“Who should have the next turn?” teacher Jennifer Gonzalez asks the group of preschoolers sitting in a semi-circle. “Me” comes the response from little Lenny, at once both bold and shy. When Jennifer calls him forward, Lenny responds with a joyous smile that grows wider as the therapists, aides and his fellow students cheer him on. Seated on the floor in front of him are three therapists. He is first greeted by speech therapist Flo DiPalma, who holds up pictures of two trees and asks Lenny to identify the tree he would see in the winter. He chooses correctly and the group cheers loudly and Lenny grins happily. Flo then asks him to choose a season he would like to dress for. When he chooses summer, occupational therapist Gina Wagner produces a t-shirt and works with him to put on and then take off the shirt. He then moves on to physical therapist

SMALL STUDENTS MAKE HUGE LEAPS PRESCHOOL YEARS ARE CRITICAL TO SUCCESS

Sara Elbell, who presents him with an inflatable baseball bat (his axe) so he can chop down a tree (an inflatable toy) and then build a house using large blocks shaped like bricks. With each success, the class cheers and Lenny beams.

“What makes our approach so successful is that the ‘push-in’ model allows us to work as a team,” explains Sara. In the “push-in” model of delivering therapy, rather than remove a student to provide therapy, therapists remain in the classroom as part of a classroom team and incorporate their session into the class lesson (nursing and psychological and behavioral supports are also incorporated in various ways into the curriculum). The preschool follows the Creative Curriculum and this month’s theme is trees. To prepare, the preschool

1Continued on page 6

Winter 2014

Independent A REGULAR NEWSLETTER OF CEREBRAL PALSY OF NORTH JERSEY

Horizon School unveiled its two new therapeutic preschools during a ceremony at the school on November 13th. The new classrooms feature state-of-the-art therapy equipment – including: • therapy swings suspended from the ceiling • therapeutic tree house with darkened space beneath for providing vision therapy • iPads • interactive whiteboards • TAP-it computer system • hand-painted murals • children-sized sinks and toilets for potty training • dress-up area for developing life skills

THERAPEUTIC PRESCHOOL PROGRAM OPENSHEALTHCARE FOUNDATION MAKES PROJECT POSSIBLE

Lenny works with physical therapist Sarah Elbell in one of the new Horizon School therapeutic preschool rooms

(from left to right) CPNJ Board Chair Darren Burns, Marsha Atkind, Executive Director of the Healthcare Foundation, CPNJ CEO Jim McCreath, Healthcare

Foundation board members Beth Levithan and Natalie Peck, and Cheryl Maiello and Sharon Harris of Novartis.

The classrooms were made possible by a generous grant from The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey as well as support from Wells Fargo, the Working Parents Connection Novartis Employee Resource Group, the Investors Foundation, The Thomas & Agnes Carvel Foundation and Willis.

CPNJ’S BOARD OFTRUSTEES

Edward H. Becker

Darren BurnsChair

Shari Caspert

David J. Carlson Vice Chair

Ronald J. Greenberg

Bette Hanauer

Brad Jacobson

Helene JaffeTreasurer

Bruce KleinmanSecretary

Brian T. Kloza

Brian Kronick

Ruth Legow

Clark Machemer

Cheryl A. MarraffinoVice Chair

Kelly MarxVice Chair

Maxine Myers

Barry Ostrowsky

Jennifer Pollak

Ramon E. Rivera

Beth S. RoseVice Chair

Justin P. Walder

H. O’Neil Williams

Amy Ziebarth

TRUSTEES EMERITI

Edward I. Burns

Burton L Eichler

Thomas L. Litwin

Jerome N. Waldor

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO

2

Behind any great social services

program is an innovative concept – a

desire to break from the traditional

to achieve something truly great.

Innovation is evident in our front

page story about our new therapeutic

preschool classrooms. The staff at

our Horizon School could have simply

renovated two classrooms to provide

an attractive, functional space for

our growing preschool population.

