S.T.E.P.S. opens fourth location to serve growing need in the community |
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During the week, laughter and friendly chatter can be heard upstairs in the meeting room of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Eggertsville. This is the newest S.T.E.P.S. (Success Through Engagement and Positive Supports) location, a day habilitation program "without walls". The program stresses community experiences that are based on participants' interests and goals. The cohort moved into the recreational area of the church in September. They have two rooms outfitted with couches, bean bag seats, TVs, and sensory items. A large meeting room provides space for group activities and lunch breaks.
While S.T.E.P.S. participants spend most of their time in the community, the new location offers a communal place where individuals can start and end their day while continuing to work on important life skills to achieve greater independence. The location offers a very active setting that provides opportunity for regular interaction with community members. In addition to community outings, S.T.E.P.S. participants give back to the church through volunteer opportunities. The group keeps the new space clean by wiping down the tables they use, sweeping the floors, and tidying up their space. They also help with the church’s food pantry by sorting through donations and placing each new food item on its designated shelf.
“The new S.T.E.P.S. location has been years in the making,” said Diana Schmit, Vice President of Community and Adult Services. “There’s a growing need for services for young adults with developmental disabilities, and we’re thrilled that this new, welcoming location enables our program to serve more individuals in their community.” |
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Summit Academy students race to the finish line during pinewood derby |
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Students cheered as they watched the wooden derby cars they created whoosh down the racetrack in the multipurpose room at Summit Academy’s Creekside-South site, the future home of Summit Academy Enhanced.
Sandra Looker, creative arts teacher at Summit Academy, said she wanted to bring back school-wide events, which have largely been on hold or scaled down due to COVID-19 safety protocols. Some of these recent activities included a race-themed movie day and a pinewood derby.
Creekside students worked with transition specialists to make popcorn, collect tickets, and hand out snacks for the movie day. For the derby, students used tools like a drill press and a hammer. Each student drilled their own holes, hammered on axles and wheels, and painted the finished cars they would race.
“The derby was a way to encourage individualism with the painting,” Sandy said. “Overall, it was an opportunity for community and social skill building.” |
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Summit's CEO honored at C-Level Awards |
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Summit’s Chief Executive Officer, Stephen R. Anderson, Ph.D., BCBA-D, received a C-Level Executive Award from Business First of Buffalo on Oct. 13.
Dr. Anderson joined Summit, then known as the Language Development Program, in 1995. During his tenure, Summit's programs and service offerings have grown significantly.
In 1997, Dr. Anderson started Summit’s Early Autism Program, the first of its kind in Western New York, which provides intensive, one-on-one intervention. The program has improved the lives of hundreds of children with autism, and their families too. He developed a contractual services arm of Summit, which offers behavioral training and support to school districts throughout Western New York. Under his direction, Summit expanded to provide services funded by the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities including respite care, vocational training, and adult day habilitation.
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Dr. Anderson spearheaded efforts to construct our $7.5 million 150 Stahl Road location, which opened in 2005 to house Summit Academy, Discovery Kids Daycare, and administrative offices. Since then, he has expanded our facilities at 165 Creekside, 75 Pineview, and 55 Pineview (which features our new respite center). He championed a $4.1 capital campaign to construct Summit Academy Enhanced, an intensive treatment facility for students with autism and severe behaviors. This innovative program is connected to our Creekside secondary school.
Under his leadership, Summit’s reputation for excellence has grown tremendously. His compassion, combined with a data-driven, results-oriented focus on individual growth and independence, has impacted countless children and adults. |
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Honoring this year's Hope Award recipients |
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The Summit Center will present its annual Hope Awards to Kathy Ralabate Doody, Ph.D., a member of Summit's Operating Board, and longtime donors Gerry and Missy Cornish at the Party for Summit: A Night in Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 4 at the Atrium @ Rich's.
The Hope Awards were introduced in 2017 to recognize friends of The Summit Center who exemplify our core values: integrity, respect, adaptability, accountability, collaboration, and optimism. Honorees have demonstrated long-term dedication to the organization, and to the children and adults we serve. |
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| Kathy Ralabate Doody, Ph.D.
Kathy Doody is an associate professor in the Exceptional Education Department at Buffalo State College. She obtained her master’s in Exceptional Education from Buffalo State and her Ph.D. in Learning and Instruction, Special Education, with a concentration in autism, from the University at Buffalo. Before pursuing her graduate and doctoral degrees, Kathy was an early childhood special education teacher. She worked at The Summit Center in the Early Autism Program, helping young children build lifelong skills.
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In 1997, Kathy’s son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Her family’s experiences led her to become a passionate advocate for individuals and families navigating the challenges of autism. Kathy is a consultant for area programs, schools, and hospitals. Among her many contributions, she helped develop Au-Some Evenings at Explore & More, providing children with the opportunity for sensory-friendly play, and co-facilitates an autism support group for parents and caregivers.
Kathy is a true champion for the autism community. As a member of the New York State Commissioner’s Advisory Panel for Special Education, Kathy counsels the Office of Special Education on best practices for supporting students with disabilities. Kathy also campaigns for equitable funding from New York State for special education schools like Summit Academy. She has served on The Summit Center’s Operating Board since 2017. |
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Gerry and Missy Cornish
Gerry Cornish is a managing director of Merrill Lynch where he has worked for more than 30 years. In 2007, Gerry joined The Summit Foundation Board. He uses his professional expertise to grow and protect the agency’s financial assets, particularly through his work on the investment committee.
