NYC Gazette

Speaker Carl Heastie continued his annual statewide tour today with Assemblymember Gina Sillitti at the Henry Viscardi School, a 4201 school that has provided an equitable learning environment for children with severe physical disabilities from pre-K through 12th grade for over 60 years. After the tour, Speaker Heastie and Assemblymember Sillitti announced $322,000 in general operating funds for the school and an additional $200,000 in capital funding to help the Viscardi Center reconstruct their museum.

“The Henry Viscardi School remains unmatched in its history of providing students with physical disabilities a space they can grow and learn with peers,” said Speaker Heastie. “No one has fought harder for the funding of this incredible program than Assemblymember Sillitti and I’m honored to join her here today to discuss how we can extend the Viscardi School’s services to the next generation of children.”

“Education should be accessible to all children and the Henry Viscardi School has spent the last six decades ensuring this is a reality for students across the state,” said Assemblymember Sillitti. “Over the last few years, there has been an attempt to reduce the funding of our 4201 schools, jeopardizing the education of thousands of physically disabled children. My Assembly Majority colleagues and I remain committed to ensuring these schools have the resources they need to provide all students access to an incredible education.”

Speaker Heastie and Assemblymember Sillitti joined Dr. Chris Rosa, president and CEO of the Viscardi Center, to tour the Henry Viscardi School. The school provides over 150 students from pre-K through 12th grade a learning environment with adaptive technology, therapies, and medical support to prepare them to attend college, join the workforce, and make a difference in their community. For the past eight years, the Assembly Majority has fought to include $903,000 in the budget for the Henry Viscardi School.