Counselors Campus to Careers Toolkit

Immediate assistance

The National ADA Network

The ADA National Network provides information, guidance, and resources on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to support the mission of the ADA to assure equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities. You can contact an ADA specialist as follows (support for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals is available):

• New Jersey and New York: Northeast ADA Center, 800-949-4232 (voice/TTY/Spanish), northeastada@cornell.edu
• Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska: Great Plains ADA Center, 800-949-4232 (voice/TTY) or 573-882-3600 (voice/TTY), adacenter@missouri.edu
• Other regions

Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS)

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) National Contact Center provides information about all DOL programs. It can also answer questions about topics such as employment, unemployment, wages, workplace safety and health, pension and health benefits, and workplace injuries. Call 866-237-0275.

Veterans Crisis Line

The Veterans Crisis Line connects veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring responders from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The confidential service is open 24/7. Call 800-273-8255, then press 1; or chat online or text to 838255.

General information

• Read The Long Journey Home and The Journey Ahead, both published by Disabled American Veterans (DAV), for more about challenges faced by women veterans.
• Check out a comprehensive report on the emerging challenges facing women veterans, published by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
• The Center for Women Veterans (CWV) is the VA’s one-stop site for women veterans. As a counselor learning more about women veterans, don’t miss CWV’s article, Women Veterans with Disabilities Are Valued, which profiles several women and discusses their efforts and contributions.
• Dip into this easy-to-read article about why leaving the military is harder for female veterans.
• Find out more about the situations and needs of women veterans on campus in this 2020 research article, Unique Needs and Challenges of Women Veteran Students with Disabilities: Conceptualizing Identity in Higher Education.

Informative videos from the U.S. Department of Labor

• Gender and Veteran Demographics is an interesting YouTube presentation of statistics relating to the work lives and income of women veterans.
• View this candid and compelling panel discussion of women veterans in today’s workforce and other areas of life.

Navigating services

• The VA provides this overview of Veterans Benefits for women. Every VA Regional Office has women veteran coordinators (WVCs). When a women veteran uses VA services, she should request a WVC.
• Scroll down at Freegrantsforveterans to find ideas for getting childcare assistance.

Seeking shelter

• Get VA supports and resources for veterans at risk of homelessness, including a list of contact information for Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) providers in all counties/states.
• Access the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans for free and immediate help.

Health care and disability

• Find VA resources and supports related to health care for women veterans.
• Learn about VA care resources for women veterans with PTSI.
• Access VA support and services for women who have experienced military sexual trauma.
• Connect with the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) for advocacy, services, and resources for women veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma.

Employment

• Explore information about the women veterans and the world of work from the Department of Labor.
• Employment of Women Veterans in the Federal Government is a report that gives insight into the many women veterans who work in the federal government. It was published by the Council on Veterans Employment Women Veterans Initiative.
• American Job Centers (also called Career OneStop Centers) are located across the country and provide employment services (assessment, placement, and training). The Center for Women Veterans focuses on the unique needs of women veterans transitioning to the workforce.

Advocacy, support, mentoring, and connection

• Service Women’s Action Network: SWAN provides support, connection, and advocacy for the individual and collective needs of service women.
• Honor her service. Empower her future: The Foundation for Women Warriors offers a Connect with Community series of professional development workshops aimed at women veterans.
• Women Veterans Alliance: This alliance offers support, advocacy, and connection for women veterans.
• American Women Veterans: The AWV offers resources and information to advocate for women veterans.
• Military Women eMentor Program: This online mentoring program is by and for women veterans.
• Women Veterans Interactive: The WVI supports women veterans with programs and resources for careers, transition, and education.