Our Vision
With the support of our donors, our award-winning scientists develop and test novel interventions to transform care and optimize mobility, cognition, and quality of life for people with disabilities. We study traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, autism, and other neurological and developmental conditions.
scientists and support staff advancing life-changing research
active rehabilitation research studies
national and international collaborators
year of establishment
We set the standard for excellence in rehabilitation research through bold ideas, scientific rigor, and meaningful evidence-based results to translate discoveries into life-changing solutions.
We actively partner with world-class rehabilitation hospitals and research institutions, community organizations, and supporters of our mission to harness collective expertise and amplify impact.
We celebrate differences, value every voice, and create a culture of belonging rooted in empathy, respect, and dignity for all.
Your Support Fosters Recovery and Resilience
When you give to Kessler Foundation, you change the landscape of what's possible for people with disabilities. Guided by our mission, vision, and values, your support helps ensure research delivers meaningful results for real people.
Peter Hersh: Life With SCI, Made Easier
Dr. Peter Hersh, who lives with a spinal cord injury, was among the first to experience transcutaneous spinal stimulation...
Small Movements. Big Wins.
After sustaining a spinal cord injury in 2004, Jimmy approaches his post-injury rehabilitation with the same athletic drive he put into baseball...
Alexa Is Making Moves After SCI
At age 21, Alexa Alvarez was diagnosed with acute transverse myelitis, a rare nontraumatic cause of spinal cord injury...
Bill Pastras, Why Research Matters to Me After My Stroke and TBI
In 2017, my life changed in an instant. While driving on the New Jersey Turnpike, I suddenly felt weak and lost control of my car...
Therese Bertrand, Finding My Way Forward With Multiple Sclerosis
A phone call changed Therese Bertrand's life. It brought a diagnosis she had never expected...
Suzanne Cliff's Journey After Stroke
Suzanne had always been a take-charge kind of person. That all changed after her stroke...
Rafael Torres, Finding Hope After SCI
Almost 20 years ago, Rafael's life changed in an instant. He woke up in the hospital and learned he was paralyzed from the waist down.
Pastora Goldner, A Mother’s Day Reflection
Over thirty years ago, Pastora was involved in a devastating car accident in the middle of the desert. She has lived with a spinal cord injury ever since.
Angela Pennella, It's Never Too Late to Learn After TBI
Angela Pennella was on her way home when a driver crossed into her lane and struck her car head-on. She sustained extensive injuries, including a traumatic brain injury...
Interview Skills Boost Holly Coviello's Confidence Despite Autism
For 18-year-old Holly Coviello and her mother, the typical questions about finding employment have loomed large. Holly is autistic.
Victor Pena Keeps Life Sporty After SCI
“I’m passionate about sports,” says Victor Pena, who lives with SCI. “Staying active improves my physical and mental health.”
Steve Ascolese Makes Music Again After Stroke
Steve Ascolese sustained a stroke in June 2020. Though not paralyzed, he lost mobility and had spatial neglect...
Rehabilitation is the precious gift of hope translated into action.
Your Support Enables Us to Carry Dr. Kessler's Vision Forward
Dr. Kessler believed that recovery does not end with medical treatment. As a pioneering physician and founder of the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, he helped shape a new field of medicine focused on the whole person, recognizing that physical healing must be paired with emotional support, skill‑building, and opportunities to re‑engage in community life.
In The Knife Is Not Enough, Dr. Kessler chronicled the evolution of rehabilitation medicine and emphasized the importance of restoring purpose and independence, not simply treating injury or illness. His work underscored the role of vocational guidance, community involvement, and long‑term support in helping people rebuild their lives.
As an independent not-for-profit research organization, Kessler Foundation continues Dr. Kessler's vision through research to advance evidence‑based solutions that expand opportunity, foster inclusion, and help people with disabilities lead the lives they choose. Kessler Institute, our frequent collaborator, is a for-profit top rehabilitation hospital.
