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It is our pleasure to share the following videos, featuring several of our Adult Day Program participants. You can watch both videos here:

Medicaid Voices Part 1

Medicaid Voices Part 2

These videos were made in conjunction with our partners at the Alliance for the Betterment of Citizens with Disabilities (ABCD) as part of their Defending the Achievement (DTA) campaign.

For more information on DTA, please see this press release.

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Matheny Medical and Educational Center Vice President to Serve on Governor-Elect Sherrill’s Transition Committee

December 1, 2025, Peapack, NJ – Vincent Barba, MD, FACHE, FACP, Matheny Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Patient Care and Safety, was named to Governor-Elect Mikie Sherrill’s transition committee. Dr. Barba said, “It is an honor to serve our State and I am proud to advocate for those we serve.”

Dr. Barba has been with Matheny for more than ten years. He brings to the table leadership and extensive expertise in internal medicine, healthcare management and patient safety. During the past ten years, he has served the developmental disabilities community successfully. According to Nancy Hamstra, President and CEO of Matheny, “One of the reasons Matheny stands out as a premier healthcare organization for people with medically complex disabilities is due to Dr. Barba’s leadership. He is not only a consummate professional but also a compassionate clinician. The transition committee will benefit greatly from Dr. Barba’s participation.”

One of Dr. Barba’s most recent accomplishments is leading another successful Joint Commission accreditation survey for Matheny. Matheny’s special hospital is fully accredited by the Joint Commission and has been for more than 30 years.

Among several professional boards, Dr. Barba currently serves on the New Jersey Hospital Association’s (NJHA) Policy Development Committee, which is advisory to the NJHA Board of Trustees. He has also served on the Health Research and Educational Trust of New Jersey (HRET) Board of Trustees for the past four years. HRET of NJ is a non-profit organization focused on improving healthcare quality through research, education, and quality improvement initiatives throughout NJ. HRET NJ provides continuing education, runs patient safety programs, like the Garden State Patient Safety Center, and offers programs that help NJ residents access health insurance and other services.

Nancy Hamstra added, “Advocacy efforts on behalf of the disability community have increased throughout New Jersey in recent years. Matheny leaders, including Dr. Barba, are at the forefront and they continue to work for change. There is still more work to do for a more inclusive New Jersey for people with disabilities but with Dr. Barba at the table, we have a better chance to make things better for those who need it most.”

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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 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 and a wide range of rare diseases. Matheny is comprised of a special hospital, seven community residences, two adult day centers, a non-profit private special school, and the award-winning Arts Access Program. The Matheny Arts Access program enables individuals with special needs to take part in the visual, literary, and performing arts. To learn more about Matheny, visit us at http://www.matheny.org and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram: @mathenymedical.

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NEWS RELEASE

August 4, 2025, Peapack, NJ – Thrifting offers countless benefits – from promoting sustainability to offering affordable options for students and others in need. A small but mighty thrift shop tucked behind a charming church in the heart of Peapack and Gladstone, NJ is making a big impact in the lives of the community’s most vulnerable residents.

Known as The Second Chance Thrift Shop, this small space holds a wide variety of gently used and new items donated by neighbors and people from near and far. New Jersey Monthly Magazine named it among the best thrift shops in 2022. The Second Chance Shop is operated by The Friends of Matheny – a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting programs and services for children and adults with medically complex developmental disabilities at Matheny – a local school and special hospital.

This June, The Friends of Matheny presented a $150,000 check to Matheny to purchase brand-new furniture for the 101 residents on the Peapack campus. Since 1983, The Friends have donated more than $4.1 million in funding to support life enrichment experiences, equipment, educational supplies, and more.

“The Friends is an extraordinary group of volunteers,” said Nancy Hamstra, Matheny’s President and CEO. “Their dedication and generosity go above and beyond anything I have ever seen. The people we serve thrive and enjoy meaningful experiences thanks in large part to the volunteers at the Second Chance Thrift Shop.”

