Supporting our Veterans with Disabilities – A Memorial Day Blog

A guest blog with information provided by Shane Nicholson, Outreach Manager, Legal|Finders and prologue from Stan Kimer

Prologue: Both people with disabilities and veterans are often quite an under-utilized source of talent, and organizations need to do more to provide employment opportunities for these communities to contribute to our economy. Part of my consulting practice focuses on building inclusive recruiting strategies (I am offering a 4-hour workshop through the National Diversity Council in August). This blog now provides resources for veterans with disabilities getting the legal support that they need.

From Shane Nicholson:

In the United States in 2020, there were 4.7 million veterans with a service-connected disability — or a debilitating injury they incurred during active duty service, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Disabled veterans, or those veterans who are facing debilitating illness or injury post-combat, may face great challenges when they return home — challenges beyond the scope of their injuries. Legal|Finders is a resource connecting people to best-in-class lawyers in their local areas. Because of our passion for community involvement, we wanted to use our expertise to create free informational resources for our often-forgotten veterans.

In our guide, https://www.legalfinders.com/disabled-veterans-guide/, we dive into different points such as:

* Why Disabled Veterans Experience Lack of Resources
* Discrimination Against Disabled Veterans
* Important Rights for Disabled Veterans
* National Resources to Help Bridge the Gap

Introduction: At Legal|Finders, we have made it our mission to serve those who have selflessly served our nation. With a deep respect for the sacrifices made by veterans, we have established a specialized practice dedicated to providing comprehensive legal assistance to veterans and their families. Our team of experienced attorneys is passionate about supporting veterans through the complex legal landscape, ensuring they receive the benefits, compensation, and justice they deserve.

Expertise in Veterans’ Law. Understanding the unique challenges faced by veterans, our law firm has developed an extensive expertise in veterans’ law. Our dedicated team possesses an in-depth knowledge of the laws and regulations that govern veterans’ benefits, disability claims, healthcare, employment, housing, and other critical areas. We are well-versed in the intricacies of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) system and the appeals process, enabling us to navigate the complex bureaucracy on behalf of our clients.

Veterans returning home need an equitable opportunity to find jobs leveraging their skills

Comprehensive Legal Services. We provide a wide range of legal services tailored specifically to meet the needs of veterans. Whether you require assistance with disability claims, appealing denied benefits, obtaining healthcare coverage, securing employment rights, resolving housing disputes, or addressing other legal matters, our team is here to guide you every step of the way. We are committed to ensuring that veterans and their families receive the support and resources necessary to rebuild their lives and achieve a brighter future.

Personalized Approach and Compassionate Advocacy. At Legal|Finders, we understand the personal and emotional impact that legal issues can have on veterans. That’s why we take a personalized approach, taking the time to listen, understand your unique circumstances, and tailor our legal strategies accordingly. Our team of compassionate advocates is dedicated to providing the highest level of representation, guiding veterans through the legal process with empathy, patience, and respect. We strive to empower our clients by keeping them informed, involved, and actively engaged in their cases.

Collaborative Network and Resources. To better serve our veteran clients, we have cultivated a robust network of professionals and resources. We work closely with medical experts, vocational rehabilitation specialists, counselors, and other professionals who understand the specific needs of veterans. This collaborative approach allows us to develop comprehensive and well-rounded legal strategies that address not only the legal aspects but also the broader challenges veterans may face. We are committed to connecting veterans with the support services and resources they require to enhance their overall well-being and quality of life.

Conclusion: At Legal|Finders, we take immense pride in assisting the heroes who have bravely served our country. Our unwavering dedication to veterans’ rights, combined with our extensive legal expertise, ensures that veterans and their families receive the comprehensive support they deserve. If you are a veteran in need of legal assistance or seeking guidance on any veterans’ legal matters, we are here to help you navigate the path toward justice, benefits, and a brighter future.”

The Broad Impact of State Anti-LGBTQ Legislation

This year in my state of North Carolina and several other states across the country, state legislatures are introducing and passing laws that target LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) people. These laws have significant business, community and personal impact, and because of intersectionality, ramifications can be felt far beyond the LGBTQ community.

The vast majority of these laws (link to a list of all these laws) target the transgender community, including prohibiting parents from seeking medical care of their trans children, legislating how doctors can treat trans patients, prohibiting trans teens from participating in sports, and even outlawing drag queens!

Impact on People. Transgender and queer people are now being told by their political leaders that there is something wrong, bad or sick about them. Politicians are declaring that these people are not equal Americans, but instead evil people who are a scourge on society and need to be rooted out. Through their actions, these politicians are telling us transgender people and drag queens harm more people than AK45 assault rifles! This kind of horrible messaging can lead to depression, mental illness and suicide, as well as other citizens targeting them for bullying or even assault and murder.

Impact on the LGBTQ community.  When an entire community is targeted for hateful action by political leaders, it damages the community. It can lead to destructive behavior and mental illness instead of empowering a community to contribute their best to society. It sets up neighbors against each other, causing division and strife in the community.

Economic / business impact. People need to remember the $400 million in lost revenue when North Carolina enacted our anti-transgender anti-gay HB2“ bathroom bill” in 2016. The NBA moved their all-star game out of state and several major companies cancelled or curtailed their financial investments in NC. Over the past few months, I have been told by some company managers and even leaders in one branch of our US military that they are not able to recruit employees or get people to move to states that have these hateful laws out of fear for themselves or their families.

What should we do? Individuals need to show empathy and support for their LGBTQ+ friends and family members impacted by these laws. People need to stop voting for any politician who votes for harmful hateful legislation. And companies and organization need to assure they do not give a single penny to these politicians. Companies absolutely cannot claim to be pro-diversity or LGBTQ supportive and then support such political leaders. It is totally duplicitous. (Read my blog from last April “Companies cannot claim to be LGBTQ+ supportive while contributing to anti-LGBTQ+ legislators”)

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Note: On July 25, I am moderating a panel discussion session titled “The Impact of State LGBTQ Legislation – Policy (Panel)” at the 2023 Raleigh Chamber of Commerce DEI Conference.