Instead, they aspired to develop one of

the premiere special needs preschool

programs in the area by melding a

whimsical, enchanting world with

cutting-edge therapeutic equipment.

And (as you will read on page three)

innovation is equally evident in

our Community Therapy Services

program, which has introduced the

use of iPads in therapy services for

students in public schools. Again,

they were not required to do so, they

simply imagined the best possible way

of serving their consumers. And, in

both cases, our vision was supported

by foundations that helped to make it

reality. It is that vision that helps to

set our programs apart, and we are

grateful to have staff members who

never cease to look for a way to be

better than we are today.

You will also read about the incredible

success of our Steps to Independence

Celebration honoring Michael Lewis.

We are so grateful to have friends

like Michael and our event co-chairs,

Alan Hammer, Steven Katz and Barry

Mandelbaum and to have leaders like

board member Kelly Marx. Together,

these dedicated individuals helped

us to raise funds that will help

ensure we remain a financially strong

organization with the ability to respond

to the ever-changing needs of those

we serve.

Thank you and I hope you enjoy the

issue.

Sincerely,

Jim McCreath

CONTACT USDavid Bishop

Editor(973) 763-9900, ext. 1601

dbishop@cpnj.orgLike us on facebook

facebook.com/CerebralPalsyofNorthJersey

3

NEW HOME OPENS IN LIVINGSTONMore than 50 guests turned out to support the grand opening of

Cerebral Palsy of North Jersey’s new community residence at 652

South Orange Avenue in Livingston on October 16th. The new

house, which was christened the Steven and Beverly Rubenstein

Foundation Community Residence, is home to six adults with

developmental disabilities.

The new home, the agency’s 12th community residence, was

made possible by the generous support of The Steven and Beverly

Rubenstein Charitable Foundation, the Township of Livingston,

the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), the

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Monarch

Housing Associates.

“We are delighted to be able to provide a beautiful new home to our

residents,” said CPNJ’s President and CEO, Jim McCreath. “We

feel we have an obligation to all of the thousands of New Jersey

families waiting for a residence for their loved ones to continue

to push ourselves to develop homes as quickly as we can. We’re

excited by this success but are already hard at work on our next

homes.”

Former honoree Barry Mandelbaum, Andrew Rubenstein and Beverly Rubenstein, board member Kelly Marx

and CEO Jim McCreath

(from left to right): Councilman Al Anthony, former Mayor Steven Santola, CPNJ CEO Jim McCreath, Mayor Rudy Fernandez,

township attorney Sharon Weiner and township manager Michele Meade at the grand opening

ITHERAPY LAUNCHES IN ORANGESIt is not unusual to see children using iPads. The simple, colorful

graphics and touch-screen capability make the tablet a highly

engaging form of entertainment. Many schools have seized

on its appeal to encourage students to access the internet and

educational software. And in the 2013-2014 school year, East

Orange students began using iPads to advance their individual

goals in physical and occupational therapy through a program

introduced by Cerebral Palsy of North Jersey.

Occupational therapy provider Susan Zurich works with Estevan in the East Orange public schools

Many East Orange public school students have disabilities that

require physical or occupational therapy. To meet the needs of

these students while allowing them to remain in their local public

school, the East Orange school district works with Cerebral Palsy

of North Jersey (CPNJ). CPNJ’s team of therapists provides

therapy to more than 200 students in 19 schools in the district.

The agency recently received a grant from the Orange Orphan

Society to purchase six iPads and an array of specialized apps to

enhance students’ therapy activities. “What’s wonderful about the

iPads,” said Jennifer Winning, CPNJ’s Coordinator of Community

Therapy Services, “is that they allow our therapists to work on

visual perceptual activities and fine motor skills, and the students

consider it as fun rather than work.”

