Our Impact

Henry Viscardi School, Class of 2013

A decade ago, Richard graduated from the Henry Viscardi School with a mission. He wanted to find a way to advocate for others with disabilities as they navigate higher education, employment, and community living This compelled him to pursue his PhD in clinical psychology at Hofstra University with a determination to provide guidance and resources to young people with disabilities and their families.  

Richard received nuanced support during his student days at Viscardi. He describes the academic environment as one that was deeply attuned to his needs, which readied him for his transition to an independent adult life.  

“From the Independent Living House to its academics, and the ways you learn to speak up and receive accommodations, Viscardi did it all when it came to preparing me for college,” Richard said, also pointing out that his family was empowered by the network of teachers and parent during his childhood.  

“It goes beyond the child at Viscardi. The parents also benefit.” 

As he grew up, Richard saw leadership potential within himself that mirrored a revered role model—The Viscardi Center’s founder, Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr. Like Dr. Viscardi, he wished to understand and positively impact how the world views disability. That focus will carry him through as he completes his doctoral program and becomes a licensed psychologist.  

“I love the idea of helping people discover themselves,” he said. “My dream job is to be in a position in which I can help people with disabilities understand that everything is possible – not just that anything is possible, but that everything is possible. What I am most looking forward to in the future is helping parents understand that once their child is diagnosed with a disability, it’s not a death sentence.” 

Richard is now in the third year of his PhD program on a full academic scholarship. The program, with a range of clinical internships and research projects in psychotherapy, will take five years of study to complete. He continues to stay active in the Viscardi Alumni Association.  

“One of my major goals is to come back to Viscardi and help shape the future of what those kids will experience as well as what accessibility looks like, what kindness looks like, what it is to love and accept.”  

Watch Richard and others discuss how Viscardi empowered them to launch a business, advocate for change, build a meaningful career, pursue a PhD degree, and more. 

Henry Viscardi School, Class of 2016

As a child, Chris aspired to be named valedictorian of his graduating high school class. Years later, in 2016, he accomplished just that at the Henry Viscardi School. These days, with a career in investigative journalism taking off in New York City, Chris’s achievements have only grown.

A 2021 grad of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, Chris’s talent for digging deep into important issues as a reporter has pushed him forward in a highly competitive industry. It’s not the first time he has defied the odds. When Chris was born with a rare skeletal condition known as Thanatophoric dysplasia, doctors didn’t expect him to live past early childhood. Jumping ahead to 2022, the twenty-four-year-old fully understands the value in setting concrete goals for the future and pursuing those dreams—no matter how out of reach they may seem.

His positive outlook and passion for becoming a multimedia storyteller blossomed during his time as student at Viscardi, where he excelled academically and dabbled in extracurricular activities that changed how he viewed his strengths.

“The Henry Viscardi School at The Viscardi Center teaches you to be confident and to want to go places and have goals,” he said. “That is what The Viscardi Center is about.”

Following a fellowship at nonprofit news organization The City, Chris currently serves as a freelance writer for NBC Latino, where he focuses on Latin American politics and entertainment. As Chris progresses in his career, he understands that his disability and the unique perspective it brings to his work should be seen as an asset, not an obstacle to overcome.

“Disability does not mean ‘unable.’ We just do things differently.”

Watch Chris share his personal philosophies on life in this video from a past Celebrity Sports Night event at The Viscardi Center.

Henry Viscardi School, Parent 

Going on a weekend trip to New York City with classmates. Attending prom. Planning for the future. For Petros, Class of 2022, his senior year at the Henry Viscardi School was one to remember. For his mother, it revealed the opportunities available to her son now and in the future.  

Dianna, now president of Viscardi’s Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA), first became aware of the Henry Viscardi School while Petros was attending public school. When her son, who has cerebral palsy, was diagnosed with dystonia that affected his mobility, she worried that their school district would not appropriately accommodate him as he progressed into middle and high school. That’s when she turned to Viscardi. 

“Petros was old enough to be involved in the decision to attend the Henry Viscardi School. He has since told me that we made the right choice, which is a big statement,” Dianna said.  

