It has been a few months since I officially started my position as the new Grassroots advocacy Manger for Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), and I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself to you formally. Hi, my name is Lisa Elijah. I am an Air Force veteran, and while on active duty, I served as a paralegal in the Judge Advocate General Corps. My initial goal was to finish my enlistment and come back in as a Judge Advocate General officer. Life has a funny way of redirecting your plans.

Instead, I was medically retired from the military with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and with my diagnosis, my future plans in advocacy changed as well. I remember going to the eye doctor worried I had an eye infection and came out with a scheduled brain and thoracic MRI, and the looming possibility of a chronic illness. In 2016, I was officially diagnosed with MS, and that same year I started monthly IV infusions to treat my condition. My doctors and unit were supportive, but they knew little about MS, and I found the skills I used to advocate for others translated into the need to advocate for myself. When I was officially medically retired in 2017, I wondered what was next.

I found PVA to help ease the transition, and I officially became a member in 2018. I decided the voice I used to advocate for myself could also help others around me. During the pandemic, I helped advocate for student veterans to receive full basic allowance for housing, which helped land me a fellowship in the United States Senate for 2022. I worked in a Senate office that was a part of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. During my time there, I learned a lot about what was effective for advocacy groups and what was not so effective. When my fellowship ended, I had the chance to lend my voice and skills to PVA, and I jumped at it.

 That leads us to today. I believe we have a great opportunity this year to do a lot of amazing things in both the veteran and disability spaces. I have one ask of you. Lend your voice. Using your life experiences and story to advocate on behalf of the things that are important to you is such a powerful thing. Let us make a difference and do this together.