In a public survey sent to more than 160,000 people, the DVNF recently asked the public '11' questions to measure public opinion and awareness on many issues facing our nation's disabled veterans. With over 4,000 responses received from the survey, DVNF will publish the survey results on the DVNF.org site.
The range of questions mailed to the public included questions about the level of help and services veterans returning home from Afghanistan or Iraq actually receive to how much or little the government and others are doing to help veterans who served their country. Following are questions that appeared in the survey with results from respondents.
1) Do you feel that the federal government is doing enough to help men and women who sacrificed their blood and their health in the defense of our nation? a. Yes 172 4% b. No 3463 80% c. Unsure 546 13% d. Blank 162 4%
2) Do you believe that disabled veterans receive all the medical care that they deserve after they sacrifice so much for our country? a. Always 258 6% b. Never 306 7% c. Rarely 1018 23% d. Sometimes 2194 51% e. Unsure 398 9% f. Blank 169 4%
3) Are you aware of the tragic impact of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on our combat veterans and their families? a. Yes 3199 74% b. No 499 11% c. Unsure 484 11% d. Blank 161 4%
4) Do you believe post traumatic stress disorder should be considered a disability? a. Yes 3581 82% b. No 74 2% c. Unsure 534 12% d. Blank 154 4%
5) Do you think the government should do more for the 107,000 vets who are homeless on any given night in America? a. Yes 3810 88% b. No 62 1% c. Unsure 317 7% d. Blank 154 4%
6) Do you believe that most Americans are fully aware of the challenges and hardships that confront veterans who suffered disabilities while defending our freedom? a. Yes 396 9% b. No 3378 78% c. Unsure 416 10% d. Blank 153 4%
7) A Rand Corporation study found that 1 in 5 troops coming home from Afghanistan or Iraq suffers a brain injury. Do you feel the government is doing enough to diagnose and treat veterans with these devastating war wounds?
a. Yes 144 3% b. No 2982 69% c. Unsure 1054 24% d. Blank 163 4%
8) Should employers give special consideration for hiring veterans after they return from wartime military service?
a. Yes 3883 89% b. No 69 2% c. Unsure 226 5% d. Blank 165 4%
9) Is the government is doing enough to reach out to the hurting self-sacrificing families of disabled veterans? a. Yes 124 3% b. No 3160 73% c. Unsure 890 20% d. Blank 169 4%
10) What are the most significant issues facing disabled veterans today? (Check all that apply) a. Untreated injury or illness 3125 72% b. Bureaucratic delays 3247 75% c. Unemployment 3400 78% d. Homelessness 2861 66% e. Hunger 1779 41% f. Poverty 2205 51% g. Other 252 6% h. Blank 243 6%
11) Are you satisfied with DVNF's efforts to help disabled vets? a. Yes 1811 42% b. No, I feel DVNF should do the following 1039 24% c. Blank 1493 34%
The range of questions mailed to the public included questions about the level of help and services veterans returning home from Afghanistan or Iraq actually receive to how much or little the government and others are doing to help veterans who served their country. Following are questions that appeared in the survey with results from respondents.
1) Do you feel that the federal government is doing enough to help men and women who sacrificed their blood and their health in the defense of our nation? a. Yes 172 4% b. No 3463 80% c. Unsure 546 13% d. Blank 162 4%
2) Do you believe that disabled veterans receive all the medical care that they deserve after they sacrifice so much for our country? a. Always 258 6% b. Never 306 7% c. Rarely 1018 23% d. Sometimes 2194 51% e. Unsure 398 9% f. Blank 169 4%
3) Are you aware of the tragic impact of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on our combat veterans and their families? a. Yes 3199 74% b. No 499 11% c. Unsure 484 11% d. Blank 161 4%
4) Do you believe post traumatic stress disorder should be considered a disability? a. Yes 3581 82% b. No 74 2% c. Unsure 534 12% d. Blank 154 4%
5) Do you think the government should do more for the 107,000 vets who are homeless on any given night in America? a. Yes 3810 88% b. No 62 1% c. Unsure 317 7% d. Blank 154 4%
6) Do you believe that most Americans are fully aware of the challenges and hardships that confront veterans who suffered disabilities while defending our freedom? a. Yes 396 9% b. No 3378 78% c. Unsure 416 10% d. Blank 153 4%
7) A Rand Corporation study found that 1 in 5 troops coming home from Afghanistan or Iraq suffers a brain injury. Do you feel the government is doing enough to diagnose and treat veterans with these devastating war wounds?
a. Yes 144 3% b. No 2982 69% c. Unsure 1054 24% d. Blank 163 4%
8) Should employers give special consideration for hiring veterans after they return from wartime military service?
a. Yes 3883 89% b. No 69 2% c. Unsure 226 5% d. Blank 165 4%
9) Is the government is doing enough to reach out to the hurting self-sacrificing families of disabled veterans? a. Yes 124 3% b. No 3160 73% c. Unsure 890 20% d. Blank 169 4%
10) What are the most significant issues facing disabled veterans today? (Check all that apply) a. Untreated injury or illness 3125 72% b. Bureaucratic delays 3247 75% c. Unemployment 3400 78% d. Homelessness 2861 66% e. Hunger 1779 41% f. Poverty 2205 51% g. Other 252 6% h. Blank 243 6%
11) Are you satisfied with DVNF's efforts to help disabled vets? a. Yes 1811 42% b. No, I feel DVNF should do the following 1039 24% c. Blank 1493 34%
About the Author:
The Disabled Veterans National Foundation plans on publishing the complete survey including hundreds of actual comments from those who took part in the survey at www.dvnf.org.