About Us
With the support of our donors, Kessler Foundation drives positive change for people with disabilities. We conduct groundbreaking rehabilitation and disability employment research and fund innovative initiatives to provide access to job opportunities. The Foundation bears the name of Henry H. Kessler, MD, PhD, who founded Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation to help people with disabilities regain function and achieve maximum independence. Today, Dr. Kessler’s vision is reflected in the institutions that bear his name.
Our Research Helps People Live Better Lives
Kessler Foundation, a major nonprofit organization in the field of disability, is a global leader in rehabilitation research. Our scientists seek to improve cognition, mobility, and long-term outcomes, including employment, for adults and children with neurological and developmental disabilities of the brain and spinal cord including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, MS, and autism. We help people regain independence to lead full and productive lives.
What We Fund
Kessler Foundation leads the nation in funding innovative programs that expand opportunities for employment for people with disabilities. Our grantmaking is grounded in the belief that all people with disabilities have a right to pursue competitive, integrated employment and live with dignity within our communities. Inclusion in the workplace is the primary focus of our grant funding, which helps people with disabilities find meaningful work and gain independence.
The Impact
With the support of our donors, Kessler Foundation maximizes recovery, independence, and inclusion for people with disabilities. The impact is profound. People with paralysis take their first steps. Young adults with autism improve awareness of their personal strengths and their ability to self-advocate. Stroke survivors regain independence. Individuals with multiple sclerosis and traumatic brain injury improve thinking, learning, and memory. Jobseekers and veterans with disabilities find satisfying employment and become self-sufficient.
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Mission statement
The mission of Kessler Foundation is to improve quality of life for people with disabilities through discovery, innovation, demonstration, application, and dissemination.
Vision statement
Kessler Foundation leads the way in linking science and grantsmanship so that people living with disabilities can lead more productive, independent, and fulfilling lives.