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• How do I get to The Viscardi Center and is there parking?
• How can I obtain services or enroll in the employment programs and services?
• How can a student enroll in the PROSPER or transitional services programs?
• What is the admission process for attending the Henry Viscardi School?
• How can I observe in the Henry Viscardi School?
• Is meeting space available for rent at The Viscardi Center?
• Do you have a Speakers Bureau to speak in the community at school, companies and organizations?
• Can I make the website’s font size larger?
• How can I make a monetary or in-kind donation to The Viscardi Center?
• Does The Viscardi Center have an alumni group?
How do I get to The Viscardi Center and is there parking?
The Viscardi Center (formerly Abilities!) is located at 201 I.U. Willets Road (at the corner of I.U. Willets and Searingtown Roads) in Albertson, New York, a few miles east of the Queens border of New York City, in western Nassau County. If you are using GPS, please enter the address as 201 West I.U. Willets Road for more accurate directions.
Parking is available through the Main Entrance located on I.U. Willets Road. Please turn into the Main Entrance driveway and proceed beyond the fence. The Main Entrance into The Viscardi Center is on your left, once you pass the fence, to the left of the Beinecke Patio.
Directions by Car
From Searingtown Road (Long Island Expressway/Rte 495 Exit 36):
Take Searingtown Road. SOUTH about 3/4 mile to I.U. Willets Road. You will see The Viscardi Center sign on the far right corner. Turn RIGHT onto I.U. Willets Road. and take second driveway on your left.
From Shelter Rock Road (Northern State Parkway Exit 27):
Take Shelter Rock Road. SOUTH to second traffic light. Turn LEFT onto I.U. Willets Road. for about 3/4 mile. About a block BEFORE traffic light, you will see The Viscardi Center sign on your right. Turn into first driveway.
From eastern Long Island (eastern Nassau and Suffolk Counties):
Long Island Expressway (Rte. 495) WEST to exit 36 SOUTH - Searingtown Road. Follow Searingtown Road directions above.
From southern and midtown Manhattan:
Queens Midtown Tunnel to Long Island Expressway (Rte 495) EAST through Queens. Take exit 36 SOUTH-Searingtown Road. Turn RIGHT onto Searingtown Road. Follow Searingtown Road directions above.
From upper Manhattan:
Triborough Bridge to Queens. Continue on Grand Central Parkway EAST through Queens (becomes Northern State Parkway). Take exit #27 SOUTH-Shelter Rock Road. Turn RIGHT onto Shelter Rock Road. Follow Shelter Rock Road directions above.
From Westchester and New England:
N.Y. State Thruway (Rte. 87) or New England Thruway (Rte. 95) SOUTH through Bronx to Throggs Neck Bridge. From bridge, take first exit-Cross Island Parkway. Proceed SOUTH to exit 30-Long Island Expressway (Rte. 495) EAST. Proceed to exit #36 SOUTH-Searingtown Road. Turn RIGHT onto Searingtown Road. Follow Searingtown Road directions above.
From northern New Jersey and upstate New York:
George Washington Bridge to Cross Bronx Expressway. (Rte. 95) across Bronx to Throgs Neck Bridge. From bridge, take first exit-Cross Island Parkway. Proceed SOUTH to exit 30-Long Island Expressway (Rte. 495) EAST. Proceed to exit #36 SOUTH-Searingtown Road. Turn RIGHT onto Searingtown Road. Follow Searingtown Road directions above.
From southern New Jersey:
New Jersey Turnpike (Rte. 95) to Goethals Bridge, across Staten Island to Verrazano Bridge. Take Belt Parkway EAST to Cross Island Parkway. Proceed NORTH to exit 30-Long Island Expressway (Rte. 495) EAST. Proceed to exit #36 SOUTH-Searingtown Road. Turn RIGHT onto Searingtown Road. Follow Searingtown Road directions above.
Directions by Railroad
You may take the Long Island Railroad to one of the following train stations: Mineola, Albertson or Manhasset. The Viscardi Center is a short taxi ride from each of these stations.
Directions by Bus (from Queens)
Take Metropolitan Transit Authority N20 bus on Roosevelt Avenue near Union Street in Flushing. Transfer to N23 bus in Roslyn at the CLOCKTOWER stop. Take N23 to Willis Avenue and I.U. Willets Road. Walk WEST on I.U. Willets Road several blocks to Searingtown Road. The Viscardi Center is on the far left corner of I.U. Willets and Searingtown Roads.
Are there volunteer opportunities at The Viscardi Center and the Henry Viscardi School and who should I contact?
There are many different ways to volunteer at The Viscardi Center as an individual or a group. These include providing clerical/general office assistance, conducting mock job interviews, assisting at an event and more.
To apply as a volunteer for the Henry Viscardi School at The Viscardi Center, please download a volunteer application or pick one up at the main school entrance. Completed applications may be faxed to 516.465.3790, printed and mailed to Henry Viscardi School, 201 I.U. Willets Rd. Albertson , NY 11507, or dropped off at the school. You may also send inquiries and completed applications to volunteers@henryviscardischool.org
For more information, contact Kim Brussell, Associate Vice President, Development & External Relations, at kbrussell@viscardicenter.org or 516.465.1608.