Petros enrolled in seventh grade. Along with access to therapies, medical supports, and high-quality academics, a major part of the decision-making process came down to ensuring that Petros could pursue a Regents diploma. In the spring of 2022, he graduated and achieved this goal—but not before being inducted into Viscardi’s National Honor Society chapter. These were a few of many recent achievements celebrated by Petros and his family.  

“As shy as he can be, Petros joined the basketball team and became vice president of the student council,” Dianna said. “He made lifelong friends. It had a lot to do with him learning how to advocate for himself and feeling comfortable in his environment.” 

As Petros prepares to take an automotive program and considers plans to attend community college, he also aims to participate in the Viscardi Alumni Association—a network where alumni can stay connected and share information about current issues people with disabilities face every day. Whatever he chooses to do, Dianna is confident that Petros has the tools to be successful and fulfilled.   

“We can take what he’s learned and accomplished at Viscardi, along with the resources available to him, and apply it to the next chapter of his life,” she said. “It’s about possibilities. I think that’s what Viscardi represents: What is possible.” 

Learn more about the opportunities available for students with disabilities at the Henry Viscardi School at The Viscardi Center. 

Employment Services for Veterans, Participant

Elizabeth gained international knowledge while serving eight years in the U.S. Army. Her duties focused on human intelligence collection and analysis and included a tour of Iraq. But after being discharged, Elizabeth later struggled with the confidence to present herself as an asset to employers.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, up to 20% of American service members deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom have experienced serve-connected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These veterans can face obstacles in securing employment.

“When you think of war veterans, you think of physical [disabilities]. Nobody really speaks about the hidden ones, the mental ones,” Elizabeth said. “One thing the military does is prepare you for being the best soldier you can be. But once you finish your service, it’s very difficult to adjust back to what we call civilian life.”

While studying for a Master of Business Management degree at St. John’s University, Elizabeth sought out the help of The Viscardi Center’s Employment Services for Veterans. A consultation with an employment placement professional led to employer networking events, a refined resume, and practice interviews with HR leaders from companies like Canon and BAE Systems.

Drawing from her newfound confidence, Elizabeth applied for a higher paying position from her then sales role at a local Apple Store. She now works as an Apple Genius Admin, providing hands-on support for customers seeking product repairs. It’s a role she thrives in, and one that makes her feel excited about the future as she continues her education.

“Growing up as a first-generation [American-born citizen], you don’t always get the opportunity to expand your horizons. You’re pretty much leading the way for your family,” she said. “I was grateful to learn basic things that I probably wouldn’t have learned — the importance of networking, the importance of resume writing, and the importance of properly communicating my skills from the military and how they translate over to the civilian world.”

Learn more about how The Viscardi Center’s is helping veterans enter or re-enter the workforce.

Disability Entrepreneurship Institute, Business Owner Julie has always had one enduring dream: to run her own business. Since completing The Viscardi Center’s entrepreneurship pilot program, taking second place in its Founders with Disabilities PitchFest Competition in November 2021, and nabbing her very first clients, that dream is coming true. 

“I found a community where I could grow,” Julie says about her experience in the program, where she received mentorship from subject matter experts and engaged in an intense training curriculum. “I feel that I can make a difference in the lives of others.” 

Julie’s passion for entrepreneurship stems from her parents, who became business owners after emigrating to the U.S. from Haiti. From an early age, she knew educating herself in business management would open a world of opportunities.  

Seeking guidance, Julie enrolled in Viscardi’s entrepreneurship pilot program in Spring 2020. She developed the timely idea to help professionals, especially those working from home, transform their work areas or offices into attractive, functional spaces. She’s now the proud owner of interior design company Realign My Space based in Miami. 

Julie says getting started with an appropriate bank account for her new business did come with some unexpected obstacles, although she knew how to handle them.   

“With the skills and self-confidence gained during the learning modules, I was better suited to speak to an associate about opening an account right away. I also wouldn’t have been knowledgeable of the financial resources offered to people with disabilities starting a small business.” 

 Equipped with a new laptop donated through the program, which served as a much-needed replacement for her old computer with a broken mic, Julie used her equity-free cash grant from the PitchFest Competition to establish a strong online and social media presence to spread the word about her brand and attract new clients.  

Learn more about how the Disability Entrepreneurship Institute is preparing innovative self-starters for self-employment success.