Solutions for schools

Matheny physical therapist works with a student in the Roxbury Township School District.

As public school districts prepare for the coming 2014-15 school year, they are faced with enormous challenges in order to provide the best possible education for their special needs students.  Matheny’s Solutions for Schools program is designed to help districts meet these challenges.

Through the Solutions program, we offer:
• Specialized Evaluations.
• Therapy Services.
• Home-Based Services.
• Adaptive Equipment and Assistive Technology.

Matheny views public school districts as partners. Our breadth of experience and expertise educating and caring for students with developmental disabilities enables us to provide services that will benefit special needs students and families in the community.

For help or information regarding those services they are not able to provide in-house, school districts should call (908) 234-0011, ext. 220, or email cbowen@matheny.org

Therapy Solutions

Two years ago, William Miller of Succasunna had trunk control so weak he was “falling all over the place,” says his physical therapist, Diane Tavares, MS, PT.  Now the five-year-old can play catch, throw at a target and walk the balance beam all by himself. What helped make the difference was the physical-therapy support he received, not only from Tavares, but also from his teacher, Patti Klein, and the teacher’s aides in William’s public school, Jefferson Elementary.

Twice-weekly 30-minute sessions “weren’t going to fix someone like William,” says Tavares. “It had to be continuous all day.” So, under Matheny’s Therapy Solutions program, she taught Klein and the aides some of the physical therapy techniques she was using in her sessions with William. And as a result of this “teaching the teacher” approach, today the boy’s mom reports he’s doing “wonderfully.”

Above, Tavares works with William on a balance beam. To learn more, visit www.Matheny.org/Solutions, e-mail Solutions@Matheny.org or call 908.234.0011, ext. 751.A