How Matheny School students with disabilities are transitioning to adulthood

At the Matheny School in Peakpack-Gladstone, students absorb knowledge, progress and thrive − just like in a traditional school.

But Matheny − and its students − shine in their differences.

It is that sense of difference which drives Matheny School's PCAST (Person-Centered Approaches in Schools and Transition) program.

For about a decade, the PCAST program has been a focus for the school's "Super Seniors" − students over the age of 18. It's a two-year student-driven class experience, said Christine Mayercik, the school’s speech language pathologist, that aims to ease the transition between students graduating from high school and starting in an adult program.

"Just like any other kid graduating from high school, it's a big transition when you leave behind the school years and you move into that space, whether it's going to college or going into the workforce. It's a huge change," Mayercik said.

The program is about learning life lessons you can't learn from a book.

"PCAST helps them develop their sense of self, what they see as a good quality of life," Mayercik said. "Their good days, or bad days, and their preferences are defined. We start putting that together so that they know who they are."

Matheny School’s students range from pre-school through high school – students graduate at the age of 21. Like traditional schools, Matheny issues quarterly reports, evaluating each student’s progress toward individual goals. Students complete all state requirements to earn their high school diplomas, like their peers in traditional schools.

But, Mayercik said, at Matheny, "it’s all about learning to communicate your thoughts and needs and learning the subject matter 'your way.'"

In the PCAST program, students meet weekly and are assisted in identifying their likes and dislikes, needs, activities and things that make them happy, as well as their individual hopes and plans for the future.

In the program, they participate in experiences, activities, projects and a variety of communication efforts to prepare them for adulthood. This includes the importance of consent and gives them a sense of control over their lives, Mayercik said.

"Being person-centered is our primary focus here." Mayercik said. "It's really all about them. They're the focus and the center of it, and it's all really driven by them."

As a speech therapist, Mayercik uses language skills, functional communication and communication modalities for students to better participate. Main teacher Christine Gonella, occupational therapist Christine Horvath, physical therapists, paraprofessionals and social workers are essential keys to the program's success.

"It's such a team effort with the students basically being the captain of this ship," Mayercik said. "And, I think over the years, it really has made the transition from full program into adulthood a lot easier for a lot of our kids and our families."

Ten students will graduate from The Matheny School this spring. Many will automatically transition into the adult program at Matheny Hospital, while students who live in the community will transition into outside programs.

PCAST culminates with each graduate creating a personal brochure, which Mayercik calls, "the Cliff Notes on who the student is."

The brochure expresses their individuality and preferences. It is presented during class sessions in PCAST as graduation draws near. It also goes with them to whatever new program they will attend next.

"PCAST is all about individuating students and identifying quality of life experiences from their point of view," said Matheny School social worker Bonnie Wilkenfeld. "As young adults move into their transition period, it’s important that others get to know them in order to gain full access to life enrichment opportunities."

Most students are 100% dependent on caregivers, Mayercik added.

"What technology the student uses is part of that, since technology is part of their daily lives," Mayercik said. "They reveal who they think and who they are to their families and their classmates. They also choose who is going to help them in their presentation and how they are going to present. And they choose what they want to share about themselves. It's all being led by them. And it's really a celebration of them in that exact moment. This is a way for their opinions and preferences to be out there, to be shared and to be known. So that their voices are heard."

Matheny was established in 1946 by Walter and Marguerite Matheny, a husband and wife who were both educators. They sought to provide a stimulating and effective learning and living environment for children with a wide range of medically complex developmental disabilities.

At the time, the Mathenys could not find such a place for their son Chuck, who was born with cerebral palsy on March 30, 1941. He became the inspiration for the founding of Matheny, and its decades-long development into a renowned specialized school, an accredited special hospital, adult day programs, and community-based group residences.

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. While the great majority of Matheny patients have cerebral palsy as their primary diagnoses, Matheny also has patients with a wide variety of conditions. These include spina bifida, Lesch-Nyhan Disease (LND), Rett syndrome, Angelman syndrome, Cornelia De Lange syndrome, Wolf-Hirshorn syndrome and 4Q Deletion syndrome.

"We work closely with any school district that needs our help," Principal Sean Murphy said. "We are here to ensure that out-of-district placement is available to those who qualify so that every student gets the best educational and life enriching opportunities they can find."

Renee Apuzzo, a Matheny School mother, expressed gratitude for the education her daughter Serenity received. She is thankful for Mathey "taking such wonderful care of our daughter and being flexible, innovative and patient while still providing the best possible opportunities."

"I am tremendously grateful for their teamwork and efforts," Apuzzo said. "These are huge accomplishments in our world and make such an impact on our success with keeping our children safe, healthy and happy."

email: cmakin@gannettnj.com

Cheryl Makin is an award-winning features and education reporter forMyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. Contact: Cmakin@gannettnj.com or@CherylMakin. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.