It’s time to invest in businesses owned by disabled veterans

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Genia Hachenberg is director of the Veterans Career Program at Paralyzed Veterans of America.

When a motorcycle accident left U.S. Marine Corps veteran Paul Attaway paralyzed in 2021, his career as a project manager in the infrastructure sector came to a screeching halt. Not only was he forced to adapt to his new life in a wheelchair, he was faced with the daunting notion of rebuilding his entire career and identity.

His experience echoes that of thousands of other veterans living with spinal cord injuries and diseases who grapple with persistent barriers to employment. Studies show that an average of 32% of veterans who reported a spinal cord disability are employed, compared to over three-quarters of veterans without disabilities and 63% of the U.S. adult population.

It’s not because they aren’t competent or ambitious. Veterans — particularly those who have rebuilt their lives after life-altering injuries or diagnoses, like Paul — bring a unique skillset to both the workforce and entrepreneurship: adaptability, discipline and determination.

But many veteran-owned businesses, especially those owned by veterans with disabilities, face systemic barriers that stifle their growth. For example, veteran entrepreneurs are 30% more likely to be turned down for a business loan compared to their civilian counterparts. Further, misconceptions around disability and accommodations perpetuate downright incorrect assumptions that people with disabilities can’t contribute meaningfully to the economy.

Despite these odds, their success still speaks for itself. Veteran-owned businesses generate over $1 trillion in annual sales, represent roughly 9% of all U.S. businesses, and employ millions of people across the country.

By focusing on perceived limitations rather than proven potential, we are preventing these business from tapping into new markets and driving innovation across the entire private sector.

It was when Paul was in the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital recovering from his accident that he became a member of Paralyzed Veterans of America, a nonprofit that supports veterans with spinal cord injuries and diseases including MS and ALS, and all people with disabilities. As part of its Veterans Career Program, PVA uses a high-touch model that pairs one-on-one vocational support and business counseling for all veterans, their family members, and caregivers. Through its self-employment initiative, the program also helps PVA members access start-up capital to launch and grow small businesses.

Paul saw his accident as an opportunity to do just that. Working with PVA’s counselors, he developed a business plan and pitched it to private industry supporters at PVA’s biannual pitch night. In July 2025, he was awarded $2,500 from grants made possible through the Wells Fargo Foundation, which helped cover startup costs for his company, Attaway Group LLC. Less than a year later, he acquired two Batteries Plus franchise locations in North Texas.

“People underestimate you as a paraplegic,” said Paul. “But you know what? I’m just as capable as anyone else.”

PVA’s model works. Over the last year, PVA has helped secure 228 placements with an average salary of $74,240, well above the national average salary of $62,608. To date, the organization has awarded $25,000 in start-up grants, while also helping veterans access financial wellness tools such as ABLE accounts that allow them to improve their financial security without losing access to their disability benefits.

When you open the door to self-employment to a veteran with a disability, there is a ripple effect. When veterans and all people with disabilities have the flexibility to design their work environment, manage their self-care needs, and pursue work aligned with their skills and interests, they have the fuel to flourish.

Supporting businesses owned by veterans and the disability community is simply good business. Whether you realize it or not, you probably already benefit from disability driven innovation every day: from your iPhone touch screen, to closed captions, automatic doors, curb cuts, and more.

The work is not just to help disabled veterans realize their potential. It is to understand and actively fight misconceptions; to see disabled veterans and all people with disabilities not only as an already-powerful engine of economic growth, but as innovative contributors that shape the way everyone experiences the world. Partnering with programs like PVA’s Veterans Career Program is an opportunity for businesses to invest in that potential. Because when we pave the way for more veteran owned businesses to thrive, we all benefit.