Please enjoy the latest issue of Matheny Matters! Sincere thanks to all who helped put this beautiful issue together.
Matheny Matters Summer/Fall 2024 – We Are the Advocates
Matheny Art Access Artists Exhibit at Farmstead Arts
BASKING RIDGE, NJ – Farmstead Arts proudly showcases the incredible works of artists from The Arts Access Program at Matheny. The show, comprised of framed acrylic paintings and drawings, features more than 30 works from 30 different adult artists.
Each piece in the exhibition is an inspiring testament to the talents of these artists, revealing unique perspectives that challenge assumptions and celebrate individuality. The Arts Access Program not only enriches the lives of these artists but also fosters an inclusive community that broadens our understanding of ability and creativity.
Read the full article at TAPinto Basking Ridge.
Matheny Employee Runs for Those Who Can’t
NEWS RELEASE
Matheny Employee Runs for Those Who Can’t
October 29, 2024, Peapack, NJ – Julia Halsey, Exhibits and Collections Coordinator for Matheny’s Arts Access Program, is getting ready to run in her first New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 3. Halsey is raising funds for an organization called ADAPT Community Network, an NYC-based nonprofit that provides important programs, services, and opportunities for people with disabilities.
Halsey works full time with artists in the Arts Access program at Matheny. Arts Access offers programming in the fine, performing, and literary arts. Using systems and techniques specifically designed for each discipline, clients can create pieces of work that are distinctly their own. The program improves the quality of life for the artists and those around them, and aids in changing the perception about the capabilities and talents of people with developmental disabilities.
Halsey joined Matheny in 2021 after moving to New Jersey from her hometown of Southampton, New York. “Matheny is such a special place to work,” she says. “I have a background in art history, and after seeing the phenomenal work coming out of the program, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. It’s been an honor getting to know these talented individuals through their art.”
Halsey began training for the marathon in July, and has been running a minimum of 45 miles a week ever since. Her running journey started in 2020 when looking for ways to stay active during the pandemic. Since then, Halsey has run thousands of miles to prepare to cross the finish line at the NYC Marathon, a goal she never imagined possible just four years ago.
It wasn’t enough for Halsey to just run the marathon – she wanted to run for a cause. When an opportunity arose to fundraise for ADAPT Community Network, she knew it was the perfect fit. “Working at Matheny, I see firsthand how empowering our programs are for our clients,” she says. “I wanted to support an organization that aligns with our mission.”
With only 9 days left until the marathon, Halsey is already thinking about the next one. “This won’t be my last race,” she says. “I hope to be able to support Matheny in the next one! Consider supporting Halsey and ADAPT Community Network at fundraisers.hakuapp.com/julia-halsey or donate directly to Matheny in her honor.
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PHOTO CAPTION: Julia Halsey adds to her thousands of miles run.
About Matheny
Matheny’s mission is to provide exceptional care and an optimal quality of life for children and adults with special needs and medically complex developmental disabilities. Matheny is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and is headquartered in Somerset County. It was founded in 1946 after Walter and Marguerite Matheny’s son, Chuck, was born with cerebral palsy (CP) into a world ill-equipped to care for children with special needs. Matheny patients have a diverse range of medical conditions such as Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Lesch-Nyhan Disease (LND) and a wide range of rare diseases. Matheny is comprised of a special hospital, five community group homes, an adult day center, a non-profit private special school, and outpatient clinics serving the community. To learn more about Matheny, visit us at http://www.matheny.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram: @mathenymedical..
Friends of Matheny Donation of $125,000 Highlights the Importance of Disability Pride Month
NEWS RELEASE
Friends of Matheny Donation of $125,000 Highlights the Importance of Disability Pride Month
July 17, 2024, Peapack, NJ – Disability Pride Month is celebrated each July. This year’s theme is “We Want a Life Like Yours” and marks the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), landmark legislation that removed barriers to inclusion for people with disabilities.
