Grants for Adaptive Sports Programs for Disabled Veterans and Disabled Members of the Armed Forces

Program Description: The Adaptive Sports Grant (ASG) Program's purpose is to provide grants to eligible adaptive sports entities to plan, develop, manage, and implement programs to provide adaptive sports activities for disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces. Adaptive sports activities mean: (1) instruction, participation, and competition in adaptive sports; (2) training and technical assistance to program administrators, coaches, recreation therapists, instructors, VA employees, and other appropriate individuals; and (3) coordination, Paralympic classification of athletes, athlete assessment, sport-specific training techniques, program development (including programs at the local level), sports equipment, supplies, program evaluation, and other activities related to the implementation and operation of the program grants to adaptive sports entities that will coordinate or provide adaptive sports activities. Funding Priorities: The overriding goal for this NOFA is to ensure that appropriate levels of resources are provided to eligible adaptive sports entities with the greatest capabilities to meet the needs and priorities for disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces as described in the ASG Program goals and objectives, and provide adaptive sports activities in geographic regions where VA has identified limited sports opportunities for disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces.  Also, as specified in Public Law 115-244, $1.5 million of the $15.0 million appropriated for the ASG Program is designated for equine therapy for mental health issues.  See NOFA and VA Adaptive Sports Grant Program webpage for further details.