The Book’s Purpose
Thousands of American service members are returning from Iraq, Afghanistan, and other recent conflicts in the global war on terror with physical and psychological disabilities. Many of these individuals will need at least some assistance to adapt to their disabilities and learn how to reintegrate back into civilian life. A number of them will not know where they can turn for help or may be reluctant to ask for it. Spouses, family members, and friends of service members will also have concerns and will want to help. Physicians, pastors, therapists, and counselors will want to provide assistance but may not know what they can do to help or what resources they can access.
This book serves three main audiences. It will:
● Help the hundreds of thousands of recently disabled veterans and returning service members understand their disabilities and provide resources to help them gain resiliency and reintegrate back into their communities.
● Offer guidance and resources for the family members and friends of veterans.
● Provide information, resources and advice to those who want to help the veteran.
Many men and women in uniform may not want to divulge their feelings or issue with their friends and families, so this book will provide readers with a discrete and private way to learn about war-related disabilities, understand their symptoms, and learn about what they can do next.
This book compiles and summarizes the information that disabled veterans and service members and their supporters need to know. It describes the ways that disabilities can impact an individual physically, psychologically, and spiritually. It provides a context to reassure the readers that they (or their veteran) are not alone in their thoughts, feelings, and pain. It shows how others have experienced the same problems and found solutions. Historical context is provided to illustrate changes in the way that our country thinks of disabilities and retuning service members and how this impacts each individual in uniform.
The editors of this volume assembled a collection of dedicated and knowledgeable contributors from non-profit organizations and the United States Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Labor. The contributors have all served in the military or provided services to the brave member and women who left behind parts of themselves on the battlefield (either physically or psychologically) as they kept the rest of Americans safe from terror.
