Explore Services

Events

Hockey stick and puck
Viscardi Alumni Hockey Night
September 16, 2016

6:30 - 9:00 p.m.

The Viscardi Center

Team Viscardi group shot
Team Viscardi’s Second Annual Legacy Ride
October 1, 2016

8:30 am

The Viscardi Center

Henry Viscardi School

Text Size

The Henry Viscardi School is a private, New York State supported 4201 school that offers parents of children with severe physical disabilities and who often require life-sustaining medical treatment throughout the day, a traditional educational setting option that provides academics and opportunities for personal growth and leadership development. Its specialized, accessible educational setting provides a fully-enriched academic program, a variety of therapies, assistive technology and medical supports to students who may otherwise need to receive instruction in their homes or a hospital. Watch a brief video about the Henry Viscardi School.

Most students at the Henry Viscardi School use power wheelchairs and augmentative communication technology, and some require constant medical supervision. Although the students’ primary disability is physical, their range of complexity varies as secondary or tertiary disabilities are often factors. The student body has a wide variety of disabilities including Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis, Spina Bifida, Traumatic Brain Injury, Osteogenesis Imperfecta and Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

Founded in 1962 by Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr. and the first of its kind, the Henry Viscardi School was a place children with physical disabilities and rare illnesses could go to school, just like other children. Today, the Henry Viscardi School continues to be an alternative choice for parents and a resource to school districts that cannot accommodate the academic, health and assistive technology needs of children, Kindergarten through grade 12, with severe disabilities.

A teaching community dedicated to empowering students, the Henry Viscardi School offers a combination of core academics and robust cultural enrichment that enables them to be active, independent, self-sufficient participants in society. It encourages kids to take chances, be bold, act like leaders and give back to their supporting community.

Recognizing the profound importance of after-school and enrichment opportunities for children with disabilities, its students have the opportunity to attend field trips, play adapted sports, write and produce school publications and participate in transition activities that provide a chance to meet children outside of their classes, grades and in their local communities. These clubs, activities, and experiences include:

Student Government
Viscardi Ambassadors
Cougar Chronicle newspaper and Milestone yearbook
Natural Helpers® - a national Peer Helping Program
Theater Arts
Friday Night Recreation
Adapted Sports, including Intramural Wheelchair Basketball
Independent Living Overnights
Internships

In addition, the Henry Viscardi School offers innovative programs to help students develop the skills necessary for success in adulthood. These include:

Project: R.A.M.P. (Reaching All My Potential) for students who have completed the
  12th grade and continue to work toward diploma goals and develop transitional skills.
Extended school year (ESY) summer program with intensive academic instruction.
Independent mobility training, independent living skills courses,
  and a fully accessible family and consumer science lab.

Watch a brief video about Henry Viscardi School.

Click here to request more information about the Henry Viscardi School and to be contacted by a school administrator.

School administration contact information:  
Angelo Zegarelli, ActingPrincipal, at azegarelli@henryviscardischool.org or 516.465.1695
Jeanette Glover, Clinical Support Services and Admissions Coordinator, at jglover@henryviscardischool.org or 516.465.1673

Facts At A Glance

Located in Albertson, New York, the campus:

Offers parents of children with severe physical disabilities an alternative, fully-enriched traditional school setting
   for consideration if their local school cannot meet their child’s educational, health and technological needs.

Enrolls approximately 175 students with severe physical disabilities in grades Kindergarten through 12 (ages 3 to 21),
  many of whom are also medically fragile.

Serves children with 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.

Is a state-accredited institution of learning that awards Regents and Local diplomas, equivalent to their peers
  who do not have a disability.

Instructs children in the same subjects as those provided at any other public school.

Provides instruction in small classes with one teacher and one teaching assistant.

Educates students who are classified for special education and provides services mandated by the Individuals
  with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Features a fully-equipped and staffed medical suite to meet the health care needs of children who require
  essential, life sustaining medical attention throughout the day, a wheelchair clinic and a brace/orthotic clinic.

Customizes a laptop computer for each student with the assistive technology, devices and software he or she 
  needs to participate in classroom learning and testing as well as communicate with peers, teachers, and
  therapists.

Provides an environment where students may fully participate in the whole educational experience, including
  field trips in modified school buses, adapted sports and opportunities to develop leadership and socialization
  skills through after-school activities and enrichment programs. The school also features an accessible
  swimming pool, family and consumer lab, gym, performance stage and music/art/video technology wing.

Is staffed by highly trained educators, physical and occupational therapists, speech therapists, school nurses, 
  psychologists, and social workers. The Henry Viscardi School also serves as a student teaching, field
  experience and observation site for future teachers and service providers.