Kerry Conmy, recently elected as the president of The Friends, thanked the outgoing president, Debi DeLorenzo, saying, “I’m humbled to follow in the footsteps of such an incredible leader like Debi and I look forward to working with our amazing volunteers at The Shop. Words cannot fully describe the incredible work of The Friends board members and Shop volunteers.” Kerry’s son, Patrick, is a resident at Matheny and she is also the founder of Patrick’s Pals, a nonprofit organization that supports individuals with disabilities in the US and Costa Rica.

The Second Chance Shop is located at 4 Church Road, Peapack and Gladstone, NJ. The store is open on Mondays from 10am to 5pm, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10am to 3pm, and Saturdays from 10am to 2pm. Donations of new and gently used items are accepted on Mondays with the exception of large furniture donations due to limited space. To become a member, volunteer, and donate to the Friends of Matheny, go to: https://friendsofmatheny.org/.

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Photo Caption (l-r): Nancy Hamstra, Matheny President and CEO; Debi DeLorenzo, The Friends of Matheny former President; Paul Frascella, Matheny Board of Trustees Chair; Kerry Conmy, The Friends of Matheny President; Dr. Vincent Barba, Matheny Vice President and Chief Medical Officer; and Brenda Patnick, Friends of Matheny Vice President.

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 and a wide range of rare diseases. Matheny is comprised of a special hospital, seven community residences, two adult day centers, a non-profit private special school, and the award-winning Arts Access Program. The Matheny Arts Access program enables individuals with special needs to take part in the visual, literary, and performing arts. To learn more about Matheny, visit us at http://www.matheny.org and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram: @mathenymedical.

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Our recent graduation program included wonderful speeches from Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz, keynote speaker Lindsay Fulop, salutatorian Brent, and valedictorian Ryan. All encouraged the graduates to be confident and brave as they embark on the next adventures in their lives, and reminded them to be proud of all they have accomplished already. There were also many words of thanks to the people who helped students along the way – family members, teachers, aides, therapists, and other Matheny School staff members. We are lucky to have such a talented and dedicated School team who are so committed to student success.

Here’s to the graduates – there’s a bright future ahead!

Congratulations to the class of 2025, and thank you to all who helped put together a beautiful celebration for our graduates. See the photo album below, and please join us in thanking photographer Keith Bratcher (Twelve09 Photography).

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A little rain wasn’t enough to dampen our spirits at Miles for Matheny 2025! Thank you to all the students, residents, staff, families, friends, sponsors, vendors, and community partners who made this beautiful celebration possible. Teamwork powers our Matheny Magic!

Check out the photo album below. Our main event photographer this year was Tizazu Alamrew, with some additional photos from Aimee Hunnewell and Heather Williams. Thank you all for capturing these beautiful moments!

We hope to see you for next year’s celebration!

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April 30, 2025, Peapack, NJ

From May 8-11, paintings by talented Arts Access artists will be exhibited alongside hundreds of contemporary artists at 157B 1st Street, located in Jersey City’s vibrant Powerhouse Arts District. This inaugural appearance at Art Fair 14C provides an invaluable opportunity to highlight the unique voices of artists with disabilities within the contemporary art scene.

The Matheny Arts Access Program is dedicated to empowering artists with disabilities by providing the tools, materials, and professional support to create, market, and sell their work. Through its innovative programming, Arts Access removes obstacles to artistic expression and fosters creative independence for individuals with special needs.

“We’re always looking for new ways to elevate and expand the visibility of our artists,” said Julia Halsey, Outreach and Events Manag8-11 at 157B 1st Street in Jersey City, NJ. Tickets and additional fair details are available at www.artfair14c.com.

For more information about the Matheny Arts Access Program, please visit www.artsaccessprogram.org or follow on Facebook and Instagram @mathenyartsaccess.

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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 29^th through April 7^th 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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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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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.

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