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Read Our Testimonies
Susan
Avila-Smith established the "Women Organizing Women"
WOW group in 1997, beginning with monthly meetings at the Seattle
VAMC, and later adding American Lake. This forum was used to
provide advocacy and network vital information regarding services
and benefits to women veterans and their providers.
With
nine years personal experience within the VA system for PTSD,
and a 70 day in patient treatment at the Palo Alto, California
Women's Trauma Recovery program Susan believes that she can
help women obtain services that they would never apply for.
She has obtained 100% service connected benefits for 73 women,
and have 225 women currently in the system.
Participated: Board Member, King County Veterans, Washington,
Department of Veterans Affairs (PTSD and Women Veteran issues),
Veteran's Independent Enterprises of Washington, Veteran's History
Project - World War II stories, Governors Veterans Advisory Committee,
Yakima Stand Down, Veterans Information and Assistance Fairs (Pasco,
Tacoma, Bellingham, Seattle, Olympia), Oregon State Department
of Veterans Affairs Women's Conference 2002, Fremont Fair 2002,Viet
Nam Veterans of America, American Legion Member Post #204, Disabled
American Veterans, life member, STAAAMP (Survivors Take Action
Against abuse by Military Personnel), African American PTSD Association,
USO, incarcerated women veterans
Established: Women's Wellness Fair, The Northwest Veteran's
Quilt Project, Seattle and American Lake VAMC Women's Clothing
Bank
Articles: CNN, Good Morning America, Seattle Times, Repetition
and Avoidance Quarterly, The Gift Within, American Legion Legionnaire,
The Northwest Veteran's Newsletter, Central Oregon Job and Workforce,
King5 TV News, The Denver Post Dateline NBC
Promote: Accurate statements of claim - a one time process
for sexual/combat trauma survivors, explanation of the process
of benefits and care and participating in that with the veteran,
connecting veterans with services and providers with accurate
information, Independent Living skills, access to legal, housing,
and Social Security Disability, providing peer counseling via
internet, yahoo women veteran websites, by phone and in person
Projects: Washington Women Veterans Retreat 2003, Wellness
Fairs 2001 & 2002, Yakima Stand Down 2003
Other: Help to move a families, financial planning for
women with large back pay checks, attend compensation and pension
exams, attend appointments, testing and evaluation sessions,
provide transportation, obtain emergency funds, collect
funds for the VA's Women's Welfare Fund, provided household
items and furniture to formerly homeless vets
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