The Friends of Matheny, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Matheny’s programs that enrich lives of people with disabilities. The Friends recently presented their 2024 donation of $125,000, a $25,000 increase over recent years. $100,000 of this gift has been designated to support Matheny’s Durable Medical Equipment (DME) program and $25,000 will go to the Arts Access program. The Friends have also provided additional funds that will be used to support ongoing programs such as Matheny’s annual Wish List and the Student Family Support Fund. Matheny staff are invited to submit requests that will benefit their students and patients. Such items include supplies and equipment for programs and experiences and trips for patients and students – items that are not otherwise covered by Matheny’s budget. According to Aimee Hunnewell, Matheny’s Chief Development Officer, “The Friends annually grant wishes that positively impact so many lives. These programs and experiences make a lasting impression and greatly enhance the quality of life for the people we serve.”
“We were thrilled to learn of the generous $25,000 donation earmarked for Arts Access. This support will truly make a difference and their ongoing support is invaluable in helping us continue our mission of providing innovative programs and services and promoting inclusivity and creativity within our community;” says Heather Williams, Arts Access Program Director.
This year’s donation also included a $100,000 gift to Matheny’s DME Program. Sue Baumann, Director of the Rehabilitation Technology department stated, “We are very thankful to The Friends for this very generous donation! Our department focuses on client’s positioning and safety needs. Thanks to The Friends, we will be able to continue to fabricate custom positioning equipment, safeguarding equipment, and bed and wheelchair replacement covers to name a few.” She added, “We will also continue to modify sleepwear, stabilize toys and communication devices, and provide repair parts for our patients’ wheelchairs. ”
The Friends of Matheny have embraced the spirit of Disability Pride month. Their 40-year commitment and contributions to individuals with disabilities is extraordinary. “We are delighted to support Matheny and the wonderful work they do,” says Debi DeLorenzo, President of The Friends. “Our donation of $125,000 this year will be divided between two very important areas. It will help the children and adults reach their full potential and we couldn’t be happier.” Continuing their long standing tradition of supporting Matheny both financially and through volunteerism, to date, The Friends have donated over $3.5 million dollars to Matheny. Most of those funds are generated through sales of at the Second Chance Thrift Shop located at 4 Church Street, Gladstone. This award-winning thrift shop is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays year round.
*Read in the Bernardsville News here.
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Photo Captions:
Facilitation: Artist Karen Frascella selects a color for her painting with Arts Access facilitator Joe Matousek.
Dance: Teri Buschmann, TJ Christian and Kitty Lunn perform TJ’s original choreographed dance.
Rehabilitation Technologies: Tizazu Alemru customizing a wheelchair component and Christine Whitworth sewing unique and completely customized wheelchair cushions, positioning aids and more.
Friends of Matheny Check Presentation: The Friends of Matheny recently presented a check in the amount of $125,000 to Matheny. Debi DeLorenzo, President of the Friends of Matheny presented the generous donation to (left to right) Matheny Board of Trustees Co-Chair Bill Krais; Bill Kent, President and CEO of Matheny; and Matheny Board of Trustees Co-Chair Paul Frascella.
About Matheny
Matheny’s mission is to provide exceptional care and an optimal quality of life for children and adults with special needs and medically complex developmental disabilities. Matheny is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and is headquartered in Somerset County. It was founded in 1946 after Walter and Marguerite Matheny’s son, Chuck, was born with cerebral palsy (CP) into a world ill-equipped to care for children with special needs. Matheny patients have a diverse range of medical conditions such as Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Lesch-Nyhan Disease (LND) and a wide range of rare diseases. Matheny is comprised of a special hospital, five community group homes, an adult day center, a non-profit private special school, and outpatient clinics serving the community. To learn more about Matheny, visit us at http://www.matheny.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram: @mathenymedical.
Matheny’s Rehabilitation Technology Department provides seating and mobility services including Durable Medical Equipment (DME) and Complex Rehabilitative Technology (CRT). DME and CRT include: power wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs, seating systems, bath equipment, positioning aids, and more, which can be individually configured for each client. The rehabilitation technology staff are trained and certified in the skills necessary to evaluate and resolve the seating and mobility needs of children and adults with developmental disabilities. Matheny’s on-site rehab technology shop allows technicians the ability to customize and modify equipment for each individual. Matheny’s assistive technology professionals are certified by the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA).
