Non-Profit Organization Helps Disabled Vets Start a Business, Succeed in CA

KPBS | By KPBS Public Broadcasting

Published March 11, 2009 at 5:51 AM PDT

This story was published more than 15 years ago.

What are the biggest challenges disabled veterans face when they try to find a civilian job, or start their own business? The military offers people the opportunity to learn skills that can be applie

Alison St. John: Thanks to major improvements in medical care, 80 to 85 percent of those in the military who suffer major battlefield injuries survive nowadays. The amazing thing is that they live to tell the tale. But they have to do more than survive, they have to pick up the threads of life and make it work for them despite whatever disabilities they are left with.

Our guests on These Days are focused on helping disabled vets to land state contracts. They're working to fulfill a state law that sets a goal of giving 3 percent of state contracts to disabled vets.

Become a KPBS sponsor

Guests

Rich Dryden, executive director of the California Disabled Veterans Business Alliance .
Michael Patton, president and CEO of Pothos , which is a certified Disabled Veterans Business Enterprise (DVBE) that provides strategic meeting management services.