From the
Dayton Daily News in Ohio. Pictured is Leo Xiong, a sophomore studying finance and accounting at Wright State University, who is a U.S. Navy veteran in school under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
DAYTON, Ohio — The survival rate for wounded American soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan is more than 90 percent, higher than for any previous war fought by the United States.
That means larger numbers of injured and disabled troops are returning home to seek educational benefits under the Post-
9/11 GI Bill.
Wright State University is looking to serve those student veterans, said Jeffrey Vernooy, director of the university’s Office of Disability Services.
“We’re one of the top schools in the country to provide support services to people with disabilities,” Vernooy said.
Wright State’s underground tunnel system provides easy access to most all campus buildings. The university also offers such services as adaptive technology, test proctoring, and textbooks and classroom materials in alternative formats such as audio CDs.
Last October, disability rights activist Richard Pimentel, the subject of the 2007 film “Music Within,” spoke at Wright State and challenged university President David R. Hopkins to create an environment for veterans returning from war who were interested in attending college.
“The president took that challenge,” Vernooy said.
In January, Wright State launched the Veterans Enrollment Team (VET) to increase the recruitment and support of student veterans on campus.
The group wants to address the needs of veterans and their families “in a more proactive and targeted way,” said Marian Hogue, Wright State’s university registrar.
Vernooy said it will take 18 to 24 months to implement the VET programs, which include such areas as counseling and housing.
Wright State has 551 students receiving veterans support services, including some with disabilities, Vernooy said. He expects that number to rise over the next few years as more disabled veterans recuperate to the point where they are ready for the rigors of higher education.
“We want to make sure that veterans know about us ... and what we have,” Vernooy said.
From the Dayton Daily News in Ohio. Pictured is Leo Xiong, a sophomore studying finance and accounting at Wright State University, who is a U.S. Navy veteran in school under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