The Arts Access program at Matheny provides individuals with disabilities the freedom to create in the visual, literary, and performing arts. This unique program is designed to inspire, uplift, and encourage the aspirations of artists with disabilities. Using state-of-the-art methodologies, clients are enabled to create pieces of work that are distinctly their own. In an effort to provide access to the same disciplines available to able-bodied artists, Arts Access offers courses in the visual, literary and performing arts. Using systems and techniques specifically designed for each discipline, clients can create pieces of work that are distinctly their own. On a daily basis, Arts Access fosters an environment of artistic creativity among the participating clients. The program improves the quality of life for the client artists and those around them. In addition, Arts Access programming aids in changing the perception about the capabilities and talents of people with developmental disabilities.
Celebrating 14 Years of Artistic Collaboration
Symbiosis is a mutually beneficial relationship between different groups or individuals. It’s a special type of bond that helps both groups grow and thrive together and in their own ways.
The Matheny Arts Access Program, part of Matheny Medical & Educational Center, is a fine arts program that empowers individuals with disabilities to create art without boundaries in the visual, performing, and literary arts in Peapack, NJ. The WAE Center at JSDD is a holistic, creative, and expressive arts learning center in Livingston, NJ, for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Each program is dedicated to enabling people with disabilities to produce fine art through the use of innovative systems and techniques.
Since the spring of 2011, these two organizations have come together every year to showcase the talents and achievements of artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities in New Jersey. For over a decade, Matheny Arts Access and the WAE Center have met in Newark and installed an expansive exhibit throughout the halls of Rutgers’ New Jersey Medical School. This annual summer exhibit filled the vast hallways with light, color, and possibility. The many artists whose work was on display attended openings and brought their families and friends to see both: the plethora of art and the artists who manifest it.
Back at the start of the pandemic, this annual summer exhibit and opening reception evolved into a digital space, keeping the artists and the attendees safe and healthy while also declaring that COVID wasn’t going to stop these artists from sharing their creativity with the world. This change completely transformed the scope and structure of the exhibit and allowed each artist to really listen to their peers speak about their process and their joy at creating.
Zak Zablow, an artist at the WAE Center, says “it is so great to see how many artists are out there creating stuff. Amazing work and so different than what I am doing. I love hearing each person’s story, and seeing how their art turns out.”
This year, we are seeing this partnership evolve once again into a new and exciting exhibit, Summer Symbiosis: a collaborative exhibit by Matheny Arts Access and the WAE Center, presented in-person at the Heidi Gallery at JSDD. It marks a new turn in the road of a longtime partnership in bringing the work of artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities into a commercial art space.
When told about being included in this year’s new exhibit, Josh Handler, an artist at Matheny Arts Access, said, “I’m so happy about that!” He went on to say how he “wants to keep the art world in suspense, wants to keep it fresh, and doesn’t want to disappoint his loyal fans.”
“Like a branch of the same tree we grew and grew to come together and exhibit art with Matheny once more as we have over the years,” Esther Tanahashi remarks. “Only this time in our very own Heidi Gallery, showing the work side by side.”
“Collaborating with the WAE Center has really become a highlight for us every year,” Arianne Petersen, Communications Specialist at Matheny Arts Access, says. “Besides the fact that our organizations are so aligned with our purposes, which honestly makes it such a joy to work together, our artists have expressed so much enthusiasm for our collaborative exhibits.”
Summer Symbiosis is a collaborative exhibit featuring two organizations, fifty artists, and innumerable possibilities. It celebrates the artists of both organizations as well as the long established relationship between them. Marilynn Schneider, a current member of the Heidi Gallery Advisory Committee and a longtime WAE Center Director speaks to the power of such a collaboration:
“Through many years the relationship between Matheny Arts Access and the WAE Center at JSDD has transformed the lives of all our members. This exhibit has brought the two organizations and their many artists together annually to share pride, anticipation, and connection. The two professional teams have worked hard and seen the reward of artists who see and hear kindred spirits: sharing ideas, inspirations, and their life stories. This growing connection between artists impacted families, friends, and caregivers, enriching the lives of all who have come to participate and observe this event.”
