The month of October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month and offers an excellent opportunity to shine a spotlight on the contributions of an often-times overlooked section of the American workforce that is disabled. As an estimated 27% of veterans are disabled due to their time in the service, it’s easy to see how providing resources for disabled workers also means providing resources for quite a few US veterans returning from their tours. Disabled veterans face unique challenges as they transition from military service to civilian employment, and NDEAM serves as a reminder of the importance of providing opportunities and support for these individuals.

Unique Challenges Faced By Veterans

Disabled veterans often encounter numerous obstacles as they seek employment in the civilian workforce. Their disabilities may be physical, such as combat-related injuries, or mental, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These challenges can make the transition from military service to the civilian job market a daunting prospect.

One of the key challenges is the potential mismatch between military skills and civilian job requirements. Many veterans possess valuable skills such as leadership, adaptability, and teamwork but may unfortunately struggle to transfer these skills to their civilian roles in an environment that is quite different from what they’re used to. Additionally, physical disabilities can create barriers to certain types of employment altogether.

Why Is NDEAM Important For Veterans?

National Disability Employment Awareness Month was established to raise awareness about disability employment issues and to celebrate the contributions of disabled workers. For disabled veterans, this month holds particular importance as it underscores the value they bring to the workforce and the need for inclusive hiring practices. All too often, veterans slip through the cracks in a system that can sometimes seem indifferent to their needs at best and downright hostile to their needs at worst. By utilizing NDEAM’s spotlight on the disabled workforce, we can further hone in on the struggle of our veterans to hopefully get them the help they desperately need and deserve.

What Can Employers Do?

If you’re an employer or other organization that is looking to make your workplace as inclusive as possible for disabled veterans, there are a few things you can look out for. This support includes:

1. Reasonable Accommodations: One of the easiest things you can do is to make reasonable accommodations for disabled veterans, such as modifying job duties or providing assistive technology. This can enable disabled veterans to perform their tasks more effectively or in a more comfortable way.
2. Veteran Hiring Initiatives: Many organizations have programs dedicated to hiring veterans, and these initiatives often extend to disabled veterans as well. These programs focus on matching veterans’ skills with specific job openings, which is an excellent way to utilize the skills of disabled veterans in your workforce.
3. Mentorship and Training: Veterans often benefit from mentorship and training programs that help them navigate the civilian workforce and build on their existing skills. Consider these types of programs to help ease the transition from a veteran’s military life to your civilian workforce, which can be especially jarring for veterans who are disabled.
4. Promoting a Supportive Culture: Fostering a workplace culture that is inclusive and supportive of veterans, including those with disabilities, is essential. This includes eliminating stigma around disabilities and promoting diversity and inclusion. Many companies today are already moving towards diversity and inclusion programs, so make sure not to fall behind if you aren’t already implementing these opportunities into your company culture.

Making the Most of NDEAM 2023

National Disability Employment Awareness Month is a time to celebrate the contributions of disabled veterans and promote opportunities for their continued success. By recognizing the unique skills and experiences that disabled veterans bring to the workforce and by providing the necessary support and accommodations, employers and society as a whole can ensure that disabled veterans find meaningful and fulfilling careers after their service to the nation. This October, let us remember and honor the sacrifices of our disabled veterans and take meaningful steps to support their journey in the civilian workforce.

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Are you a veteran in need of assistance? Click this link for a list of resources made specifically for you. If you’re having suicidal thoughts, please call either The National Veterans’ Foundation at 1-888-777-4443 or the VA Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (800-273-8255).

Both hotlines are free and confidential. If you’re not a veteran but would still like to help out, you can get involved through our donation page here.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that affects a significant number of military veterans, often stemming from their experiences in combat zones. The journey to recovery from PTSD can be challenging, but alternative therapies like horticulture therapy have shown remarkable promise in helping veterans heal and reclaim their lives. Horticulture therapy, the use of gardening and plant-related activities as a therapeutic tool, has gained popularity in recent years due to its proven benefits on mental health and overall well-being.

The Therapeutic Power of Gardening

Gardening has been a beloved pastime for centuries, and its therapeutic benefits are now scientifically recognized. Horticulture therapy involves engaging in gardening tasks such as planting, cultivating, and harvesting plants, as well as caring for them. These activities promote relaxation, reduce stress, and provide a sense of accomplishment and purpose – factors that can be particularly beneficial to veterans struggling with PTSD.

1. Stress Reduction: The act of gardening stimulates the production of endorphins, the brain’s “feel-good” chemicals, which help reduce stress and anxiety levels. The repetitive and rhythmic motions involved in gardening can induce a meditative state, calming the mind and promoting mental clarity.
2. Connection to Nature: Being surrounded by nature can have a profound impact on mental health. Horticulture therapy allows veterans to reconnect with nature, fostering a sense of peace and tranquility. The natural environment acts as a buffer against intrusive thoughts and triggers, providing veterans with a safe and therapeutic space to heal.
3. Sense of Purpose: After serving in the military, many veterans struggle with finding a sense of purpose in civilian life. Horticulture therapy provides a structured and meaningful activity that gives veterans a renewed sense of purpose. Watching plants grow and flourish under their care instills a sense of responsibility and accomplishment, boosting self-esteem and confidence.
4. Social Interaction: Group gardening sessions can be highly beneficial for veterans with PTSD, as they offer opportunities for social interaction and support. Working together towards a common goal fosters a sense of community and belonging, reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Managing Trauma with Horticulture Therapy

Horticulture therapy is tailored to meet the specific needs of veterans with PTSD. Therapists and horticulturists collaborate to design personalized programs that address the unique challenges faced by each individual. These programs incorporate therapeutic activities that encourage self-expression, emotional processing, and the development of coping strategies to manage trauma-related symptoms effectively.

