My name is Giuseppe (Joe) Floccari. In 1979 I was born to Italian immigrants. Being a disabled individual is hard enough. I not only am i faced ableism on a regular basis from strangers, but often times I get it from my family too. Things like…what happens if you’re in this situation or that, or I get statements thrown at me as if I were still a child.

Luckily, I do not have cognitive issues. My younger years were spent at the Viscardi School. The other students and I not only learned about the 3 R’s, but we learned how to become like 1 family unit.

In school, I also developed a bit of an acting bug. From acting and singing to being chosen to be a Poster Child for Variety the Children’s Charity, I really had a yen to be someone. I always took what I learned in school to the outside world.

As the independent person I had become it only seemed natural to me that I become a community leader. From becoming Coordinator of The Civics League, to Disabled in Action Board Member, i know my future is bright