Monthly Archives: July 2013

‘Unexpected Art’ in Wharton

Marilyn Lukach, a resident of Wharton, NJ, is past president of the Wharton Public Library. She and her husband, Robert, have attended Full Circle, the annual celebration of Matheny’s Arts Access Program, several times, and she wanted to share some of … Continue reading

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Grand Knights visit

Members of  Knights of Columbus Council 5959 at Blessed Sacrament Church in Martinsville, NJ, recently visited Matheny to deliver a donation of $720 and to invite Matheny president Steve Proctor to attend a future Knights meeting to talk about Matheny’s … Continue reading

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Music on a sunny day

Music therapists at Matheny use various types of music to positively impact students and patients’ cognitive, physical, emotional and social skills, helping them realize their potential in society. Activities and techniques include improvisation, rhythm, songwriting, song, chants, instrumental activities, live … Continue reading

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Sharing his knowledge

Larry Thornton started out volunteering one day a week in a classroom at The Matheny School. That one day has turned into three. The retired paper manufacturing executive lives in nearby Gladstone, and says, “Obviously, I enjoy this immensely. Coming here … Continue reading

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Arts scholarship winners

Two Arts Access artists—student Raven Bennett and adult patient Bozena Geraghty—were among the 15 recipients of scholarships presented this past spring by the Dance Innovations Performance Foundation (DIPF ) at its annual Kids for Kids Scholarship Gala held at the … Continue reading

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Learning to communicate

Six-year-old Dylan Vongrej was born with Canavan disease, a disorder that causes progressive damage to nerve cells in the brain. Dylan is non-verbal and unable to walk, but, according to his mother Noreen, “He understands everything you’re saying.” He’s also … Continue reading

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Fairness in special ed placements

On June 20, the New Jersey State Assembly, by a vote of 74-0, passed legislation prohibiting public school boards from awarding bonuses to superintendents for reducing the number of special needs students placed out of district. Republican Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande, … Continue reading

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Family involvement

Cindy LaBar has always wanted to work with children. But she had never spent much time around kids with developmental disabilities until interning at Matheny in 2003 after receiving her MS in physical therapy from Columbia University. “It’s the small … Continue reading

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Wheelchair safety on the road

Individuals riding in a vehicle while seated in wheelchairs are 45 times more likely to be injured in a crash than a typical passenger. That was one of the sobering facts pointed out by John Reck, Matheny’s director of assistive … Continue reading

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Pool party presents

Matt McDermott’s gifts of toys and games to Matheny students have become an annual tradition. This year, the fifth grader at Mount Prospect School in Basking Ridge, NJ,  asked guests coming to his family’s pool party to donate the toys and … Continue reading

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