Spreading our knowledge

Karen Weber, left, with Matheny teacher Peggy Zappulla and student James Wild.

Karen Weber is a third grade teacher at the Bragg School in Chester, NJ, and is currently pursuing an MA in Special Education at the College of Saint Elizabeth in Morristown, NJ.  As part of her summer course work, Weber wants to learn about the resources and/or agencies that serve the special needs population.

So on July 11, she visited Matheny, observing all the classrooms and activities. She has a special interest in assistive technology, fueled by one of her College of Saint Elizabeth professors, Dr. Brian S. Friedlander, who is coordinator of the MA in Special Education program and teaches several courses dealing with assistive technology.

Matheny School vice principal Sean Murphy guided Weber on her tour, and they stopped to visit with some students and faculty members who were outside by our organic garden. While Weber, a resident of Rockaway, NJ, is not planning a shift into special education, she believes the special education knowledge will help her with all her interactions in the classroom. She admitted to being somewhat familiar with Matheny by reputation, but was surprised, she said, to learn that we care for and educate adults as well as children.

Michael Martin, at an opening reception on July 9 with his parents, Alan and Linda Martin of Morris Plains. Behind them is Michael’s untitled painting.

Michael Martin can’t speak or walk, but he can communicate, using his eyes and head. For nearly 12 years, as an adult medical day student at Matheny, he has been participating in the Arts Access Program, which enables people with disabilities to create fine art, assisted by professional artist-facilitators.

Martin is one of 15 Arts Access artists displaying paintings through the end of July at the Bernardsville Library in an exhibition entitled “Amalgamation.” Twenty paintings are on display. All proceeds from artwork sales are split 50/50, with half the funds going directly to the artist and the other half going to Matheny to cover the cost of art materials, stretching and framing of the work.

From left, Kelly, Kara, Sue and Matthew McDermott, with Matheny student Bryan Desatnick.

Eleven-year-old Matthew McDermott of Basking Ridge, NJ, has made Matheny students the beneficiary of his birthday for the second consecutive year. He asked his friends and relatives to give him games and toys that he could donate to Matheny, and he, along with his sisters, Kelly and Kara, and mother Sue, delivered the presents on Friday, June 29.

Thank you, Matthew!

Volunteers Sam Dillard, left, and his brother Henry of Oldwick, NJ.

It’s extremely important to keep wheelchairs clean, and with that in mind, Matheny held its first ever Wheelchair Wash recently. Thirty-five wheelchairs used by Matheny students were cleaned by staff members with the help of volunteers from the community.

The project was organized by Kim Siara, acting director of occupational therapy, who urged everyone to, “work together to keep our residents’ wheelchairs spiffy!”

Volunteer Kim Collichio of Mountainside, NJ.

Based on its success, another Wheelchair Wash is being planned for those used by adult patients.

Janice Kriegman and 3West manager Ryan Harris.

For the past few years, 3West and Ciao, two Basking Ridge, NJ, restaurants owned by Morris Plains, NJ-based Harvest Restaurants, have donated food-tasting stations at Full Circle, the annual celebration of Matheny’s Arts Access Program. Recently, Janice Kriegman, Matheny development officer, presented both restaurants with special plaques expressing our appreciation for their generosity.

Harvest Restaurants began in 1996 with the opening of Trap Rock Restaurant & Brewery in Berkeley Heights, NJ. Other restaurants in the group include Urban Table in Morristown, NJ, and Roots Steakhouse in Summit and Morristown, NJ. Matheny’s Arts Access Program enables people with disabilities to create fine art, assisted by professional artist-facilitators.

Janice Kriegman, left, with Ciao manager Lora Doherty-Caldi.

When 17-year-old Samantha Entwistle of Tewksbury, NJ, spoke at the Matheny School graduation on June 15, she recalled her first experience with Matheny, delivering personalized Valentines with two of her friends to Matheny students. She said that experience “triggered for me how important it was to volunteer at Matheny whenever they need me and whenever I can.”

Here’s a photo of Samantha and her friends six years ago, presenting a Valentine’s card to student Aaron Turovlin. Thanks, Samantha! We are proud to have you as part of the Matheny family.

To find out more about volunteering at Matheny, email Gail Cunningham or call her at (908) 234-0011, ext. 282.

Matheny adult patients Cindy Shanks and Dion Alston take a turn on the dance floor.

The Immaculate Conception School in Annandale, NJ, raised $10,000 for Matheny at its annual Dance-A-Thon, held April 20 and 21. Matheny parent Debbie O’Connor, whose son Ryan is a Matheny student, was instrumental in having Matheny designated as a recipient of funds from this event.

“Matheny,” she says, “tries to provide these children with every opportunity to experience life at the highest quality possible.”

To read more about the ICS Dance-A-Thon, look for the spring/summer 2012 Matheny Matters newsletter, arriving in your mailbox soon. Or find Matheny Matters online on the homepage of the Matheny website. If you’d like a copy sent to you, call (908) 234-0011, ext. 273, or email sjosephson@matheny.org.

Is it more expensive to serve students with disabilities in a private school than in a specialized public school? The answer is no, based on a new report issued by ASAH, a not-for-profit organization of private schools and agencies in New Jersey.

The new state school report cards detail performance and cost data for every school district in New Jersey, including dozens operated by county special services districts. Data show that costs at these programs can approach $90,000 per student because the costs now include, for the first time, such items as debt service for school construction projects, federal funds and state payments on behalf of districts for pension, Social Security and health care costs for retired teachers.

