Viscardi Alumni

03/16/2026

Julie Taulman has dedicated her life to ensuring people with disabilities can enjoy adaptive outdoor sports, drawing from personal connection.

Julie Taulman's personal experience with her son's paralysis shaped her two-decade career in adaptive sports, and she's now leading efforts to make instructor certifications more uniform and affordable across the country.

03/13/2026

Attention Alumni! Join us Monday, May 11, 2026, at 6:00 PM at The Viscardi Center as we celebrate a diamond milestone honoring our champions. This year, we’re proud to introduce the reimagined Night of Champions (formerly Celebrity Night), commemorating 60 years of expanding opportunity for people with disabilities and intentionally highlighting the true champions at the heart of our mission — our students, program participants, families, staff, and supporters.

Stay tuned for more exciting announcements. Be part of this special celebration – reserve your Alumni discounted tickets by contacting Lucky Domingo at ldomingo@viscardicenter.org or 516-465-1590.

03/11/2026

March is a month that highlights multiple observances centered on diversity, inclusion, and disability — including the Disability Community Day of Mourning, observed on March 1 to honor disabled individuals whose lives were lost to violence and ableism. These moments create space to reflect on representation, confront systemic harm, and recognize lives too often overlooked. In this feature, author Marcus Johnson explores how these themes intersect with accountability, policy, and public discourse — and why meaningful inclusion requires action beyond awareness. Read the full article at https://ablenews.com/honoring-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-disability-community-a-call-to-action/

03/11/2026

Check out how author and mom Jannesy DeLeon writes about inclusion and accessibility in her books inspired by her own children.

Local author and mom Jannesy DeLeon writes about inclusion and accessibility in her books inspired by her own children.

03/09/2026

Find out how Briana Arce is changing the theater industry to be more accessible and inclusive to people with disabilities.

As an Autistic, multi-disabled person, working in the theater industry can be challenging. It’s not often you see disabled representation in theater, both onstage and off. Growing up, I rarely saw other disabled performers or characters. When I started working in theater, I was often the one perso...

03/08/2026

More schools are creating sensory rooms to better support students experiencing sensory overload, anxiety, or emotional dysregulation during the school day. Designed as structured, staff-supported spaces, these rooms help students regulate, refocus, and return to class ready to engage in learning.
In this feature, Dawn Colclasure explores how schools are implementing sensory spaces, what they include, and the impact they’re having on student well-being and inclusion. Read the full article at https://ablenews.com/sensory-rooms-provide-specialized-care-to-students/

03/06/2026

March 1 marked International Wheelchair Day, recognizing the impact of mobility devices and the ongoing fight for equitable access. That mission is reflected in the work of Latavia Sturdivant, Ms. Wheelchair America 2026 and alumna of The Henry Viscardi School at The Viscardi Center, who continues to advocate for fair reimbursement rates and access to durable medical equipment nationwide through Ms. Wheelchair America. In this feature by Lan Zhan, Latavia reflects on how her education and clinical career shaped her national advocacy. Read the full article at https://ablenews.com/ms-wheelchair-new-york-now-has-a-message-for-america/

03/05/2026

Attention Alumni! Don't forget to join us tonight from 6:00–7:30 PM in the HVS gym as we gather to play wheelchair basketball and create some magic!

All alumni are welcome and you don’t have to play or have prior experience to join in. Please arrive by 5:45 PM and enter through the HVS cafeteria entrance. Everyone is responsible for their own transportation and PCA/nursing support if needed.

Let’s have fun and build the team! Help spread the word to other alumni.
See you on the court!

03/04/2026

Our March 2026 edition is now live! As conversations shift toward a new season and new momentum, this issue features an exclusive report on Nisha Agarwal’s appointment to lead the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, a spotlight on Emmy Award–winning filmmaker Jason DaSilva, a guide to accessible summer camps, an interview with Miss Wheelchair America as she concludes her reign, and a Conversations with Able News profile of a New York-based dancer with cerebral palsy reshaping artistic spaces. Explore the full edition at the link in our bio.
Read the full issue at https://ablenews.com/

03/04/2026

Attention Alumni! Who's ready to get fired up on the court tomorrow night? Join us tomorrow from 6:00–7:30 PM in the HVS gym as we gather to play wheelchair basketball and create some magic!

All alumni are welcome and you don’t have to play or have prior experience to join in. Please arrive by 5:45 PM and enter through the HVS cafeteria entrance. Everyone is responsible for their own transportation and PCA/nursing support if needed.

Let’s have fun and build the team! Help spread the word to other alumni.
See you there!

03/02/2026

The future of power wheelchairs is here! Check out how the Strutt ev¹ is changing what’s possible for people with disabilities.

Seth McBride heads to San Francisco to test a power wheelchair promising “a Tesla-level innovation in personal mobility.” Here’s what he found.

03/01/2026

Attention Alumni! We’re less than a week from firing up the court and resuming Alumni Basketball practice! It may still be cold outside, but inside it’s nice and toasty. Join us Thursday, March 5, from 6:00–7:30 PM in the HVS gym as we gather to play wheelchair basketball and create some magic!

All alumni are welcome and you don’t have to play or have prior experience to join in. Please arrive by 5:45 PM and enter through the HVS cafeteria entrance. Everyone is responsible for their own transportation and PCA/nursing support if needed.

Let’s have fun and build the team! Help spread the word to other alumni.
See you on the court!