While iPads do not replace the use of traditional therapy tools

and techniques, they provide therapists with a single tool that

can be easily adapted and utilized with students of varying ages

(3-21) as well as cognitive and physical disabilities. “This is a

truly innovative approach to therapy,” said Lori Hoffner, CPNJ’s

Director of Community Services, “and we’re so thankful to the

Orange Orphan Society for making this possible.”

4

LEWIS EVENT RAISES OVER $500,000!

More than 400 guests packed into the Crystal Plaza in Livingston to honor Michael

S. Lewis at CPNJ’s annual Steps to Independence Celebration on October 23rd.

Barry Ostrowsky, CPNJ Board member and the President and CEO of Barnabas

Health, served as MC for the evening. Guests heard from CPNJ CEO Jim McCreath

and Board Chair Darren Burns. The featured speaker was 17-year-old Gabby

Marcus, who has been a regular volunteer at Horizon School for the last five

years. She shared her initial struggles in volunteering with students with multiple

disabilities- “I couldn’t quite figure out what to say or do to interact with the

students” – and her joy as she learned to connect with students – “I [discovered]

various ways to connect with each of the children. By tapping their shoulders or

waving my hands, I could get some students’ attention. When bowling in gym

class, some responded to demonstrations, while others needed me to physically

help them roll the ball toward the pins. Every child was different and I gradually

discovered ways to break through to each of them.” Gabby challenged all those

in attendance to volunteer their time as well.

Steven Katz, the 2010 honoree, presented the Kelly Marx Steps to Independence

Award to Michael Lewis, who spoke of how much it meant to him to help the

agency and its consumers. The crowd responded with a standing ovation.

“This was one of the most successful fundraisers we’ve ever had,” said Board

member Kelly Marx. “Michael worked nonstop to make this happen – we could

not have found a better, more committed honoree and we’re very grateful to him.”

Michael Lewis (left) receives the Kelly Marx Steps to Independence Award from former honoree and event co-chair Steven Katz

Speaker Gabby Marcus with CPNJ board member Kelly Marx

5

2013 STEPS TO INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION COMMITTEE

Alan R. HammerBrach Eichler

Committee Members

Wayne CanastraAffiliated Management

Robert DenholtzDurex Inc.

Alan GebroeGebroe Holdings

Richard KanterMiller Construction

Bruce Kleinman Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer P.A.

Brian T. Kloza Wiss & Company, LLP

Gary Krugman, DMD

Cheryl A. MarraffinoLPCiminelli

Kelly Marx

Barry H. Ostrowsky Barnabas Health

Anthony PentzMeisel Tuteur & Lewis

Jennifer Pollak Greenfield Gardens

Beth S. Rose Sills Cummis & Gross, PC

Justin Walder Walder Hayden & Brogan

James YacendaFlorham Realty

Event Co-Chairs

Steven W. KatzSterling Properties

Barry R. MandelbaumMandelbaum Salsburg

MAJOR DONORS TO THE 2013 STEPS TO INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION

Patrons ($25,000+ supporters)

Gebroe Family Foundation

Dottie Litwin

Kelly & Nancy Marx

Steven and Beverly Rubenstein

Charitable Foundation

Leaders ($15,000+ supporters)

Meisel, Tuteur & Lewis, PC

Founders ($10,000+ supporters)

Barnabas Health

Brach Eichler L.L.C.

Lincoln Electric

Peter R. & Cynthia K. Kellogg Foundation

Charles & Seryl Kushner

Robert & Wendy Marcus

Sandalwood Securities

Benefactors ($5,000+ supporters)

Derek & Anne Burke

Darren & Jennifer Burns

Wayne & Jill Canastra & Family

Robert & Rori Denholtz

Andrew & Ellen Friedman

Alan & Susan Hammer

Investors Savings

Steven W. & Ruth Katz

Gerald & Ruth Legow

Lincoln Property Company

Litwin & Kronick Families

Mandelbaum Salsburg

Millenium Homes

Maxine Myers

Jennifer Pollak

Prestige Volvo

Sills Cummis & Gross, PC

Valley National Bank

Walder Hayden & Brogan

Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer

Wiss & Co.

