass landmark legislation and shape policies—from the Americans with Disabilities Act and accessible air travel bills to voting rights and health care—advancing greater independence and opportunity for all people with disabilities.
• ADVANCEMENT: PVA supports groundbreaking research and education through studies, partnerships, grants, and initiatives with leading universities, including Yale, Harvard, and Stanford, helping advance knowledge, emerging technologies and better outcomes for people living with SCI/D.
• REACH: PVA extends its expertise worldwide through publications that reach more than 60 countries in four languages.

To learn more about PVA and its "ONE of ONE" campaign, visit us at PVA.org/OneOfOne, join the conversation online using #OneOfOne, and follow us on social media for updates.

About Paralyzed Veterans of America  
Paralyzed Veterans of America is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and the only congressionally chartered veterans service organization dedicated solely for the benefit and representation of veterans with spinal cord injury or diseases. The organization ensures veterans receive the benefits earned through service to our nation; monitors their care in VA spinal cord injury units; and funds research and education in the search for a cure and improved care for individuals with paralysis.   

As a life-long partner and advocate for veterans and all people with disabilities, PVA also develops training and career services, works to ensure accessibility in public buildings and spaces, and provides health and rehabilitation opportunities through sports and recreation. With more than 70 offices and 33 chapters, Paralyzed Veterans of America serves veterans, their families, and their caregivers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.   
To learn more, visit PVA.org.

Contact: Oname Thompson
OnameT@PVA.org
(703) 864-5980 cell

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SOURCE Paralyzed Veterans of America