Today begins National Volunteer Appreciation Week! It’s an is an opportunity to recognize and thank volunteers who lend their time, talent, and support to make a difference in their communities.
All this week, we are going to be highlighting some of the outstanding volunteers here at Matheny. Our volunteers contribute in so many different ways, including assisting teachers in classrooms, helping with adaptive learning activities, reading with or playing games with clients, assisting with setup and cleanup of art supplies, helping with special events or projects, or even just providing companionship and a friend for our clients to chat with.
If you want to learn more about volunteering at Matheny, visit our website, 🔗 below, or email our volunteer coordinator, Julia at: jbono@matheny.org
04/18/2026
Yesterday, the folks at Matheny’s Hillsborough Day Program took a trip over to the local Ann Van Middlesworth Park for some fishing! Everyone caught a fish, but George really impressed us with his skills when he reeled in his second catch of the day: a really big bass!
It’s these moments of that motivate us all to continue to bring excellent service and care to all of our clients.
04/18/2026
We are so excited to be bringing back the 5k Run/Walk up on the hilltop this year! Participants can choose to do a timed run or a more leisurely walk along the trail that runs through the Matheny grounds and part of Natirar.
Please join us in thanking this year’s 5k & Hilltop Sponsor, the Lavine Family. We are so grateful for their enduring support and dedication to Matheny!
Don’t forget! Early bird prices (available now through 4/30) are just $28 per adult and $18 per child for a full day of fun. Register now, 🔗 below.
04/17/2026
Continuing our celebration of National Volunteer Month, we have another volunteer today!
In 2011, we had a group of young volunteers come visit us. They spent the afternoon playing fun outdoors games with our younger residents! It’s always wonderful to see kids connecting with other kids.
04/17/2026
We’re so excited to see you at Abilities Expo, May 1-3 at the New Jersey Convention & Expo Center in Edison. Swing by our booth to check out our latest and enjoy all the workshops, adaptive dance, travel expert Cory Lee, singer/songwriter Lachi & more!
Matheny will be at booth # 1319 and Arts Access will also be at booth # 1321.
Register for this free event today! 🔗 below.
04/16/2026
Join us this afternoon at our Career Expo!
If you or anyone you know is looking for an exciting career where you can make a positive impact on people’s daily lives, then join our team at Matheny!
There’s still time to register for this event on our website, 🔗 below. Or send an email to Jobs@Matheny.org with any questions!
04/15/2026
The recording of “The Mathenys: Lives and Legacies of Caring” is now available!
Learn about Matheny's rich history and deep roots in the Somerset Hills, as told by someone who saw much of it firsthand.
Thank you again to W. Barry Thomson for the wonderfully insightful presentation. And thank you to everyone who joined us for this kick-off event of our 80th anniversary!
1 like. "The Mathenys: Lives & Legacies of Caring"
04/15/2026
What a rush.
What excitement.
What fun.
I can’t believe I’m here.
I can’t believe they are here.
I can’t believe how many are here.
What a rush.
What excitement.
What fun.
Finally, people will see me.
People will remember me.
People will love me.
What a rush.
What excitement.
What fun.
The spot light is hot and blinding.
I can’t see anyone, just a sea of black.
Still, I know they are watching...
And I love it.
In my mind,
I am a star.
--Anthony Lafond, “On Stage”
Every April we love to celebrate with the writers from Matheny Arts Access! This week, we have a piece from Anthony LaFond which describes the thrill of performing live onstage.
The Academy of American Poets
04/14/2026
The Lu Huggins is a beloved and iconic part of our annual Miles for Matheny celebration. Please join us in thanking this year’s Wheelchair Walk Sponsor, the Gordon Family. We are so grateful for their many years of enthusiasm and devotion to Matheny!
Don’t forget! Early bird prices (available now through 4/30) are just $28 per adult and $18 per child for a full day of fun. Register now, 🔗 below.
04/13/2026
Just 3 days until the Matheny Career Expo!
Join us on the main Matheny campus to explore the various open positions at our facilities. On-the-spot interviews will be available, as well as opportunities to meet members of the leadership team.
Registration for this event on our website, 🔗 below. Or send an email to Jobs@Matheny.org with any questions!
04/12/2026
This week in the Arts Access studio, Cindy was focused on adding hair to the figure in her current painting. The facilitator did a sample on an extra piece of canvas to show Cindy how it would look before adding it to her painting. Several parallel lines of paint were applied with a squeeze bottle, then smoothed together to create a specific thickness and texture, as directed by Cindy.
What will Cindy add next to this piece? We will have to wait and see! Great work, Cindy.
04/10/2026
Continuing our celebration of National Volunteer Month, we have another volunteer today!
Back in 2019, we had a friendly group from Wells Fargo come to help repaint some of our walls. A fresh coat of paint always does wonders for a space. Thank you all, once again!
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Contact The Practice
Send a message to Matheny Medical and Educational Center:
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.
Overview
Matheny is a special hospital for children and adults with medically complex developmental disabilities . . . a special education school providing academics, combined with functional life skills, for students, ages 3-21 . . . and a comprehensive outpatient center meeting the health care needs of people with all types of disabilities in the community. Matheny also trains healthcare professionals, therapists and educators in how to work effectively with persons who have developmental disabilities.
Matheny’s main campus in Peapack, NJ, is home to 101 children and adults with developmental disabilities. Its five group homes, located in Somerset and Warren counties, provide a residence in the community for an additional 30 adults. Many of the children and adults currently at Matheny, in addition to their primary diagnoses, have a long list of associated clinical conditions such as vision and hearing deficits, seizure disorders, mental retardation and dysphagia, with resulting aspiration problems.
While the great majority of Matheny patients have cerebral palsy as their primary diagnoses, Matheny also has patients with spina bifida, Lesch-Nyhan Disease (LND) and a wide range of uncommon conditions including Rett syndrome, Angelman syndrome, Cornelia De Lange syndrome, Wolf-Hirshorn syndrome and 4Q Deletion syndrome. Lesch-Nyhan Disease is a rare x-linked recessive disorder associated with cognitive impairment, high levels of uric acid in the blood, kidney involvement and the hallmark symptom — severe and involuntary self-injurious behaviors. Matheny is recognized as the leading source of information on care issues regarding LND.
