HENRY VISCARDI SCHOOL

About Us

Who We Are

Founded in 1962, Henry Viscardi School at The Viscardi Center an alternative, accessible traditional educational choice for parents and a resource to school districts that cannot accommodate the academic, health and assistive technology needs of children with severe orthopedic disabilities, many of whom require life-sustaining medical treatment and extensive support throughout the day and may otherwise need to receive instruction in their homes or a hospital setting.

It is a New York State (4201) Special Education School located on Long Island in Albertson, New York and serves children with physical disabilities who are referred from school districts in the New York metropolitan area, including those in Long Island, Westchester, and all five boroughs of New York City. Although the students’ primary disability is physical, they have a wide variety of multiple disabilities including Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis, Spina Bifida, Traumatic Brain Injury, Osteogenesis Imperfecta and Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

A teaching community dedicated to empowering students through personal growth and leadership development, the Henry Viscardi School (HVS) offers a combination of rigorous academics at a variety of levels, social emotional learning, vocational training, transition planning and robust cultural enrichment that enables them to be active, independent, self-sufficient participants in society.

 

Henry Viscardi Student with glasses and a wheelchair smiling in front of a school bus

Admissions

Prospective students can be referred for an admissions screening by a school district, parent or agency
Henry Viscardi School Student wearing safety glasses and blue latex gloves in a wheelchair smiling as she works on the anatomy of a dissected frog

Curriculum & Instruction

Accredited and enriched academics that meet the needs and abilities of every student
HenryViscardiMedicalSupport

Medical Support & Services

A fully-equipped medical suite, on-site therapists and a wheelchair/brace/orthotic clinic

At a Glance

Our staff of highly trained educators, physical and occupational therapists, speech therapists, school nurses, psychologists and social workers, are educating students while providing the skills they need to pursue college and employment, successfully transition into adulthood and actively participate in their communities.

  • Accredited and Enriched Academics, Pre-K to Age 21, including Advanced Regents, Regents and Local Diplomas, as well as CDOS* and SACC* credential options
  • Transition Services & Vocational Planning
  • Fully-equipped/Staffed Medical Suite
  • On-site Therapists and Supports, including Wheelchair and Brace/Orthotic Clinics
  • Customized Assistive Technology for participation in classroom learning and testing, as well as communication with peers, teachers and therapists
  • Adapted Physical Education/Sports
  • National Honor Society, Student Council,
  • Clubs, After-school Recreational Activities
  • Accessible Facilities: Swimming Pool, Independent Living House, Gym, Performance Stage, Music/Art/Media Arts Wing, Makerspace

Watch a brief, student produced video about Henry Viscardi School.

* Career Development & Occupational Studies (CDOS) and Skills and Achievement Commencement Credential (SACC)

Young man in a motorized wheelchair smiling and waving
a disabled women sitting on a workspace

Where We Are Going

We are dedicated to recruiting and hiringqualified individuals for a wide range of educational, therapeutic, administrative and support services positions. We pride ourselves on our culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. The Viscardi Center has been a recipient of the National Organization on Disability’s Leading Disability Employer Seal every year since 2018.

 

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