Our Mission
Mobilizing America's Heroes
Segs4Vets improves the quality of life for permanently disabled veterans and first responders by applying new technologies. We focus on the successful reintegration of veterans and first responders into their families and communities by creating customized mobility devices (Segways and ALLY Chair-adapted Segways) and technology-based workforce development solutions that help to foster a sense of purpose and independence for our Nation's heroes.
Our History
Segs4Vets, a highly acclaimed nonprofit organization, improves the quality of life for permanently disabled veterans by applying new technologies. We focus on successfully reintegrating veterans into their families and communities by creating customized mobility devices (Segways and ALLY Chair-adapted Segways) that foster a sense of purpose and independence for our Nation's heroes. Segs4Vets' early years were focused on raising public awareness of the rights of people with disabilities using technology that benefited them and on advocacy to make sure that universally designed devices were included and protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act so veterans who received these devices had access to public places.
Segs4Vets started in 2005 as a real-life example of how universally designed technology can restore dignity and independence to people with disabilities, specifically severely-disabled men and women veterans returning from service to our Nation in Iraq and Afghanistan. Originally designed to give away one Segway, the program has provided over 2,500 universally designed mobility devices to help disabled veterans and first responders rebuild a foundation of independence. In addition to the devices, the program provides ongoing support—including battery replacement, device repair, and support for recipients.
Segs4Vets established assessment and training programs at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, in 2006, and the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, California, in 2008.
In June 2019, Segs4Vets explored a collaboration with Caterpillar, Inc.'s (CAT) Autonomy and Automation Construction Digital & Technology Division to create the Command for Dozing Workforce Development program—assessing and developing career opportunities for our disabled veterans that were previously not accessible. Members of our Warrior Board experienced this technology firsthand by operating a D8 dozer in Tucson, Arizona, via real-time remote control from a command trailer in St. Louis, Missouri.
Segs4Vets is staffed primarily by volunteers throughout the country. Both the organization and its volunteers have received numerous awards and recognition, including the Spirit of Hope Award for outstanding service to the United States of America presented by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Army's Public Service Award for distinguished public service in providing outstanding support to our Nation's veterans, and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society's Distinguished Citizen Award.