July/August 2021

Summit Celebrates Eight Graduates

Saturday, June 24 was a day of celebration for eight graduates of Summit Academy, their families, and our faculty and staff. The ceremony, led by Principal Sue Whittaker, Ed.D., honored students who have spent most of their childhood at Summit Academy. Graduation is a turning point in their journey as they move on to a new stage in life. 

Looking back over the years, all of us at Summit have such wonderful memories of these students, the friends they've made, the milestones they've achieved. It has been a privilege to watch them grow into the kind, funny, loving, and tenacious people they are today. Our lives have been enriched by each and every one and we can't wait to see the impact that they make on their community. We look forward to serving many of these extraordinary young adults in our S.T.E.P.S. day habilitation program. Congratulations graduates!

Give 716 Day Raises $22,433!

The first annual Give 716 Day kicked off on July 15 at 7:16pm and continued through July 16. During this period, $22,433 was raised for Summit's S.T.E.P.S. day habilitation program. Donations will be used toward the purchase of a new minivan that will transport participants from their homes to one of three locations across Western New York. S.T.E.P.S. helps to combat the social isolation and lack of community integration that many adults with autism experience. On a typical day, they might visit a local park to engage in fitness activities, go to a restaurant and learn how to order their own meal, or volunteer for another charity such as Meals on Wheels. 

More than 400 area charities participated in Give 716 Day. The initiative was created as a joint effort between the Buffalo Bills Foundation and the Buffalo Sabres Foundation to harness the generosity of the Western New York community. 

Students Set Sail on the Spirit of Buffalo

Sensory Friendly Film Series at Flix

Flix Stadium 10 is offering a sensory friendly family film series on the first Saturday of every month at 10:00am. The theatre lights will remain on and the sound will be lowered. Admission is $8.75 per person for both children and adults. Flix will also offer a monthly raffle for attendees to win concession prizes and promotional movie gifts.

Dipson Theatres, Inc. acknowledges the needs of social engagement and environmental factors affecting people on the autism spectrum, and hope that this family film series will create an entertainment venue for families to enjoy new releases in a presentation that will suit unique and special needs.

Potential guests are encouraged to sign up for the theatre’s weekly email list which will announce each month’s film. Anyone interested can go to www.dipsontheatres.com and sign up for the weekly newsletter.

Afterschool Program Returns to Summit Central

Individuals participating in Summit's afterschool program – Summit Adventures – are back in a familiar setting as of July 12. Although Adventures operated on a smaller scale at 415 N. French throughout the pandemic, everyone is excited to have the younger students return to 150 Stahl Rd. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 3:00pm to 6:00pm. Individuals who participate in the Adventures program from our secondary school will remain at the N. French location.

Adventures is a unique respite care program that builds valuable skills through social interactions and structured leisure activities. Over the past few weeks, participants have been engaged in physical fitness activities, arts and crafts, video games, and more. Thanks to a recent grant from The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism, we have new scooters, gym mats, footballs, video games, and craft supplies for the kids to enjoy.

Employee Spotlight - Presented by West Herr

Make A Mark That Can't Be Erased

Many people don’t start to think about their legacies and what they want to accomplish until they are older. Planned giving is a thoughtful way to support the causes that are most important to you. If you set goals for your own legacy when you are younger, you'll have more time to work towards making your mark on the world.

You can leave your legacy at The Summit Center in a number of easy ways:

- Leaving a donation in your will (either a percentage of your estate or a fixed amount)

- Transferring stock

- Naming us as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy or retirement plan

- Establishing a charitable gift annuity

The Vista Society honors individuals who have included The Summit Center in their estate plans. To become a member, visit thesummitcenter.org/plannedgiving.

Fact of the Month

Individuals with autism are more likely to have chronic sleep issues than neurotypical people. According to a study published by the National Institutes of Health, they spend approximately 15% of their nightly rest in the rapid eye movement (REM) stage vs. the general population who spends about 23%.

Our Mission
Guided by evidence-based practice, we maximize life success for people facing developmental, social and behavioral challenges.