Summer Symbiosis will be on display from July 22 through August 18 at the Heidi Gallery in Livingston, NJ. Plan your visit to the gallery by visiting www.jsddmetrowest.org/heidi-gallery/ or emailing HeidiGallery@jsdd.org. And please join the artists for an opening reception on Sunday, July 28 from 2 – 4 pm.
Follow Matheny Arts Access on social media @MathenyArtsAccess and the WAE Center on social media @WAEcenter for the latest news about each organization and their artists. And follow the Heidi Gallery at JSDD on social media @HeidiGalleryatJSSD to hear about all their exciting events.
Read on the Bernardsville-Bedminster Patch here.
How Matheny School students with disabilities are transitioning to adulthood
Thank you to Cheryl Makin for this wonderful recent piece discussing our Matheny School PCAST (Person-Centered Approaches in Schools and Transition) program. Read the full article here.
At the Matheny School in Peapack-Gladstone, students absorb knowledge, progress and thrive − just like in a traditional school.
But Matheny − and its students − shine in their differences.
It is that sense of difference which drives Matheny School’s PCAST (Person-Centered Approaches in Schools and Transition) program.
For about a decade, the PCAST program has been a focus for the school’s “Super Seniors” − students over the age of 18. It’s a two-year student-driven class experience, said Christine Mayercik, the school’s speech language pathologist, that aims to ease the transition between students graduating from high school and starting in an adult program.
“Just like any other kid graduating from high school, it’s a big transition when you leave behind the school years and you move into that space, whether it’s going to college or going into the workforce. It’s a huge change,” Mayercik said.
The program is about learning life lessons you can’t learn from a book.
“PCAST helps them develop their sense of self, what they see as a good quality of life,” Mayercik said. “Their good days, or bad days, and their preferences are defined. We start putting that together so that they know who they are.”
Matheny School Graduation 2024
They did it! Please join us in congratulating our Matheny School 2024 graduates!
Thank you to the families and loved ones who supported and encouraged our graduates on their educational journeys, and to the many teachers, aides, therapists, and other Matheny School staff members who are so dedicated student success.
All of us at Matheny have enjoyed getting to know these students and learning their unique interests, talents, and aspirations. We can’t wait to see what’s next for them!
Please enjoy the photo album below. We also shared several videos of the graduation ceremony on our Matheny Facebook page.
Miles for Matheny 2024 – Photo Album
We’re still riding high from Miles for Matheny 2024! Our community put on their Matheny green and joined us for a day of music, games, and fun.
There were some changes to the annual celebration this year. We brought the event to our hilltop campus and threw a BBQ for all attendees, added an obstacle course to our popular Kids Fun Run, kicked off the morning with a picturesque Trail Run and Fitness Walk, and designed an indoor/outdoor route for our beloved Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk. We appreciated everyone’s enthusiastic participation in these new ideas, and we hope you had as much fun as we did.
Check out the photo album below (thanks to our photographer, the talented Keith Bratcher). See you next year!
Matheny School Prom 2024
It’s been a busy few weeks at Matheny! Whether it’s prom, graduation, or Miles for Matheny, we always love sharing special occasions as a community. Thanks to all who participated and worked hard to make this celebratory season possible!
See our Prom 2024 album below. Thanks to our talented photographer Keith Bratcher and the prom committee for making this beautiful evening happen!
Art Without Boundaries
Thank you to all who attended Art Without Boundaries, the second Arts Access exhibition at Sotheby’s! Featured artists Jess, Karen, Bari Kim, Tammy, and Paul were so happy show their work in this prestigious gallery, and the whole Matheny community is always thrilled to share the mission of Arts Access.
Thank you to Keith Bratcher and Twelve09 Photography for capturing all these wonderful moments of artistic expression and community connection.
Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month: A Small School with Big Impact
The Matheny School enriches the lives of NJ’s most vulnerable students
March 21, 2024, Peapack, NJ – At the Matheny School the sounds of silence are never welcome. Silence is not a virtue here. Nor is sitting quietly in a classroom absorbing a teacher’s lecture on geography, waiting for the bell to ring. This school is clearly different from the traditional schools that most of us know. According to Principal Sean Murphy, “We work closely with any school district that needs our help. We are here to ensure that out-of-district placement is available to those who qualify so that every student gets the best educational and life enriching opportunities they can find.”
Matheny School’s students range in ages from pre-school through high school – students graduate at the age of 21. Matheny was established in 1946 by a husband and wife, both educators, to provide a stimulating and effective learning and living environment for children with a wide range of medically complex developmental disabilities. At the time, Marguerite and Walter Matheny could not find such a place for their son Chuck—born with cerebral palsy on March 30, 1941. He became the inspiration for the founding of Matheny, and its decades-long development into a renowned specialized school, an accredited special hospital, adult day programs, and community-based group residences. Students here complete all state requirements to earn their high school diplomas, like their peers in traditional schools.
When a new student starts at The Matheny School, there is an initial evaluation of their language and feeding skills. Christine Mayercik, the school’s speech language pathologist points out that
the goal is for the student to take the skills learned in therapy and then to use these skills outside of therapy—in the classroom, at home, with caregivers and out in the community. The therapist also works with teachers and caregivers to help facilitate the student’s communication and help ensure their success. “Students often get 90 minutes of therapy each week, but never less than 60 minutes per week,” according to Mayercik. Like traditional schools, Matheny issues quarterly reports, evaluating each student’s progress toward their individual goals. “Here, it’s all about learning to communicate your thoughts and needs, and learning the subject matter ‘your way’,” stated Mayercik.
Some students use iPads with dedicated communication apps as their primary communication tool. “Our kids are mobile, moving from classroom to classroom or to therapy sessions during the day. They need a communication device that moves with them—light enough to be mounted on their wheelchair or mounted to a classroom chair. For those that are ambulatory, the device needs to be light enough to hold in their hands or in a backpack.”
Therapists work together to include vocalizations, eye gaze, facial expressions, body language, gestures, and sign language, in addition to augmentative communication devices. The watchwords with students are always to help them be as independent as possible. All seniors participate in the PCAST (Person-Centered Approaches in Schools and Transition) program. “We help each student prepare for their post high school life by identifying their likes and dislikes, their needs, the activities and things that make them happy, and their hopes and plans for the future,” said Mayercik
The students each put together a booklet talking about themselves, which Mayercik calls, “the Cliff Notes on who the student is. What technology the student uses is part of that, since technology is part of their daily lives.” One of the school’s main focus is communication, particularly as graduates take their next steps into their future.
Ten students will proudly graduate from The Matheny School this spring. They will wear caps and gowns and listen to messages from the class valedictorian and salutatorian; and as they receive their hard-earned diplomas, their families and friends will cheer. All students will have learned the primary lessons that their teachers and parents strive to impart—culminating in the graduates’ readiness to move into their young adult lives.
A Matheny School mom expressed her gratitude for the education her daughter Serenity has received at Matheny. “I am tremendously grateful for their teamwork and efforts! These are huge accomplishments in our world and make such an impact on our success with keeping our children safe, healthy and happy! Thank you for taking such wonderful care of our daughter and being flexible, innovative and patient while still providing the best possible opportunities.” said Renee Apuzzo.
School enrollment takes place year-round and an extended school year is available to all. Families and caregivers of students with medically complex disabilities are invited to tour Matheny to witness everything Matheny has to offer. Call us at (908) 234-0011, ext. 1264 or email us at schooladmissions@matheny.org to schedule a tour.
