Event to Fight Oral Healthcare Crisis in Disability Community.
The Viscardi Center’s new Project Accessible Oral Health initiative will host its first-ever free dental screening in an effort to raise awareness of, and address the critical need for oral healthcare equity for people with disabilities, thus improving their overall health and quality of life. The event takes place on Friday, October 26, from 9:00AM-3:00PM at The Viscardi Center’s Albertson campus.
The event will bring together dentists, dental residents, dental students and volunteers from Nassau County Dental Society, New York University College of Dentistry, Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine, Hofstra University, NYU Winthrop Hospital Department of Dental Medicine, NuHealth Department of Dental Medicine and Oral Surgery, New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital of Dentistry and Northwell Health Department of Dental Medicine to educate and treat more than 200 children, adolescents and adults with disabilities. The day will feature free dental screenings, varnish applications, an education component, and help in finding patients a culturally competent dental home, if needed.
Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth, Town of North Hempstead Councilman Peter Zuckerman, New York State Assemblyman Anthony D’ Urso, and representatives from Colgate, Henry Schein, Inc. and DMG America will join together to learn more about the #1 unmet health need for our nation’s 57 million-strong disability community: equal access to culturally competent oral healthcare, as compared to the non-disabled.
About Project Accessible Oral Health
Under The Viscardi Center’s network of 501(c)(3) organizations, Project Accessible Oral Health is a global public-private partnership and the first to nationally assemble and connect a consortium of dental and medical professionals, corporations, organizations, policymakers, educators, people with disabilities, caregivers, and other stakeholders in pursuit of equal access to culturally competent oral healthcare. The Project’s mission is to act as a collective catalyst for change that will not only improve access to oral healthcare, but also ultimately improve the overall health of the disability community. Project Accessible Oral Health’s founders include John D. Kemp, President and CEO of The Viscardi Center, Steve W. Kess, Vice President of Global Professional Relations, Henry Schein, Inc. and Co-Founder of Henry Schein Cares and Dr. Mark Wolff, Morton Amsterdam Dean at Penn Dental Medicine.
About 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 Viscardi Center educates, employs and empowers people with disabilities. It provides K-12 education (up to age 21), school-to-work youth transition services, vocational training, career counseling and employment placement, assistive technology, and adapted driver education to children, adolescents, and adults 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.