Within the realm of horticulture therapy, mindfulness techniques hold a particularly crucial role. By encouraging veterans to be fully present while engaging in gardening tasks, they can effectively redirect their thoughts from traumatic memories, lessening the intensity of their PTSD symptoms.

Planting activities in horticulture therapy extend beyond the physical act itself; they also carry symbolic significance. Veterans can draw parallels between their journey of recovery and the growth of a seed into a thriving plant. This symbolism reinforces the idea that healing is not only possible but also achievable through this therapeutic process.

The environment necessary for horticulture therapy also plays a role in the recovery process. Horticulture therapy often unfolds in tranquil garden settings, providing veterans with a safe and calming environment that is beneficial to their healing process. The presence of natural elements, such as fresh air, sunlight, and greenery, plays a pivotal role in reducing stress levels and evoking positive emotions among the participants.

A unique facet of horticulture therapy lies in the creation of gardens specifically designed to be therapeutic both to the people who grow them and the people who visit them. These gardens are purposefully designed to promote healing and rehabilitation. By incorporating sensory elements, wheelchair-accessible pathways, and relaxation areas, they ensure that all veterans, regardless of their abilities, can experience the benefits of this therapeutic approach.

Planting the Seed…

Horticulture therapy has emerged as a powerful and effective tool in assisting veterans with PTSD on their journey to recovery. By harnessing the therapeutic power of gardening and nature, this innovative approach offers a safe space for veterans to process trauma, reduce stress, and rediscover a sense of purpose and belonging. As horticulture therapy continues to gain recognition, it is essential to advocate for its integration into mainstream mental health care, ensuring that all veterans have access to this transformative and life-affirming treatment. Even the most beautiful gardens begin with the planting of a single seed.

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Are you a veteran in need of assistance? Click this link for a list of resources made specifically for you.If you’re having suicidal thoughts, please call either The National Veterans’ Foundation at 1-888-777-4443 or the VA Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (800-273-8255).

Both hotlines are free and confidential. If you’re not a veteran but would still like to help out, you can get involved through our donation page here

It’s no secret that art can make us feel things. Who would care about the Mona Lisa if she didn’t evoke feelings of serenity and grace? Would the Statue of Liberty still be iconic if we didn’t get feelings of pride and awe from her every time we visit New York?

In short, art is powerful.

But the true power of art is not limited only to the people viewing it. Art can be just as powerful, if not moreso, for the artist themselves.

What is Art Therapy?

Art therapy is a form of recreational therapy first officially recognized in 1942. Through art therapy, traditional therapy methods are combined with artistic expression to help people overcome obstacles and distress in their day-to-day lives. The end goal is a sense of self-understanding and fulfillment, which art therapy is able to achieve thanks to a scientific approach and methodology.

Art therapy is more than just throwing someone in a room with a blank canvass and an easel so they can paint what makes them feel happy. Instead, art therapy begins much like a regular therapy session.

A prospective client sits down and talks to their art therapist about the goals they’d like to accomplish through the session. The art therapist listens to these goals, helps the client find the right medium for self-expression, and guides them along the way by asking helpful, thought-provoking questions.

After the piece is complete, the art therapist and the client will discuss how working on the piece made the client feel and together the pair will analyze the work itself through a lens of understanding and personal growth. By the end, the client has not only experienced an enjoyable session, but a session that leaves them with answers, fulfillment, and even a physical reminder of their journey of self-discovery that they can take home with them.

Is Art Therapy Effective?

Like many forms of therapy, you get out of it what you put into it. If you approach art therapy thinking it’s unlikely to ever work for you, you’re not likely to see any kind of positive results.

However if you go into the experience with an open-mind, you’ll likely see great results that lessen your anxiety and depression regardless of what the root cause of those symptoms happens to be. This means that art therapy can be effective in treating a wide variety of different disorders, which can include everything from eating disorders to Alzheimers and even PTSD as a result of seeing combat.

It may be hard to imagine art therapy being helpful to someone whose trauma manifested in a combat scenario, but some of the earliest uses of art therapy were to treat WW2 combatants suffering from shell-shock. Studies have shown that art therapy is especially helpful for veterans in three key ways:

1) By helping them express thoughts they’re having trouble articulating
2) By improving social relationships and reducing social detachment
3) By providing a general reduction in PTSD-related flashbacks, as well as lessening anxiety, providing methods to better control intrusive thoughts, reducing emotional numbness, and decreasing the chance of using unhealthy avoidance mechanisms.

Each of these things alone could make a huge difference in someone’s life, so taking the chance on art therapy to achieve all three is something every vet should seriously consider. Art therapy has been around for over 80 years and has a proven track record of helping many veterans and civilians alike to overcome their own personal hardships in order to lead better, more fulfilling lives.

And with results like that…what’s the harm in trying something new?

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Interested in art therapy? Check out https://arttherapy.org/art-therapist-locator/ to find an art therapist near you or https://creativets.org/ for a community of like-minded individuals.

Are you a veteran in need of assistance? Click this link for a list of resources made specifically for you.If you’re having suicidal thoughts, please call either The National Veterans’ Foundation at 1-888-777-4443 or the VA Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (800-273-8255).

Both hotlines are free and confidential. If you’re not a veteran but would still like to help out, you can get involved through our donation page here