The Quality of Life (QL+) Program is seeking veterans with disabilities who would benefit from having custom specialized devices built for them to help with their active lifestyle or simply to enhance their everyday life.

The QL+ program has helped everyone from Paralympic athletes to veterans looking to improve their ability to return to the everyday activities that may be tougher for them as a result of their injuries. Some projects have included hiking prosthetics, kayak and bike lifts, wheelchair tire cleaners, specialized archery equipment and even a rollerblading attachment for a prosthetic leg. 

What's your great idea? Is there something that would make a difference in your world? Any veteran with a disability (it doesn't have to be service-related) is eligible to apply for this program. There is no cost to the veteran to participate. 

How does the QL+ Program work? The program partners with engineering students from 21 universities across the country who take on these projects as part of their senior Capstone Projects. The Fall semester is spent working with the veteran (who are referred to as Challengers) and collaboratively developing designs for the device. The students then spend the spring semester building the device. If fittings, measurements or other things of this nature need to be done in-person, QL+ will pay for travel for a meeting between the Challenger and students. 

Once an application is submitted, QL+ works with faculty advisors to select the projects. If chosen, you will be connected with a team of senior engineering students assigned to your project, with engineering department faculty and outside mentors there to assist those students throughout the process. Weekly meetings are held to help keep everyone involved updated on the progress of the project. Projects typically begin with the fall semester and run through May. QL+ asks challengers to be prepared to work with the students as needed. Veterans will find that the students working with the program are brilliant and hard-working and excited about doing all they can to meet the desires and needs for the project.  

To learn more and to apply for the program, visit www.qlplus.org. From there, you can access past projects, go to the QL+ YouTube channel to see videos of the projects, and fill out the online application to be considered as a Challenger. You can also check out the QL+ Facebook, and Twitter pages for general announcements and updates on projects in progress.

The Quality of Life (QL+) Program is seeking veterans with disabilities who would benefit from having custom specialized devices built for them to help with their active lifestyle or simply to enhance their everyday life.

The QL+ program has helped everyone from Paralympic athletes to veterans looking to improve their ability to return to the everyday activities that may be tougher for them as a result of their injuries. Some projects have included hiking prosthetics, kayak and bike lifts, wheelchair tire cleaners, specialized archery equipment and even a rollerblading attachment for a prosthetic leg. 

What's your great idea? Is there something that would make a difference in your world? Any veteran with a disability (it doesn't have to be service-related) is eligible to apply for this program. There is no cost to the veteran to participate. 

How does the QL+ Program work? The program partners with engineering students from 21 universities across the country who take on these projects as part of their senior Capstone Projects. The Fall semester is spent working with the veteran (who are referred to as Challengers) and collaboratively developing designs for the device. The students then spend the spring semester building the device. If fittings, measurements or other things of this nature need to be done in-person, QL+ will pay for travel for a meeting between the Challenger and students. 

Once an application is submitted, QL+ works with faculty advisors to select the projects. If chosen, you will be connected with a team of senior engineering students assigned to your project, with engineering department faculty and outside mentors there to assist those students throughout the process. Weekly meetings are held to help keep everyone involved updated on the progress of the project. Projects typically begin with the fall semester and run through May. QL+ asks challengers to be prepared to work with the students as needed. Veterans will find that the students working with the program are brilliant and hard-working and excited about doing all they can to meet the desires and needs for the project.  

To learn more and to apply for the program, visit www.qlplus.org. From there, you can access past projects, go to the QL+ YouTube channel to see videos of the projects, and fill out the online application to be considered as a Challenger. You can also check out the QL+ Facebook, and Twitter pages for general announcements and updates on projects in progress.