Listen to this articleThe Viscardi Center in Albertson will house the Museum of Disability History, slated to open in the fall of 2025. The venue, announced Friday, will be the nation’s only brick and mortar museum to tell the story of people with disabilities.
Nassau County is investing $500,000 in the museum, and another $100,000 to market it. The investment is part of the county’s economic development plan to attract tourism, while teaching about the struggle of people with disabilities.
The Viscardi Center provides programs and services that are designed to educate students – including the Henry Viscardi School for pre-K to age 21 – and adults who have disabilities so that they are empowered to thrive. The museum will be located in the center’s Kornreich Institute for Disability Services. There had been a similar museum in Buffalo, but it became difficult to fund during COVID-19, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said.
Now, the Viscardi Center, thanks to the county funding, is picking up the reins.
The Viscardi Center is steeped in history. The center was founded in 1952 by Henry Viscardi, Jr., an advocate for people with disabilities. Viscardi, who wore prosthetic legs, went on to serve as an advisor to eight U.S presidents.
John Kornreich, who founded the Kornreich Institute for Disability Studies at the center, quoted Viscardi, saying, “Most of us are ordinary people striving to be extraordinary. People with disabilities are extraordinary people wanting to be seen as simply ordinary.”
Along with other advocates for people with disabilities, Chris Rosa, Viscardi president and CEO, said he is “so proud that through the county’s investment that we will be able to tell that story to the whole world here.”
Rosa said the museum “represents a future for heritage tourism,” with an opportunity to tell the stories of the people of the past and present.
The museum, Kornreich said, will offer access to videos of Viscardi, and others with disabilities who went on to lead accomplished lives and inspire others. Those leaders include U.S. Sen. Bob Dole, who became disabled after a World War II injury, and went on to serve as a strong advocate for the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Others include Oksana Masters, an American multi-sport athlete and a 17-time paralympic medalist. Kornreich also cited Major League Baseball player Jim Abbott, who said “Just because you do things a bit differently doesn’t mean you can’t do them just as well.”
County Executive Bruce Blakeman said the county’s museums attract visitors from outside the region.
“We are bringing people here to Nassau County who have never been here before, and they are spending money,” he said.
He said that the museum offers economic, cultural, historical and educational components.
He predicted that the investment will be “one of the best investments we ever made. I think this museum is going to be phenomenal.”
Advocates hope that the county’s investment will attract additional public, private and corporate investment.
