A giant in the field of New York developmental disabilities passed away November 10th.  For some time, Edward R. Matthews had been suffering with health issues.

He served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Adapt Community Network for 35 years.  According to Kelly Kaminski, Adapt’s Board President, “"Ed Matthews was a respected leader and an unwavering advocate for individuals with different abilities. His work profoundly impacted the lives of thousands of children, families, and adults across New York for more than fifty years, creating lasting change and empowering countless individuals along the way."

Matthews began his career at Adapt Community Network in 1986, becoming the CEO in 1989. This followed a distinguished career in NYS government, where he helped to implement the 1975 Federal Consent Judgment to find programs and homes in local communities for over 5,000 persons with I/DD. Through Adapt, Matthews oversaw the growth of the organization by expanding its reach from four boroughs in NYC to supporting over 25,000 families and individuals across eight counties, including the Hudson Valley, and employing over 3,000 staff members.

In 2017, Matthews oversaw the complete renaming and rebranding of Adapt from United Cerebral Palsy of NYC to both attract and continue serving a more diverse group of individuals. It was at this time that the organization became the largest provider of early childhood services in New York State. Forbes Magazine called Matthews a "powerhouse leader for people with disabilities."

He sat on several state and national committees with assignments ranging from the implementation of new services to the reform of the Medicaid payment system, as well as the creation of independent Care Coordination Organizations. In order to ensure that Adapt Community Network continued to provide the highest quality of innovative services, Matthews led Adapt to be accredited by two national organizations, The Commission on the Accreditation of Rehab Facilities (CARF) and The Council on Quality Leadership (CQL), both with distinction. Crain's New York Business selected Matthews as a “2021, 2022, and 2023 Notable Leader in Healthcare”.  In 2022, Matthews was honored with the Hausman Humanitarian Award at the Adapt Leadership Awards in New York City. He was the recipient of a “Healthcare Hero Award” by Schneps Media in 2022 and 2023.  He was a widely quoted, interviewed authority on issues impacting people with disabilities.

Linda Laul, Adapt’s Chief Operating Officer, stated: “We all mourn his loss and will miss him, but we must continue to carry his vision forward and work hard to support his legacy.  Ed was so proud of each and every one of you and so grateful for all that you bring to make Adapt the successful agency it is today.  Having worked with Ed----he never failed to say “THANK YOU” for all of the effort put forth.  THANK YOU for being a wonderful support to me and to the memory of Ed.”