Finding success in the workplace |
Becoming more independent is a goal for many of the adults served by The Summit Center, and one step toward this goal is working on job skills. Through the Supported Employment (SEMP) program, people with developmental disabilities can explore careers, develop work skills, and obtain a job that aligns with their interests. SEMP has changed many people’s lives by helping them find a career where they excel.
Michael works as a dishwasher at Our Lady of Peace, where he started after graduating from Summit Academy. He has been in this role for a year and a half and has exceeded the expectations of his job coach and manager. Michael is a hard worker and learns quickly. He is described as a pleasure to work with, a positive influence, and a team player.
Outside of work, Michael expresses his creative side by drawing super-heroes and stories to coincide with the drawings.
Richard, another Summit Academy graduate, has been preparing food at Just Pizza for four years. His responsibilities include cutting and measuring vegetables, pepperoni, and lunch meats, cooking mushrooms, and making and packaging blue cheese.
Richard arrives to work early and takes on extra hours if he’s needed. His managers have said that Richard always has a positive attitude, is a hard worker, and brings a great sense of humor to the team.
When he’s not working, Richard helps his father and grandfather with household chores and enjoys spending time with his family.
For approximately nine years, Melissa has worked as a greeter and a cashier at The Home Depot. She has earned many “Homer Awards” from the store recognizing her hard work. She has also been acknowledged for receiving high customer satisfaction scores on Home Depot surveys. She works hard to achieve her goals and always has an upbeat attitude. Melissa is outstanding with computers and has taken several classes to assist her in gaining stronger computer skills. Additionally, Melissa enjoys taking the bus to shop at local stores and loves spending time with her cats. |
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BPO performs holiday concert for students |
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Earlier this month, several students from Summit Academy attended the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra’s sixth annual Exceptional Holiday Concert at Kleinhans Music Hall.
The BPO welcomed 375 children and adults with disabilities from 11 different organizations. Fernanda Lastra, BPO conductor diversity fellow, and Kate Bassett, concert host, led the audience in holiday music, including a sing-along and jingle bells. Students also enjoyed watching performances of the Royal Academy of Ballet. We would like to thank the BPO for hosting this wonderful event as well as Ingram Micro for sponsoring this opportunity. |
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Giving Tuesday donations to provide more community experiences |
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This year, The Summit Center's Giving Tuesday campaign focused on supporting participants in the Community Habilitation program. The program helps foster self-advocacy and independence in adults with disabilities.
Individuals work towards personal goals by engaging in community activities. They might visit a grocery store to learn about budgeting, attend sporting events to build social skills, or take classes to develop a new hobby. |
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Thanks to our generous supporters, Summit’s Community Habilitation participants will have access to even more opportunities in the community, including: visiting the Buffalo Zoo, attending music and art workshops, seeing a movie, participating in fitness classes, and more. |
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Summit receives $10,000 grant from Rite Aid Healthy Futures |
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Rite Aid Healthy Futures has generously gifted The Summit Center with a $10,000 grant as part of its annual Giving Tuesday grant awards. This grant will aid Summit in helping children and adults reach their fullest potential. Summit is one of nearly 400 partner charities across the country receiving a grant from Rite Aid Healthy Futures. The grants are funded through Rite Aid’s KidCents customer round-up program. The foundation donated more than $4 million on Giving Tuesday this year. |
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Rite Aid Healthy Futures, formerly known as The Rite Aid Foundation, is a public charity dedicated to driving change in communities, with an emphasis on underserved neighborhoods, focusing on the areas of health, wellness, race, and equity. |
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| Pro Tips: Setting Boundaries |
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Pro Tips provided by Claire Spangenthal, MA/SC, NCSP, BCBA, educational assistant director at Summit Academy Enhanced. Setting rules and expectations is part of parents’ journey as their child begins to test their boundaries. Establishing rules is critical for families to set their child up for success at home and in the community.
Below are some tips on setting boundaries for children with autism and other developmental disabilities: |
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1. Set reasonable and achievable expectations.
When setting boundaries or creating rules, it’s important to make them attainable for your child. Take small steps toward achieving the outcome you want. Be realistic with your expectations. If your goal is to have your child practice good behavior while at the store, expect that your child may not meet that goal perfectly the first few times. If you set unrealistic expectations, it may be impossible for a child to achieve and will lead to frustrations for both the child and parent.
Keep in mind that learning expectations can be more challenging for younger children. The things they experience day to day may be the biggest challenge they’ve ever encountered up to that point. 2. Be consistent.
Once you set a rule, don’t go back on it because it will be even more difficult to achieve going forward. Explain the rule to your child and provide reinforcement when they make progress toward following that rule.
For example, if you’re going to the grocery store, tell them how long you’ll be there and if they practice good behavior then they’ll get a candy bar at checkout. If they don’t display good behavior, don’t give in. Explain that they can try again next time. This may upset your child, and it’s okay to console them using an appropriate coping strategy rather than giving in.
3. If at first you don’t succeed, try again.
If a strategy doesn’t seem to be working the first few times you try it, don’t give up. It takes time for children to adapt to new rules, which can be challenging for parents. Once you find success with one rule, it will be easier to work on other rules in the future. If you have spent months trying a strategy and it’s not working, consider reaching out to your child’s team to come up with a new plan. 4. Consult your child’s team.
Parents are encouraged to meet with staff to learn how they can practice setting boundaries at home and work through challenges that arise. Collaborating with a team also gives parents the opportunity to ask questions and have an open dialogue with staff who work directly with their child. |
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Employee Spotlight - Presented by West Herr |
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Meet Lucienne "Lu" Cook!
What is your role at Summit?
I'm an employment specialist for the Supported Employment (SEMP) program and have been with Summit for a year and a half. SEMP is an Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) program that assists adults with developmental disabilities in exploring careers and obtaining competitive employment.
What do you like most about working at Summit? What I enjoy most is seeing the individuals I support excel at their jobs. However, a close second is helping them to secure the perfect job that challenges them. Name someplace on your bucket list. There are many places on my bucket list, but Tuscany, Italy would be the most interesting to get back to my roots. What is your favorite movie? My favorite movie is The Peanut Butter Falcon because the main character achieves his dreams and is helped by unlikely characters along the way despite many obstacles. Where is your favorite place to eat in Western New York? My favorite restaurant is Danny's because I love the soup and salad bar, especially during the cold months. |
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December Giving Campaign: There's still time to make a donation to The Summit Center! Throughout the month of December, you can give individuals with disabilities opportunities to surpass their limits and achieve new levels of independence by donating to our Be a Champion campaign. With your help, individuals can learn, grow, and achieve the goals they've set for themselves. Visit TheSummitCenter.org/BeAChampion to donate.
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The term "autism" was coined in 1911 by the German psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler. However, very little was known or medically researched about autism spectrum disorder until the late 20th century. New discoveries and advancements continue to be made today to help individuals on the spectrum achieve their full potential. (NIH; CDC) |
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Our Mission
Guided by evidence-based practice, we maximize life success for people facing developmental, social and behavioral challenges. |
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