Bill Text: NY K00877 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Celebrating the life and accomplishments of Dr. Henry Viscardi Jr., and commending him posthumously for his outstanding advocacy on behalf of individuals with disabilities

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2022-05-10 - adopted [K00877 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-K00877-Introduced.html

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Assembly Resolution No. 877

BY: M. of A. Sillitti

        CELEBRATING  the  life  and accomplishments of Dr.
        Henry Viscardi Jr., and commending him  posthumously
        for   his   outstanding   advocacy   on   behalf  of
        individuals with disabilities

  WHEREAS, Individuals and  organizations  devoted  to  improving  the
quality  of life for others, enabling them to build lives of dignity and
self-worth are deserving of the highest praise and recognition; and

  WHEREAS, From time to time, society calls upon these individuals and
organizations  to  be  recognized  for   the   significance   of   their
contributions  and  efforts  to  assist  others in developing the skills
necessary to be successful, productive citizens; and

  WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to celebrate the life
and accomplishments of Dr.  Henry  Viscardi  Jr.,  and  to  commend  him
posthumously  for his outstanding advocacy on behalf of individuals with
disabilities; and

  WHEREAS, The unity of  our  State  and  Nation  is  built  upon  the
compassion  of individuals such as Dr. Henry Viscardi Jr. who uphold the
values of community life and who, through their great actions, epitomize
the best of humanity; and

  WHEREAS, Born on May 10, 1912, Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr., who  himself
wore  prosthetic  legs,  served  as  disability  advisor to eight United
States Presidents, from Franklin  D.  Roosevelt  to  Jimmy  Carter,  and
became   one   of   the   world's  leading  advocates  for  people  with
disabilities; and

  WHEREAS,  The  original  incarnation   of   The   Viscardi   Center,
established  in  1952  by  Dr.  Henry Viscardi Jr. and operated out of a
garage in West Hempstead, New York, demonstrated that disabled  veterans
from  World War II and the Korean War had the skills and abilities to be
successful, productive employees; and

  WHEREAS, Furthermore, the Center provided assembly and factory  work
for  several  industry giants such as Grumman, General Electric, IBM and
the Department of Defense, and was the first U.S. business to be staffed
primarily by people with disabilities; and

  WHEREAS, In the early  1960s,  services  were  expanded  to  include
vocational  training  and job placement for all people with disabilities
when the workshop was moved to a larger facility in Albertson, where The
Viscardi Center continues to operate today; and

  WHEREAS, The extra space also allowed  Dr.  Henry  Viscardi  Jr.  to
pursue  another dream, and in 1962, he opened a school, now named in his
honor, which remains  a  world-renowned  model  for  delivering  a  high
quality,   traditional   education  to  students  with  severe  physical
disabilities; and

  WHEREAS, His tireless efforts went on to inspire legislation such as
the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1975  and  the
Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, which protects the rights
of children and adults with disabilities; and

  WHEREAS,  Under  the  able leadership of Dr. Henry Viscardi Jr., the
Center continued to expand and grow; in 1996, the Nathaniel H. Kornreich
Technology Center, which showcases state-of-the-art assistive technology
while providing information demonstrations, technology evaluations,  and
training   on  assistive  technology  and  its  impact  on  people  with
disabilities, was founded; and

  WHEREAS,  Additionally,  one  year  later,  the  Center's   National
Business  and  Disability  Council  took  a leading role nationally as a
resource for the successful integration  of  persons  with  disabilities
into the workforce and consumer marketplace; and

  WHEREAS,  To  this  day,  The Henry Viscardi School and The Viscardi
Center continue Dr. Viscardi's mission to educate,  employ  and  empower
people with disabilities; and

  WHEREAS,  This  year marks the 110th birthday of Henry Viscardi, the
70th Anniversary of The Viscardi Center, and the 60th Anniversary of the
Henry Viscardi School; and

  WHEREAS, Dr. Henry Viscardi Jr. lived an  immensely  beautiful  life
built  on  compassion,  kindness,  and  respect  for  others; he will be
remembered as one of  the  most  significant  and  enduring  leaders  in
integrating  disabled  people  into America's workforce, and his insight
and strength will forever serve as a beacon of  love  and  hope  to  the
countless lives he touched; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  sense  of  this  Legislative  Body  that when
individuals and organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are
brought to our attention, they should be celebrated  and  recognized  by
all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
celebrate the life and accomplishments of Dr. Henry Viscardi Jr., and to
commend him posthumously for  his  outstanding  advocacy  on  behalf  of
individuals with disabilities; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Dr. Henry Viscardi Jr.