Kentucky Assistive Technology Services (KATS) Network Assistive Technology Resource Guide

The Veterans Administration (VA) operates a vocational rehabilitation and Education program for eligible veterans. Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment is an employment-oriented program that assists veterans with service-connected disabilities by offering services and assistance to help them prepare for, find and keep suitable employment. Suitable employment is work that is within the veterans’ physical, mental and emotional capabilities and matches their patterns of skills, abilities and interests. For veterans whose disabilities make employment unlikely, VA helps them attain as much daily living independence as possible.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) is a federal agency that oversees the various benefit programs available for honorably discharged veterans. The DVA is the largest single medical care system in the country and the largest purchaser of AT devices and equipment for persons with disabilities. In addition, the DVA operates a vocational rehabilitation program for eligible veterans. Thus, assistive technology can be provided to support a veteran in the vocational rehabilitation program to meet vocational goals and pursue gainful employment.

TRICARE Extended Care Health Option (ECHO) is a supplemental benefit program that provides services and supplies beyond the basic TRICARE military health care program. ECHO is available to active duty family members (ADFMs) who meet the qualifications of a specific physical, developmental and/or mental disability. The program provides beneficiaries with coordinated ECHO services and supplies to reduce the disabling effects of the qualifying condition or disorder.