The Viscardi Center

at The Viscardi Center

Providing a lifespan of programs and services that educate, employ and empower children and adults with disabilities.
An employer membership organization and comprehensive resource for disability employment best practices.

DONATE

Header Links

  • Login
  • Media Room
  • Contact Us

Share

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • You Tube
  • Instagram
  • Home
  • Our Services
    • Abilities, Inc.
    • E-Learning
    • Henry Viscardi School
    • The Disability Entrepreneurship Institute
    • Nathaniel H. Kornreich Technology Center
    • Services by Type
    • Services by Age/Audience
    • Services for Businesses
    • How to Obtain Services
  • Our Stories
    • Adults
    • Businesses
    • Children
    • Donors
  • Get Involved
    • Ways to Give
    • Together We Soar Campaign
    • Advocacy
    • Volunteer
    • Share Your Story
    • Viscardi Alumni
  • News & Events
    • News
    • Blog
    • Events
    • Media Room
    • Viscardi Voice Newsletter
  • Digital Accessibility
    • Document Accessibility
    • Web Accessibility
    • Captioning & CART Services
    • Audio Description
    • Viscardi Multimedia Learning Center
  • About
    • History
    • Staff Leadership and Boards of Directors
    • Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards
    • Sunny
    • FAQs
    • Careers
    • Financials
    • Contact Us
Meet Shums.

Meet Shums.

  • A A A
www.viscardicenter.org > Our Stories > Meet Shums.
  • Share on Facebook
  • Click to share on Twitter
  • Click to share on Google+
  • Click to share on LinkedIN

Finding a voice at Viscardi.

Shums on a gym mat.

 pull-quotes_03

“The Henry Viscardi School has shaped me and helped me become an intelligent and open-minded young adult.”

When Shums started kindergarten at the Henry Viscardi School, he chose not to speak to anyone. Teachers and classmates spoke to him, but he wouldn’t respond back. Deep down, Shums wanted to communicate with others, but he was just too nervous to do so.Then, in fifth grade, something changed. Shums began to open up at school by participating in class and extracurricular activities. As he made friends and got to know everyone around him, he finally became comfortable with the idea of talking. He was ready to be heard.

Jump forward to today, and Shums, now in ninth grade, isn’t shy or at a loss for words. A milestone moment came last year when he delivered a speech to a large audience at the eighth grade “moving up” ceremony as valedictorian.

Shums says that playing on the Viscardi Cougars wheelchair basketball team helped him understand that he had the ability to take control of his dreams.

“When I was younger, I would look at athletes and say to myself ‘I wish I could be like that.’ I thought I could never be that athletic and strong,” he said. “But my basketball coach, Joe Slaninka, made me believe that I could be an athlete despite my disability.”

Under the guidance of Coach Slaninka, Shums has joined the Viscardi Student Ambassadors, a club designed to promote tolerance at local schools. As an Ambassador, he speaks to kids his age about what it’s like to be a teen with a disability. Shums has found that starting candid dialogues about his disability can dispel misconceptions that young people might have about those who are different — a lesson learned at Viscardi.

“The Henry Viscardi School has shaped me and helped me become an intelligent and open-minded young adult,” he said. “This school has also taught me that how others see you is not important, but how you see yourself means everything.”

Topics

Education

Empowerment

Our Stories

  • Adults

    >

  • Businesses

    >

  • Children

    >

  • Donors

    >

Featured Service

A group of six students infront of a firetruck. Community service projects teach responsibility, social skills and participation in their communities.

18-21 Year Old Program

… Our Transition Services Program for students with a variety of disabilities now offers separate program services for students, age 18 – 21, who have satisfied the state educational requirements and are eligible to receive further career development, instruction and support.

Events

A young man icing a cupcake

All in for Viscardi

[php snippet=2]

View All Events

Share Your Story

Has the Viscardi Center made a difference tin your life? Tell us

Submit Your Story

More Stories

View All >
  • Meet Ron.

    December 7, 2020 Read about how this Viscardi alum is using his business skills and living an independent and active life. Read More...
  • Meet Chris - UPDATE

    October 30, 2020 Find out how this outgoing Viscardi alum continues to excel in both the academic and social media world. Read More...
  • Meet Kathy.

    September 11, 2020 Read about how this dedicated mother and tenacious Viscardi alum fulfilled her lifelong dream of pursuing a bachelor’s degree. Read More...
  • Meet Dayna - UPDATE

    August 13, 2020 Find out what this determined 2012 Viscardi alumna has accomplished since we first shared her story in 2017. Read More...
  • Meet Alex G. - UPDATE

    July 20, 2020 Find out how this Viscardi alumnus brings a unique voice to the airwaves. Read More...
  • Meet the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation.

    July 15, 2020 Learn how generous support from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is giving individuals of all ages the tools to address their oral health care needs. Read More...

Contact Us

The Viscardi Center
National Business & Disability Council at The Viscardi Center
201 I.U. Willets Road
Albertson, NY 11507
516.465.1400
info@viscardicenter.org
Careers at the Viscardi Center | Staff Log in
Accessibility | Privacy | Site Map

Sign up For Enews

The Viscardi Center is a 501(c)(3)
non-profit recognized by the IRS.

Connect With Us

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • You Tube
  • Instagram

© 2023 The Viscardi Center. All rights reserved. | Designed & Developed by Infinite Media Corp.