The ASAH report shows that, when it comes to educating students with complex disabilities, it costs taxpayers 44% less when those services are provided by a private school than when they are provided by a specialized public program.

Still not convinced? When viewed together with data showing that graduates of private schools do better than their public school peers on key outcome measures, you can begin to see the benefits of private special education.

State-approved private schools must be supported as part of any education reform agenda aimed at reducing costs and improving outcomes.  For more information and/or a copy of the ASAH report, visit www.asah.org or call (609) 890-1400, ext. 12.

Kevin Ralph.

Kevin Ralph, Matheny’s Chief Development Officer, has a few things to say:

“Many thanks to everyone who has supported Matheny this year with your donations, in-kind gifts and countless hours of volunteer time. We are so fortunate to have a loyal group of friends and family members who make such a meaningful impact on the lives of the children and adults who are served through our hospital, school, group homes, community outreach and Arts Access programs.

“A special thank you goes out to all of those who supported this year’s Miles for Matheny, which was held on April 22 at Liberty Park in downtown Peapack. Despites the rain and wet conditions, hundreds of supporters from Matheny and the community turned out to walk, run, cycle, volunteer and cheer.

“We were very grateful to return to downtown Peapack, where Miles originally started 15 years ago, and are looking forward to another successful event next year. As soon as a date is confirmed for next April we will post that information on our website and other social media outlets so that you can mark your calendar!

“A list of this year’s sponsors and in-kind donors can be found in the spring/summer 2012 issue of Matheny Matters newsletter. If you don’t receive Matheny Matters and would like a copy, please call (908) 234-0011, ext. 273, or email sjosephson@matheny.org. The newsletter is also available on the homepage of our website.

“Thank you once again for your ongoing support of Matheny and best wishes for a safe an enjoyable summer.”

Joan Stiles, taking home her purchases.

The Friends of Matheny’s Second Chance shop set a new record for the 2012-2013 season, reaching $126,036.08 in sales, its largest total ever and a 48% increase over the previous year’s $85,000. Previous high was reached in the 2006-07 season when the shop earned $105.275.58.

This was the shop’s first year in a building adjacent to the Gladstone United Methodist Church, after operating for several years out of the church’s basement. Funds raised by the Second Chance Shop help support a variety of activities and programs at Matheny.

Janet Stiles of Far Hills, was one of the last shoppers to make a purchase on Friday, June 22, the last day before closing for the summer. A “regular” there, she bought some clothes and a very unusual wooden holder for pots and pans. “I stop in quite frequently to check things out.”

The Second Chance shop will reopen for one day on August 22 for “First Chance at Second Chance.” Then, it will reopen permanently on September 4.

Shaleena Tomassini, winner of the 100m and 50m dashes.

Matheny students and patients took home seven medals at the 2012 New Jersey Special Olympics Summer Games held at The College of New Jersey. Adult patient Shaleena Tomassini won two gold medals, one each in the 100m dash and the 50m dash; and students Yasin Reddick and Natalie Tomastyk each won golds in the 30m motorized slalom.  Yasin also won a silver in the 50m motorized slalom. Community resident Bari Kim took home two gold medals in power lifting.

There was also a unified bocce team competition consisting of a four-person team, two patients and two recreation therapists. Adult patients Taty Manousakis and Jason Weiner teamed up with rec therapists Amy Beatty and Meghan Walsh to win a silver medal.

More than 2,400 athletes from across the state participated in the 2012 Summer Games. Matheny’s recreation therapy program provides our students and patients with a variety of recreational opportunities and resources to improve their physical, emotional, cognitive and social well-being.

30m motorized slalom winner Natalie Tomastyk.

Keynote speaker Jim Entwistle.

Nine students proudly graduated from the Matheny School on Friday, June 15. On hand to wish them well  was Jim Entwistle, the keynote speaker. His company, Village Office Supply, became one of Matheny’s vendors in 1989. Before long, said Entwistle, “We realized this was a special group of people we wanted to become more involved with.” Entwistle began his speech by asking for applause for the Matheny staff, whom he said one parent described as being “like angels.”

He was helped in his speaking duties by his 17-year-old daughter Samantha, who, as a fifth grader six years ago, had undertaken a school project to deliver personalized Valentines to all the Matheny students. That experience, she said, “triggered for me how important it was to volunteer at Matheny whenever they need me and whenever I can. Our family is proud to be part of the Matheny family.” Her father, referring to the phrase that appears on every page of the Matheny website, “Improving the Lives of People with Disabilities,” added that, “Matheny has improved the life of me and my family.” William Horton, mayor of Peapack-Gladstone, also spoke at the graduation and described Matheny as “a remarkable facility with a great history and a dedicated staff.”

The nine graduates were:  Dina Conturso, daughter of Lisa Conturso of Belle Mead, NJ; Samuel DeMarzo , son of Diane DeMarzo of Livingston, NJ; Carly Finley, daughter of Tom and Antoinette Finley of Flemington, NJ; James Formisano, nephew of Nicholas and Alice Crupi of Randolph, NJ; Bozena Geraghty, daughter of Michael and Liz Geraghty of Cranford, NJ; Zachary Ludlow, son of Tom Ludlow and Melissa de la Puente of Mattituck, NY; Allyson Merer, daughter of Barry and Donna Merer of Scotch Plains, NJ; Katie Miller, daughter of Carolyn Miller of Brookside, NJ; and Nicholas Perfeito, son of Rui and Sandra Perfeito of North Brunswick, NJ.

Donna Merer and her daughter Allyson.