Mangano Honors Viscardi School Founder

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano recently paid tribute to Henry Viscardi Jr. by renaming a section of Searingtown Road in his memory.

Viscardi founded a school just over 50 years ago to educate severely disabled children. A section of the street in Albertson will be named Henry Viscardi Way.

Mangano, who was joined at the dedication by Nassau County Legislator Wayne Wink as well as faculty, board members and students of the school, said that “the Viscardi Center is dedicated to creating a world in which people with disabilities are empowered to be active, independent, and self-sufficient participants in our society.”

Born with shortened limbs, Viscardi believed that children with disabilities could rise to great heights.

His commitment to children with disabilities led to the founding of the school in 1961. One of the world’s leading advocates for the rights of the disabled, Viscardi advised every United States President from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Jimmy Carter. Viscardi died in 2004 at age 91.

The Henry Viscardi School will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2012. The tuition-free school enrolls about 184 students in grades pre-K through 12. The staff includes highly trained educators, physical and occupational therapists, speech therapists, school nurses, psychologists and social workers.