Dr. Henry Viscardi Jr.

By Sydney Robinson

Dr. Henry Viscardi Jr. was a revolutionary advocate for people with disabilities in the United States. He founded multiple organizations and services to ensure individuals with disabilities receive equal access to education and workplace opportunities. 

Henry Viscardi Jr. was born on May 10, 1912, in New York City with what doctors called “arrested development of the lower limbs” [1]. His disability required him to spend the first six years of his life in the hospital, undergoing numerous surgeries and physical therapy to straighten and strengthen his legs [1]. Once fitted with prosthetics, he attended public school, even serving as the manager of his school’s basketball team and covering high school sports for the New York Times [1]. Viscardi attended Fordham University and St. John’s Law School before working a variety of jobs. At the age of 27, Henry Visardi was fitted with his first artificial legs, which increased his mobility and provided him with the opportunity to expand his career opportunities [2]. From working as a field-service officer for the Red Cross during World War II, to serving as the director of personnel of the Burlington Mills Corp, Viscardi found his passion in aiding those with disabilities [2].

In 1952, he founded Abilities, Inc., later renamed the Viscardi Center, a non-profit organization advocating for equal rights for individuals with disabilities [3]. The Viscardi Center empowers people with disabilities by offering them the support and guidance needed to enter the workplace as confident, empowered individuals [3]. In 1962, he also founded the Human Resources School (renamed the Henry Viscardi School in his honor) in Albertson, New York. The school was designed to provide equal education opportunities for children with disabilities, prioritizing inclusive education, school-to-work transitions, vocational training, digital accessibility, and more [4]. Today, the Henry Viscardi School is a hub for new approaches to education, therapy, assistive technology, and adapted sports, empowering youth with disabilities and preparing them for higher education and the workforce [5].

In addition to founding Abilities, Inc. and the Human Resources School, Dr. Viscardi served as disability advisor to eight U.S. presidents, including Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, General Ford, and Jimmy Carter [6]. Under President Jimmy Carter, he chaired the 1977 White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals as a trusted advisor to the president, cementing his role as a trusted voice in shaping disability policy [7]. Dr. Henry Viscardi Jr.’s works and advocacy helped to lay the foundation for civil rights legislation and policy changes for Americans with disabilities, paving the way for future disability advocacy groups on the national stage. 

Dr. Henry Viscardi Jr. is also the author of eight books, with his most famous being A Man’s Stature, written in 1952. A Man’s Stature is a biographical work in which Viscardi recounts his life story, including his upbringing as a child with a disability and his journey toward becoming one of the world’s leading disability advocates [1]. Additionally, he authored Give us the Tools in 1959, a book about the origins of Abilities Inc. and its founding mission, A Laughter in the Lonely Night in 1972, which shares fifteen stories of people with disabilities who gained employment opportunities through his organization. He also wrote five additional books on disability advocacy and his personal experiences [1]. 

Dr. Henry Viscardi died on April 14, 2004, at the age of 91. He left behind a legacy as one of the world’s leading disability advocates and a champion of equality in education and employment [8]. Dr. Viscardi was a pioneering advocate for people with disabilities, ensuring people of all ages had the opportunity for equality and the ability to thrive individually. His life story is one of resilience and innovation, transforming personal challenges into a movement that empowered generations of people with disabilities. 

Citations 

[1] “Henry Viscardi, Jr.” Horatio Alger Association, 2025.         https://horatioalger.org/members/detail/henry-viscardi-jr/. 

[2] Martin, Douglas. Henry Viscardi Jr., a voice for the disabled, dies at 91 - The New York Times, April 16, 2004. https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/16/nyregion/henry-viscardi-jr-a-voice-for-the-disabled-dies-at-91.html

[3] “Our History.” The Viscardi Center, 2023. https://viscardicenter.org/history/.

[4] “Our History.” The Henry Viscardi School, 2023. https://henryviscardischool.org/history/

[5] “AFB Consulting and Viscardi Announce Partnership - Henry Viscardi School at the Viscardi Center.” Henry Viscardi School, October 27, 2022. https://henryviscardischool.org/afb-consulting-and-viscardi-announce-partnership/.

[6] Brussell, Kim. “Ada 35 – in Memoriam: Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr..” Able News at The Viscardi Center, May 19, 2025. https://ablenews.com/ada-35-in-memoriam-dr-henry-viscardi-jr/.

[7] “The White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals Newsletter, Spring 1977.” The White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals Newsletter, Spring 1977. Accessed September 26, 2025. https://www.archives.gov/research/americans-with-disabilities/transcriptions/naid-6037498-the-white-house-conference-on-handicapped-individuals-newsletter-spring-1977.html#:~:text=%5BPHOTO%5D%20President%20Carter%20recently%20reviewed,in%20determining%20their%20own%20future.

[8] Jones, Bart. “Henry Viscardi Jr., at Age 91, Leading Advocate for The Disabled.” The Boston Globe, April 16, 2004. https://archive.boston.com/news/globe/obituaries/articles/2004/04/16/henry_viscardi_jr_at_age_91_leading_advocate_for_disabled/.