Membership

What Membership Gives You

A lot of veterans find Colonial PVA and ask themselves the same question: is this really for me? Maybe you're still walking. Maybe your diagnosis is recent, or you've been managing things quietly on your own for years. Maybe you looked at our logo and assumed this community was only for people in wheelchairs.

It is. Whether you walk, use a cane, a walker, a wheelchair, or a power chair, you belong here. Colonial PVA is a peer-led community of veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders, at every level of severity and every stage of the journey. Our members include people who were diagnosed last year and people who have been part of this family for decades. What we share is this experience, and the belief that a full life is still ahead of you.

Membership is free, programs are free, and the commitment has no end date.

When you join Colonial PVA, you gain more than access to programs. You gain a community that checks in on you without you having to ask, and a family where veterans, caregivers, and spouses are all welcome from day one.

Here's what membership looks like:

People who get it.

The guidance here comes from lived experience, not a brochure. When a mentor takes a newly injured veteran golfing in a standing wheelchair, you're seeing one person show another what's still possible. That's what this community is built on, and it's what no clinical program or government system can replicate.

Benefits advocacy at no cost to you.

Colonial PVA's National Service Officers are trained specifically on spinal cord injuries and disorders. They know what to look for in a VA claim that others miss, and everything they win for you, you keep. There is no fee, and all back pay belongs entirely to you.

Programs that expand what's possible.

From the H.E.A.R.T. fellowship for veterans returning to meaningful work, to adaptive sports grants of up to $1,000 annually, to mentoring and weekly peer connection, Colonial PVA's programs exist to expand what's possible for you, not just accommodate what's changed. Members have gone scuba diving, skiing, adaptive hunting, fishing from accessible boats, and more.

Support for your whole family.

Caregivers, spouses, and family members are welcome here too. The Caregiver Support Program offers retreats, peer networks, and real resources for the people in your life, because this journey is rarely carried alone.

A community that shows up.

Colonial PVA stays proactive. Outreach calls, wellness check-ins, and consistent contact across every program mean no member quietly disappears. Once you're part of this family, you're part of it for life.

Who Qualifies for Colonial PVA Membership?

Colonial PVA serves veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders at every stage and level of severity. To qualify for membership, an individual must meet the following criteria:

Be a citizen of the United States

Was regularly enlisted, inducted, or commissioned, and was accepted for or on active duty in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Coast Guard of the United States or an ally of the United States

Was separated from the Armed Forces under conditions other than dishonorable or is on active duty or must continue to serve after the cessation of hostilities

Has suffered a spinal cord injury or disorder, whether or not service connected in origin

Related Disorders Include:

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) (all Veterans qualify)

Multiple sclerosis (MS) (all Veterans qualify)

Cauda equina syndrome

Poliomyelitis

Spina bifida

Spinal cord tumor

Severe spinal stenosis (causing neurological impairment)

Syringomyelia

Transverse myelitis

What Is Required with Your Membership Application?

A copy of your DD214

Proof of U.S. or U.S. Territorial Citizenship (Birth Certificate, Passport, INS Form, or Voter's Registration Form)

Medical evidence of spinal cord injury or involvement (medical records or physician's statement form)

If you meet all of the above criteria, you can fill out a Membership Application and mail it along with the required documentation to the chapter office at: Colonial Chapter PVA - 700 Barksdale Road, Suite 2 - Newark, DE 19711 - (302) 861-6671

Join Today

Becoming a member means becoming a vital part of the Colonial PVA family. Your membership fuels the advocacy, the programs, the outreach, and the community that shows up for veterans every day. You'll connect with others dedicated to empowering veterans, access every resource this chapter offers, and find that together, something real happens here.

Join today to make a lasting impact on this community, and to receive the full support you've earned.

Click for Membership Application