The Viscardi Center

Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr. who himself wore prosthetic legs, became one of the world’s leading advocates for people with disabilities and served as disability advisor to eight presidents, from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Jimmy Carter. Initially founded to show that disabled veterans from World War II and the Korean War had the skills and abilities to be successful, productive employees, it provided assembly and factory work for several industry giants and was the first U.S. business to be staffed primarily by people with disabilities. Services were expanded in the early 1960s to include vocational training and job placement for all people with disabilities. In 1962, Dr. Viscardi established an accredited, independent school giving children with severe physical disabilities the opportunity for an education in a more traditional setting - one that had not previously been available to them. His efforts helped inspire legislation such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1975 and the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 that protects the rights of children and adults with disabilities.