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Alex, top left, Matthew, SPARKS cheerleaders
“I love sounds… the sound of banging pots, moving cars, airplanes, subways, buses, people walking, talking…the sound of jackhammers, tapping on a table, stomping of feet … copy machines, printers. I hear music everywhere!” Matthew says on his website. “A ‘Circle of Sounds’ with me in the middle!
“I am a musician who happens to be blind,” he adds. “I have been blessed with a God-given gift. I pray that I can continue to be a blessing and inspiration to others.”
Others joining Matthew at the ceremony in Hackensack also inspire those with disabilities, as well as others.
There’s Alex Gilman of Fort Lee, who has the use of only one hand but excelled at three sports at Dwight-Englewood High School – baseball, football and lacrosse.
Gilman, who understands the positive impact he can have on other youngsters with disabilities, was born a few months after Jim Abbott, who pitched a no-hitter for the Yankees despite a similar handicap. The two have been in touch, sparking mutual admiration — and inspiration. Alex now attends the University of Maryland.
There’s Janice Wolfe of Wyckoff, who provides and trains service animals for special needs individuals.
DD Naiman with neighbor Wilma Jones
Then there are Lyndhurst’s Sparks Cheerleaders, who have special needs (Down Syndrome, autism) and still win competitions – with ages that range from 7 to 20 (one is in her 30’s) — with the help of parents and cheerleaders from Ramapo College.
“I am so proud of what they have accomplished and I admire their hard work and dedication to the sport of cheerleading,” said President Deborah Wertalik. “They have worked hard, and when they shine on the mat it shows.”
It showed at competitions this year in both Atlantic City and at Six Flags Great Adventure. It showed when the squad had its own float in North Arlington’s Labor Day parade. And it showed in their receipt of the Governor’s Award for the way they are raising awareness.
There’s DD Naiman of Tenafly, who took money from his Bar Mitzvah gifts to build a ramp for his wheelchair-bound, 90-year-old neighbor, Wilma Jones.
DD’s parents have helped non-profit groups retrofit a Ridgewood church with special facilities for the homeless and obtain a new ceiling for a North Bergen synagogue. But this was his project, overseen by Bonim Builders, an arm of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey.
“His act of giving, along with the many volunteers from our community partners, will help our client remain in her home with safety and dignity,” said Jewish Family Service Executive Director Lisa Fedder.
There’s also Judith Banes of Westwood and Michelle Hart–Loughlin of Old Tappan, co-founders of a mission that this year will serve its 20th annual Thanksgiving dinners for the homeless, addicted and chronically mentally ill.
There’s Kevin Castillo, a 16-year-old deaf wrestler from Passaic; Patricia DeLuccio of Garfield, a longtime volunteer who helps raise funds for Ostiogenesis Imperfecta; and Adam Galluccio of North Haledon, who has developmental disabilities and autism but plays on the Manchester Regional basketball team as a mainstreamed student.
There’s also of Jack Lorenz of Ridgewood, who helps special needs students become independent thinkers.
“This free event recognizes unique accomplishments of individuals with disabilities and those persons in the community who perform selfless acts of assistance and advocacy on behalf of persons with disabilities” said Bergen County Executive Kathleen A. Donovan.
Matthew Whitaker already has overcome what for others might be insurmountable obstacles. He was born three months premature – all of a pound and two-thirds and blind. When he was 3, his grandfather gave him a miniature Yamaha keyboard. His folks say they were amazed when their youngest child taught himself to play “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.”
(Check out this video. You’ll see Matthew at the organ on the right.)
He was already studying classical music at Lighthouse International music school in New York City at 5 years old (Matthew loves Chopin and Bach). The next year it was drums. Now, at 10½, he is also studying bass guitar, percussion instruments, and music technology. He’s also learning to read sheet music in Braille.
Matthew, who attends the Harlem School of the Arts, is a member of the Jazz House Kids Big Band in Montclair. His latest love: a Hammond B3 organ.
It was on the Hammond that Matthew performed “Killer Joe” during the “Amateur Night at the Apollo: Child Stars of Tomorrow.” This spring, he performed during Stevie Wonder’s Apollo Legends Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Soon after, he was playing SummerStage with Ayers and the Jazz Mafia Symphony.
For someone so young, his resume is staggering: Matthew has played at New York’s famous Riverside Church and the Harlem Opera Theater, and was among the performers at the Apollo’s 75th anniversary show two years ago.
You can see Matthew perform for free – on the third Sunday of every month during worship services at New Hope Baptist Church in Hackensack.
His artistic influences include Wonder, of course, as well as Jimmy McGriff, Johnny Hammond Smith, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Charles Earland, and drummers Otis Brown III, Otis Brown Jr and Roy Haynes.
Bergen County in 1978 created the state’s first local office of Disabilities Services. It promotes community-based independent living options and helps people with disabilities reach their full potential.
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