Our History

The Viscardi Center was founded by Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr., a premiere advocate for people with disabilities who himself wore prosthetic legs and served as an advisor to eight U.S. presidents. Dr. Viscardi sought to ignite inclusion in his community through meaningful employment access. The organization broke new ground as one of the first in the world staffed primarily by people with disabilities and wounded veterans. Learn more about Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr.

Prior to the passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 1975, education options were limited for children with severe physical disabilities—many of whom received instruction at home or in a hospital—and their families. Dr. Viscardi established a traditional school for students with disabilities, providing a high-quality education in combination with vital therapies, medical supports, and assistive technology.

Services expanded to include vocational and work readiness training and job placement for adults with disabilities. Participants wishing to enter or re-enter a competitive workforce could receive mentorship and skill building services to guide them towards fulfilling, long-term employment in a range of industries.

Following the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, The Viscardi Center began consulting businesses on disability best practices and took on a prominent role as a national resource for the successful integration of people with disabilities into the workforce and consumer marketplace.

The Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards were launched to recognize exemplary leaders in the international disability community who honor Dr. Viscardi’s vision and legacy through their incredible professional accomplishments and advocacy efforts. From inception until 2024, the Awards were bestowed to over 100 leaders, mentors, and advocates with disabilities from around the world. Read the list of recipients.

U.S. Department of Labor awards The Viscardi Center a five-year cooperative agreement to operate the Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN), a federal resource for employers committed to recruiting, hiring, retaining, and advancing qualified employees with disabilities.

Making the world more inclusive and accessible for people with disabilities is at the core of The Viscardi Center’s mission, and that includes prioritizing an equal online experience for all. Digital Accessibility Services launched to help businesses and organizations meet evolving industry standards and ensure customers, students, and employees with disabilities get the most out of digital media—from web to documents to video content.

The Viscardi Center continues to differentiate itself within the disability services community with the launch of an entrepreneurship pilot program for innovative self-starters with disabilities. The Institute provides training and mentorship for budding entrepreneurs looking to turn their business ideas into a reality.

The Viscardi Center made a mission-based strategic acquisition of Able Newspaper, a periodical for, by and about people with disabilities founded in 1991 by Angela Miele Melledy. A unique publication, Able brings the reader information about the disability community. Aligning with The Viscardi Center’s “3Es” (educate, employ, empower), the acquisition enhanced and expanded upon the Center’s programs, services and advocacy. Read the latest issue of Able News.

The Museum of Disability History is housed within the Kornreich Institute for Disabilities Studies at The Viscardi Center. Relocated from its original home in Buffalo, NY, the Museum of Disability History is a place to curate disability history, disability culture, and disability identity. One of the artifacts on display is a 1948 teal-colored “Invacar” vehicle from the United Kingdom, modified with hand controls for a driver with a disability to use.