CPNJ SNAPSHOTS

6

Continued from page 1

team- teacher, physical therapist, occupational therapist and speech therapist – meet to develop an educational-therapeutic plan by which they can all work toward discipline-specific goals within the framework of a single activity. The approach has proven highly successful in serving students with multiple disabilities.

“It’s about more than simply working in a shared space,” explained Gina. “The children are not the only ones learning- each staff member is able to observe and learn from one another. One staff member’s success- perhaps in finding a toy that is particularly motivating for a child – is observed by others who can then build on that success.” Flo nods emphatically in agreement - “And we don’t function in a silo. I may be a speech therapist, but I can learn what a student is working on academically and look for opportunities to work toward those goals even while working on speech. The end result is that the student receives the most effective and comprehensive services.”

For Lenny, those services have produced impressive results. Unable to walk when he entered preschool, he quickly learned to use a posterior walker, stand up from a sitting position and has recently begun taking steps independently. He has also become potty-trained and has learned to feed himself. At first able to say only a few words, he has become far more expressive in his language, using three or four words at a time and asking for things. “With his improvement in language, we have seen his personality emerge,” said Jennifer. “Once he gets to know you, you realize Lenny is very social – he loves people.”

“Our students’ successes are the best arguments for the push-in model,” said Linda Peroff, Horizon School’s Coordinator of Therapy. “And while our available space

Horizon School students visited Hillside Elementary School in Livingston in December as part of the

ongoing partnership designed to foster understanding of disabilities among public school students.

was limiting us before, our new preschool rooms allow us to work in an ideal environment and it is incredible.” The school recently received grants (see accompanying article) to create two new preschool rooms that allow significantly more program space with the latest in therapy equipment and educational technology.

In addition to the push-in therapy provided in the classroom, students work one-on-one with therapists on their specific goals. On sunny days, students often enjoy therapy on the school’s 5,000 square-foot accessible play park, in the state-of-the-art sensory room with various pieces of therapy equipment suspended from the ceiling, or splashing around in the on-site aquatic therapy pool. “Our entire facility was built, room by room, to further our educational-therapeutic curriculum,” said Linda.

After group, Lenny heads to the stairwell with Sara to work on climbing stairs, a skill on which he is improving each week. For Lenny, it’s just another fun challenge, and he beams with pride with each step.

Occupational therapist Gina Wagner and Lenny share a laugh while working in the therapeutic treehouse

Members of Young Judaea visited in January to create a special day of crafts and socializing with

residents of CPNJ’s community residences.

Students from Pingry School visited on Martin Luther King Day to perform musical numbers from “Seussical the Musical” for

CPNJ’s residential consumers.

7

Tribute GiftsIf you would like to remember someone with an “in memory of” gift or celebrate a special occasion with an “in honor of” gift,

please contact the CPNJ development office at (973) 763-9900, ext. 1602. We will notify the person of your choosing with a special card telling them that a gift was made.

In Honor Of GiftsFor: Gabby MarcusBy: Richard & Mynette Marcus

For: Amanda MachemerBy: Elaine Morales

For: Bette HanauerBy: Richard Feldman

For: Mr. & Mrs. Sol Hara’s 50th AnniversaryBy: Jay & Frankie Oberst

For: Chris, Nicole & Lia HalkyardBy: Edwin M. & Joan S. Halkyard

For: Florette BodmerBy: David Bodmer

In Memory Of GiftsFor: Abraham ZuckermanBy: Kelly & Nancy Marx Barry & Bobbi Ostrowsky

For: Patricia SalvatoreBy: Allan & Debra Borst John & Eileen Campolattaro Michele Cappetta Dolores Dileo Rosanne De Gennaro Steven Mandy Liz Migneco Rose & Lisa Milone Optimist Club of Belleville Art & Debby Reitz Ernest Rizzolo Marilyn Shaw Thomas & Barbara Spillane