Beginning with his service on the capital campaign feasibility study committee in 2015, Gerry played an integral role in Summit’s Building Hope capital campaign. He joined the |
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capital campaign committee as co-vice chair in 2016 and helped steer Building Hope through its conclusion in 2022. Nearly $3.7 million was raised to expand critical services, largely due to Gerry’s efforts.
Missy Cornish is the co-owner of Event Artistry, a local event planning business that specializes in weddings and large corporate events. Missy served on the planning committee for the Party for Summit from 2017 to 2019 which collectively grossed nearly $650,000. Through her skill in event design and execution, the overall experience was elevated to new levels. In 2020, she organized The Big Game, a special event that raised more than $20,000 (despite being canceled due to COVID-19).
For the past 18 years, Gerry and Missy have supported nearly every campaign and special event. In the process, they have introduced dozens of new donors to The Summit Center. Gerry and Missy have been pivotal to Summit’s long-term sustainability. Proceeds from Party for Summit benefit the Summit Foundation. This year's event is presented by Reeds Jewelers and will feature casino games, live entertainment, live/silent auctions, and more. Tickets are available at www.PartyForSummit.com. |
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Summit receives grant to support
art and music opportunities |
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The Summit Center was recently awarded a grant from the Cullen Foundation and New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to fund a variety of art and music enrichment opportunities.
Funds will be used for keyboards, xylophones, and other musical instruments for Summit Academy students. In addition, individuals in our S.T.E.P.S. (Success Through Engagement and Positive Supports) and respite programs will enjoy new art supplies and experiences.
Grants were awarded to 65 nonprofits across Western New York. The goal of this grant opportunity is to explore ways to advance arts programming to new and underserved audiences. |
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Pro Tips: Autism and Grief |
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Pro Tips provided by Rebecca Meyer, MS, MSW, social worker at Summit Academy Enhanced.
At some point, we all must deal with the difficult and emotional experience of losing a loved one. Explaining death and grief to individuals with autism can be complex, especially when parents and caregivers may be having a difficult time themselves. Below are some tips on how to talk to your child about loss: |
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1. Explain death as fully as possible.
Take the initiative to talk to your child about death before the loss of a loved one. Use clear, concrete terms like dead or died, and avoid vague phrases like gone to a better place or gone to sleep. Children with autism often think in literal terms, so vague phrasing can be difficult for them to fully understand. It’s just as important to help nonverbal children process a death as well. If your child is nonverbal, use an assistive device or pictures to help facilitate communication.
If appropriate, explain the wake and funeral process. Social stories can also help a child understand what to expect after a loved one dies. 2. Reassure your child. Let your child see your natural emotions. Explain that everyone grieves differently and it’s okay to show your emotions. Use reminders and visuals of actions they can do when they have these feelings. For example, if they’re feeling sad, they can hug they’re stuffed animal. Sometimes children with autism will say or do something that seems inappropriate to the situation. Know that this is normal and avoid commenting on it. Instead validate their expression by acknowledging that there are many ways to feel.
There’s often a delay in processing a death for a child with autism. You may not notice a change until months later and it may appear in unexpected ways, such as toilet training regression or aggressive behaviors. Ask if they’re thinking about their loved one, what you can do to help, and if they want to talk about the person. 3. Remember your loved ones.
Remembering loved ones can be a source of comfort. Help your child understand it’s okay to talk about the person and to share their feelings. Share your own thoughts, memories, and feelings about the person. Consider creating a photo album that you can look at with your child. You could also do something fun to honor the person, like cooking a favorite meal that they liked to make. 4. Keep other aspects of life consistent.
Children with autism are often used to a schedule, and changes to that routine can be difficult. Planning services for a loved one, visiting with family members and friends, wakes, and funerals can disrupt a family's normal routine. No longer seeing a family member your child was close to can also be a difficult change for them. Resume your child’s normal schedule as soon as possible to help reduce anxiety. |
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Employee Spotlight - Presented by West Herr |
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Meet Jessica Shepard!
What is your role at Summit? I am a teacher substitute at Summit Academy. What do you like most about working at Summit? I love learning through our students and seeing their hard work pay off. Name someplace on your bucket list.
Ireland is a place on my bucket list that I would like to visit someday. What is your favorite movie? My favorite movie is Big Daddy. Where is your favorite place to eat in Western New York? My favorite place to eat in Western New York is Tom’s Diner in Lockport. |
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Saturday, Oct. 29 - Mike Carroll's Halloween Bash: Dress in your spookiest costume for Mike Carroll's Halloween Bash, which will take place from 8 p.m. - midnight on Saturday, Oct. 29, at The Griffon Brewery and Gastropub, 115 South Water Street, Lewiston, NY 14092. The event is for ages 21 and up.
Tickets are $40 per person and include a four-hour open bar package. All proceeds will benefit The Summit Center. Tickets can be purchased at the door or by contacting Mike Carroll at 716-510-9468.
Friday, Nov. 4 - Party for Summit: A Night in Las Vegas: Get ready to place your bets at the Party for Summit: A Night in Las Vegas presented by Reeds Jewelers! The event will be held at
6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4 at the Atrium @ Rich's, 1 Robert Rich Way, Buffalo, NY 14213. The evening will feature the Hope Awards, live and silent auctions, casino games, and more.
Win a pair of David Yurman diamond earrings, just in time for the holidays! The raffle drawing will take place at the Party for Summit. The winner does not need to be present.
For more information, and to purchase an event ticket or raffle ticket, visit PartyForSummit.com. |
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An estimated 5.4 million adults in the U.S., or 2.2 percent of the U.S. population, are on the autism spectrum. Approximately 4,357,667 (3.62%) adult men and about 1,080,322 (0.86%) adult women were estimated to have autism spectrum disorder. (CDC, 2022) |
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