Our Vision
The National Center for Disability Entrepreneurship (NCDE) at The Viscardi Center is a strategic pathway to combat the many barriers which lead to widespread unemployment and underemployment within the disability community. Click here to view our Infographic.
The Center, through its world-class program modules, trainers, and mentors, as well as a deep and unique understanding of people with disabilities, will be an extraordinary resource that educates, transforms and empowers its members to achieve self-employment success.
Who We Are – The Viscardi Center
Founded by Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr., who served as disability advisor to eight U.S. Presidents and became one of the world’s leading advocates, the NCDE is an extension of The Viscardi Center’s mission to educate, employ and empower people with disabilities.
This effort also builds upon the many employment-related services The Viscardi Center offers, such as school-to-work youth transition services, vocational training, career counseling, employment placement, and assistive technology for people of all ages with a wide variety of disabilities. The Viscardi Center also assists businesses in diversifying their workforces and developing and advancing inclusive cultures in their workplaces on a national level. This includes resources to help employers tap the benefits of disability diversity, as well as educating public and private sector organizations on ways to build inclusive workplace cultures and empowers them to become leaders in the employment and advancement of people with disabilities.
Further, in its role as a leader in addressing the significant employment gap for people with disabilities as compared to the non-disabled, students at the Henry Viscardi School at The Viscardi Center are exposed to unique services and programs such as the Emerging Leaders program for college students with disabilities, an employment posting service, regional roundtables hosted across the country to highlight disability inclusive trends, informative monthly programs and professional development for entry/mid-level employees with disabilities.
The Viscardi Center is a powerful, renowned hub of services, expertise and connections to support the launch of the NCDE and the next generation of entrepreneurs with disabilities.
The NCDE Team
The NCDE Team is comprised of members of the Executive Management Team, The Viscardi Center, a Managing Executive Director and an E-Advisory Council.
- John D. Kemp, President & CEO
- Colleen Crispino, Chief Program Officer
- Sheryl P. Buchel, CPA, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
- Victoria Rodriguez Minowitz, Managing Executive Director, NCDE
