Rolling along

Julie Gordon with Scott in his classroom.

Thanks to the work of a creative speech therapist, 12-year-old Scott Gordon is now able to communicate despite his inability to speak due to cerebral palsy. “I’ve been amazed at the things Matheny does,” his mom, Julie Gordon, says. “The therapists work really hard creating strategies.”

For example, speech-language pathologist Jaclynne Dietrich has taught him to choose symbols. “We give him two choices,” explains Dietrich, “and he will grab one of the symbols. In art class, he will select a color. Just before lunch, he will select food.”

Dietrich also created a communications book that Scott can take home with him so that he can make choices by selecting picture symbols when he isn’t in school. “I’ve seen tremendous improvement in his communication skills,” Julie says. “We feel like we’re moving toward something.”

The Gordons, who live in New Providence, NJ, with Scott’s twin siblings, 8 1⁄2-year-old James and Whitney, have formed a team, That’s How Scott Rolls, to raise money for Miles for Matheny, the annual fundraiser and community event being held Sunday, April 22, at Liberty Park in downtown Peapack. As of March 26, That’s How Scott Rolls had raised $2,288.

The Gordon family will be walking with Scott in the Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk at Miles for Matheny, which  also features five different Cycling Courses, a 5K Race and a Kids Fun Run. All funds raised will help support the Matheny Center of Medicine and Dentistry, which provides medical, dental and therapy care to Matheny inpatients and to people with disabilities in the community.

Major Miles for Matheny sponsors are:  The Poses Family Foundation, Affinity Federal Credit Union Foundation, Archer & Greiner P.C.; BP Fueling Communities; WCBS-TV and WCBS Newsradio 880; Partlow Insurance Agency; Peapack-Gladstone Bank and Porzio Bromberg & Newman P.C.

For more information or to register, log onto www.milesformatheny.org; to contribute to That’s How Scott Rolls, click on Search for Participant and type in the team name.

Race to the top

Team Schapiro at Miles for Matheny 2011.

With about 45 days to go before Miles for Matheny, three fundraising teams were pacing the field. As of March 8, the top spot belonged to That’s How Scott Rolls, a team formed by Andrew and Julie Gordon of New Providence, NJ, whose 12-year-old son, Scott, is a student in the Matheny School. That’s How Scott Rolls had raised $2,048.

Second place belonged to Team Schapiro, which had generated $1,275 in contributions, followed closely by Jack’s Team with $1,015. Team Schapiro was formed by the Schapiro family of Basking Ridge, NJ, and Jack’s Team members are Doug, Katie, Meghan and Caroline Harter of Madison, NJ, parents and sisters of five-year-old Matheny student Jack Harter.

To start your own team, log onto www.milesformatheny.org and look for Team Fundraising Tips. If you need further help, email Patricia Cats at pcats@matheny.org or call her at (908) 234-0011, ext. 260. All funds raised at Miles for Matheny will help support the Matheny Center of Medicine and Dentistry, which provides medical, dental and therapy care to Matheny inpatients and people with disabilities in the community.