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Photo Caption: Matheny student Emma Webster works with Donna Kelly, Matheny’s Director of Occupational Therapy
About Matheny. Matheny’s mission is to provide exceptional care and an optimal quality of life for children and adults with special needs and medically complex developmental disabilities. Matheny is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and is headquartered in Somerset County. It was founded in 1946 after Walter and Marguerite Matheny’s son, Chuck, was born with cerebral palsy (CP) into a world ill-equipped to care for children with special needs. Matheny patients have a diverse range of medical conditions such as Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Lesch-Nyhan Disease (LND) and a wide range of rare diseases. Matheny is comprised of a special hospital, five community group homes, an adult day center, a non-profit private special school, and outpatient clinics serving the community. To learn more about Matheny, visit us at http://www.matheny.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram: @mathenymedical.
Five Matheny Artists Featured in New Exhibit at Sotheby’s, NYC
The works of five talented Matheny artists will be showcased in a new exhibit at the renowned Sotheby’s in New York City. Paintings by Jessica Evans, Bari Kim Goldrosen, Karen Frascella, Paul Santo, and Tammy Heppner will be featured in “Art Without Boundaries.” A portion of the exhibit will be devoted to “Rising Artists” – a display of other talented artists creating art in many forms in Matheny’s Arts Access program. The exhibit reveals the variety of works, multitude of subjects, and the diversity of media used to create these stunning pieces. The exhibit will run from March 29th through April 7th at Sotheby’s 1334 York Avenue, New York, NY location.
Eileen Murray, Director of the Arts Access Program, said, “We are immensely grateful for the opportunity to showcase the extraordinary talents of artists with disabilities once again at Sotheby’s NYC. Their return to this prestigious stage is a testament to the power of creativity that lies within these outstanding artists. We are thrilled to see these remarkable individuals rightfully bask in the spotlight, demonstrating that creativity knows no bounds. Thank you, Sotheby’s, for recognizing and celebrating their exceptional contributions.”
Matheny previously collaborated with Sotheby’s in 2019 for an exhibit titled “The Art of Choice.”
Arts Access’ multidisciplinary program offers specialized systems of communication and assistance for individuals with disabilities that enable them to freely express themselves in the arts. Instead of defining those participating in Arts Access by their disabilities, Arts Access enables participants to define themselves by their accomplishments. Assisted by professional artist-facilitators, the artists use specialized systems, methodologies, and assistive technology that have been designed to enable individuals across the full spectrum of disability to clearly communicate their ideas. To learn more, go to artsaccessprogram.org.
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About Matheny. Matheny’s mission is to provide exceptional care and an optimal quality of life for children and adults with special needs and medically complex developmental disabilities. Matheny is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and is headquartered in Somerset County. It was founded in 1946 after Walter and Marguerite Matheny’s son, Chuck, was born with cerebral palsy (CP) into a world ill-equipped to care for children with special needs. Matheny patients have a diverse range of medical conditions such as Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Lesch-Nyhan Disease (LND) and a wide range of rare diseases. Matheny is comprised of a special hospital, five community group homes, an adult day center, a non-profit private special school, and outpatient clinics serving the community. To learn more about Matheny, visit us at http://www.matheny.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram: @mathenymedical.
About Sotheby’s. Established in 1744, Sotheby’s is the world’s premier destination for art and luxury. Sotheby’s promotes access to and ownership of exceptional art and luxury objects through auctions and buy-now channels including private sales, e-commerce and retail. Our trusted global marketplace is supported by an industry-leading technology platform and a network of specialists spanning 40 countries and 70 categories which include Contemporary Art, Modern and Impressionist Art, Old Masters, Chinese Works of Art, Jewelry, Watches, Wine and Spirits, and Design, as well as collectible cars and real estate. Sotheby’s believes in the transformative power of art and culture and is committed to making our industries more inclusive, sustainable and collaborative.
This exhibition is a part of Sotheby’s Community Gallery initiative, where we partner with mission-driven organizations to spotlight artists and creatives. We firmly believe in the transformative power of art and culture, and are committed to making the art and luxury industries more inclusive, sustainable, and collaborative. We hope this space inspires you to consider how you define community, and expand the ways you see yourself and others.