How can I obtain services or enroll in the employment programs and services?
The vocational programs at Abilities, Inc. at The Viscardi Center serve adults with a wide variety of disabilities. Most candidates are sponsored by ACCES-VR (formerly known as VESID), a part of the New York State Education Department. Individuals who are sponsored are not responsible for payment of services. Some of our programs are also available on a fee for services basis. For assistance in getting connected with ACCES-VR, additional information or a tour, please contact Judy Simon, Intake Specialist, at 516.465.1499.
The vocational programs at Abilities, Inc. at The Viscardi Center serve adults with a wide variety of disabilities. Most candidates are sponsored by ACCES-VR (formerly known as VESID), a part of the New York State Education Department. Individuals who are sponsored are not responsible for payment of services. Some of our programs are also available on a fee for services basis. For assistance in getting connected with ACCES-VR, additional information or a tour, please contact Carolina Gutierrez, Intake Specialist, at 516.465.1499.
How can a student enroll in the PROSPER or transitional services programs?
The first step towards enrollment in these programs is for the parent, guardian or student to have a conversation with their local school district about participation. The school district would then contact The Viscardi Center.
What is the admission process for attending the Henry Viscardi School?
The following is a brief overview of the student enrollment process. Prospective students are referred to the Henry Viscardi School by parents, local school districts, physicians, clinics and other interested parties. To begin the screening process the following student information must be submitted:
• Recent Psychological (within 3 years)
• Educational Evaluation
• Medical / Related Services Reports
This required information is reviewed to identify the nature of the child’s physical disability and determine the school’s ability to provide an appropriate educational program with the necessary medical support and related services.
Once it is determined that Henry Viscardi School is a possible placement for a student, we request permission from the New York State Education Department to administer evaluations. The screening/evaluation process occurs over a two- day period. Within two weeks, all of the professionals involved in the screening process meet with the Administration to review the results of the assessments. General discussion occurs with the consensus recommending to the Executive Director the placement of the child in Henry Viscardi School. When it is determined that a student can be adequately educated in this setting, an acceptance letter is sent to the school district. The acceptance letter contains information that will be helpful to the district as they prepare the child’s IEP. Accompanying this letter is the assessment reports, the New York State Education Department Application For Commissioner’s Appointment For A Student To Attend A 4201 State- Supported School and the STAC Form. Once a notification of State appointment is received, we begin preparations for the student to begin attending the Henry Viscardi School.
How may I observe, student teach or gain field experience at the Henry Viscardi School?
Most requests for a student teaching or field experience are made directly by a college or university to the executive director of the Henry Viscardi School. The college or university’s program requirements, as well as the needs of the Henry Viscardi School at the time of the request, are considered when a response is made to the request. We encourage college students to continue to make these requests through their college or university.
We also receive many requests from individual college students regarding observation hours that they need to fulfill to complete their course requirements. Unfortunately, these individual requests are hard to manage. The best way for us to provide a meaningful experience is for students to work with their professors and arrange to visit the Henry Viscardi School as a group.
Is meeting space available for rent at The Viscardi Center?
The Viscardi Center offers several spaces for rent. The Viscardi Multimedia Learning Center, our new state-of-the-art, fully accessible conference and production facility is available for meetings, conferences and training sessions. It also offers on array of on-site services, including catering, video/audio production, editing, CD/DVD duplication, event photography, and graphic design. Click here for more information about the Viscardi Multimedia Learning Center.
A fully accessible gym and performance stage is also available for rent. Email our Facilities Department or call 516.465.1440.
Do you have a Speakers Bureau to speak in the community at school, companies and organizations?
Our team of professionals includes specialists in education, employment and assistive technology for people with disabilities and is well versed on a broad range of disability related topics. To inquire about available speakers, please contact Kim Brussell, Associate Vice President, Development & External Relations, at kbrussell@viscardicenter.org or 516.465.1608.
How can I make the website’s font size larger?
Yes, simply launch your Internet brower, i.e. Microsoft® Explorer, and click on the zoom tab in the bottom right corner to select a larger size. This will increase the size of the whole web page in proportion.
How can I make a monetary or in-kind donation to The Viscardi Center?
You may easily make a donation online to The Viscardi Center by clicking here.
If you are interested in speaking to our Development Office about a major gift, naming opportunity, planned giving or an event sponsorship, please contact Lauren Marzo, Chief Development Officer, at 516.465.1593. For in-kind donations, please download and complete our donation form or call the Development Office at 516.465.1464. (Note: After you have download the form, please save it to your computer. Once it's saved to your computer, you will be able to type directly into the form.)
Who should I contact to discuss program expansion/development or partnerships with the Henry Viscardi School?
For information about ways to develop new programs, or partner, with the Henry Viscardi School at The Viscardi Center, please contact Diana DeVivio at ddevivio@henryviscardischool.org or 516.465.1675.
Does The Viscardi Center have an alumni group?
Yes. Viscardi Alumni is open to individuals who have attended, graduated from, or worked for any of the
organizations or programs started by Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr. at The Viscardi Center. Click here to learn more.