For: Armond S. Marraffino By: David Bishop Lonnie & Bette Hanauer Brian T. & Paula Kloza Kelly & Nancy Marx

For: Muriel RubinBy: David Bishop Kelly & Nancy Marx

For: Brian T. KlozaBy: Stuart Rosenblatt

For: David FinnBy: Stephen & Barbara Pavlovic

For: Bette HanauerBy: Vicki Semel

For: Justin WalderBy: Cynthia Lewis

For: Gabriel Schaerf’s Bar Mitzvah & his volunteer effortsBy: Andrew Hyman

For: Mickey McNanyBy: Jill Siroty

For: Lucille SchleckerBy: Mitchell & Shari Caspert

For: Henny GranetBy: Jay & Frankie Oberst

For: Eddie AlbertoBy: Staff and Consumers of Orange Adult Training Center

For: Alice AtkinsBy: Mitchell & Shari Caspert

For: Charlie LichtBy: Mitchell & Shari Caspert

For: Dr. Mesnard’s motherBy: Bette Hanauer

For: Richard A. MyloweBy: Curtiss & Jane Conrad

For: Carol AltermanBy: Jerry & Leona Coopersmith

For: Abraham AkselradBy: Mitchell & Shari Caspert

For: Norma BarattaBy: Cyndie Hasty & Lisa Sevanick

For: Robert GrossBy: Mitchell & Shari Caspert

For: Rosalyn SherryBy: Jay & Frankie Oberst

For: Madeline GoldbergBy: Brian T. & Paula Kloza

For: Louis D’AntoniBy: Patricia Downs

For: Maureen GerrityBy: Dawn Ippolito Michele Keelan James & Carol McLain Scott McLain Elaine Schwarzkopf

Cerebral Palsy of North Jersey220 South Orange AvenueSuite 300 Livingston, NJ 07039

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT NO. 345CALDWELL, NJ

The rain forced Horizon School to

hold their annual Wheelin’-n’-Walkin’

Challenge indoors for the first time

in May 2013, but the festivities and

their accompanying excitement went

on as usual. Just before the walk

itself began, awards were handed

out, including the Amanda Machemer

Award for the family who raised the

most money for the walk. And stepping

forward to accept it was none other

than Amanda, accompanied by her

whole family. It was a familiar scene,

as the family has won the award every

year since Amanda enrolled (so often,

they named the award after her).

MACHEMER JOINS CPNJ BOARD

8

Amanda’s father Clark has been a

familiar sight at CPNJ since Amanda

enrolled back in 2004. He served on

the event committee for the agency’s

annual touch football tournament

fundraiser at MetLife Stadium, the

Real Estate Advisory Committee and

the Development Committee before

joining the board late in 2013.

Clark attended Syracuse University

and went on to earn a master’s

degree in real estate from Columbia

University. After several years with

Andersen Consulting, he joined the

Rockefeller Group Development

Corporation, where he is currently the

Vice President and Regional Director

for Real Estate Development. Over the

years, he has won a string of awards,

including the 2012 Creative Deal of the

Year Award from the commercial real

estate development association

He has earned a wide range of

accolades and awards over the years,

including NJBIZ magazine’s “40 Under

40” list in 2008 and their “Real Estate

and Construction Power 50” in 2013.

He is also the President-Elect and Vice

President for Public Affairs with the

New Jersey NAIOP, the commercial

real estate development association.

Clark and his wife Michelle live in

Glen Ridge, where Clark has coached

numerous youth sports teams for their

other two children, Jake and Kate.

“Clark is the first consumer parent

that CPNJ has had on its board in

a very long time,” said Board Chair

Darren Burns. “We want to ensure

that our most important constituency

is represented at the leadership level

and we are fortunate to have someone

like Clark, who is such a strong and

committed advocate.”

The Machemer family receives the Amanda Machemer Award at the 2013 walk