History
Founded in 1952 by Henry Viscardi, Jr., Abilities! has evolved into one of the world’s foremost facilities for educating and training people with disabilities.
The original incarnation of Abilities! was Abilities, Inc. which operated out of a garage in West Hempstead, and successfully demonstrated that people with disabilities could be productive contributors to society. Staffed primarily by disabled World War II veterans, Abilities, Inc. provided assembly and factory work for many defense contractors in the local area. The reputation of Abilities, Inc. grew to a point where contracts were awarded from industry giants such as Grumman, General Electric, IBM and the Department of Defense.
In the early 1960’s, Henry Viscardi moved Abilities, Inc. to a larger facility in Albertson, New York. It was here that the Human Resources Center was founded. Vocational training programs for adults with disabilities and a research department were also established. These new programs eventually grew into the Career and Employment Institute (CEI) and Research and Training Institute (RTI).
The extra space also allowed the pursuit of another dream; to give children with physical disabilities the opportunity to receive a quality education. In 1963, Dr. Viscardi received a Charter from the New York State Department of Education to establish the Human Resources School. Drawing from his experience as a child with a disability growing up in New York City, Dr. Viscardi worked diligently to see that this dream turned into reality, that every boy and girl, regardless of disability, received the highest quality education. In 1991, the name Human Resources School was changed to the Henry Viscardi School in recognition of our founder.
When Henry Viscardi retired as the Human Resources Center’s President in 1981, his successor, Dr. Edwin W. Martin, introduced many new ideas to help people with disabilities achieve independence. Among the innovations the Center experienced in the 1980’s was the introduction of an Adult Education program which integrated physically challenged adults with non-disabled adults. This program was the first of its kind in the United States.
In 1991, the Human Resources Center was changed to the National Center for Disability Services (NCDS) to better reflect the impact of the scope of services provided. Today the National Center for Disability Services is renowned around the world for providing the highest quality of educational and vocational services for people with disabilities.
Under the guidance of current President, Edmund L. Cortez, who succeeded Dr. Martin upon his retirement in September 1994, NCDS is committed to providing the tools that will lead to lives of fulfillment and productivity for all people with disabilities. Mr. Cortez, working together with dedicated professionals, parents and members of the Board, has not only enabled the Center to fulfill its mission, “to empower people with disabilities to be active, independent, and self-sufficient participants in our society,” but has ensured that the National Center is a resource respected across the country and around the world.
With Mr. Cortez’s visionary leadership, in 1996, the Center founded the Nathaniel H. Kornreich Technology Center, and in 1997 the Mary Jean and Frank P. Smeal Learning Center.
The Kornreich Technology Center 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.
The Smeal Learning Center is a unique training facility that offers technology and multi-media resources including video and audio production and captioning along with teleconferencing and accessible training space.
Additionally in 1997, the Center’s Industry-Labor Council, a corporate Council, became the National Business & Disability Council (NBDC), the leading national resource for the successful integration of persons with disabilities into the workforce and consumer marketplace.
In June, 1999, The Board of Directors for the National Center for Disability Services announced that Abilities, Inc. will become the parent organization of two programs; the National Business & Disability Council and Edwin W. Martin, Jr. Career and Employment Institute. In placing these programs in the Abilities, Inc. family, the Center returned to its roots.
On December 8, 2004, the organization unveiled a new logo and brand name. Abilities! marks a return to the core values and attributes that the organization was founded upon, and positions the organization with a brand identity for the future. Our vision of the future involves the adoption of our model programs across the country, and increased participation by the corporate community to help meet these goals.
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