Summit Academy Enhanced begins operations |
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Summit Academy Enhanced began operations on Nov. 1 with the opening of two classrooms serving 12 students at Creekside South, located in Amherst. Summit Academy Enhanced is the first educational program of its kind in New York State to provide a highly specialized behavioral assessment and treatment program for students ages 12 and up who display severe challenging behavior. When fully staffed, Summit Academy Enhanced will serve 30 students across five classrooms at Creekside South. |
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Amy Jablonski, Psy.D., BCBA-D, Vice President of Education and Behavioral Health, oversees the program which operates under the Summit Academy umbrella. Brian Nasca, Ph.D., Director of the Severe Behavior Program, will work closely with Summit Academy Principal Mary Bennett and have responsibility for the continued development and day-to-day management of SAE with a leadership team that includes: Jennifer Owsiany, Ph.D., BCBA, Clinical Assistant Director; Claire Spangenthal, MA/AC, NCSP, BCBA, Educational Assistant Director; and Rebecca Meyer, M.S., M.S.W, Social Worker and Intake Specialist.
For more information about Summit Academy Enhanced, visit www.TheSummitCenter.org. |
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New program helps students build job skills |
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Giovanni, a student at Summit Academy's secondary school, made his first sale as the student vendor for Summit’s new COVE program on Oct. 20. “G,” as he likes to be called, successfully pitched three boxes of disposable cutlery packets to Sisters and Son's Pizzeria and Deli in Getzville. These cutlery packets are hand-assembled by Giovanni and several of his classmates who participate in the COVE (Creekside Occupational and Vocational Education) program, a fledgling school-based enterprise based at Summit's Creekside location. COVE provides students with an on-site opportunity to gain valuable job skills in the production and sales of a real-world product. As a school-based enterprise, any aspect of the company operation is a potential role for students, including management roles. Giovanni applied and interviewed for the student vendor position, the first of these roles to be offered. More roles will be opened as opportunities, interests, and skills develop. |
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Students have a spooktacular time
celebrating Halloween |
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The end of October brought some spooky fun for our students at Summit Academy. At the secondary school, students participated in a pumpkin decorating contest. They used paint, markers, and other materials to create some festive pumpkins. Some students made colorful displays by attaching crayons around the top of their pumpkin and using a hair dryer to slowly melt the wax into colorful drips and splashes. At our Stahl Road location, younger students and their families enjoyed Summit’s Halloween family event featuring indoor trick-or-treating, Halloween-themed photo backdrops, arts and crafts, and fun games. Thanks to our volunteers for making this event a wonderful experience! |
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Employee recognized at annual
NYSABA Conference |
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Summit CEO Steve Anderson, Ph.D., BCBA-D, congratulates Nicole Conte, BCBA, behavior consultant at Summit Academy, who received the 2022 Student Ambassador Certificate from the New York State Association for Behavior Analysis at its annual conference in Albany. The award recognizes Nicole’s outstanding contributions to promoting and disseminating the science of behavior analysis in New York.
"I am honored and humbled to have received the student ambassador award. I believe that strong support systems create strong behavior teams and I hope that the NYSABA activities allow for easier access to resources and a better understanding of our field for professionals and for families," Nicole said. "Although I am new to Summit, I love our Summit family and am so grateful for all of the support and comradery." |
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St. Pius X Church gives back for holiday season |
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Last week, The Summit Center received an incredible amount of donations from St. Pius X Church for our annual Holiday Cheer drive! Holiday Cheer is aimed at helping families across all of Summit’s programs who may need additional support during the holiday season. The church community donated toys, art supplies, Play-Doh, blankets, gift cards, holiday cards, and more.
We would like to thank the St. Pius X Church community, Father Robert, and Pam Rankin, faith formation coordinator, for their generosity and support of The Summit Center and the families we serve. |
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Help people achieve their dreams this Giving Tuesday |
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This year's Giving Tuesday campaign will support individuals in Summit's Community Habilitation program. With guidance from a direct support professional, participants develop meaningful goals for themselves through this program. Direct support professionals organize engaging experiences that help people to work toward their goals. If someone wants to foster a new hobby, staff can arrange for art or fitness classes. If they want to become more independent, staff might accompany them to a department store to learn budgeting and money management skills.
Some of the goals our participants have achieved include learning how to grocery shop, building socialization skills with peers, getting a driver's license, budgeting, and more.
Because the Community Habilitation program is not fully funded by New York State, families must pay for activities out of pocket. Your gift will support activities and experiences that will help individuals grow and become more independent.
Help us raise $10,000 so that no family has to pay for Community Habilitation activities in 2023! Donate on Giving Tuesday, Nov. 29, at TheSummitCenter.org/achievedreams. |
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Guests spend an evening in "Las Vegas"
at the Party for Summit |
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More than 300 people gathered to celebrate at the Party for Summit: A Night in Las Vegas presented by Reeds Jewelers on Nov. 4 at The Atrium @ Rich’s. Attendees enjoyed silent and live auctions, entertainment from Elvis impersonator Terry Buchwald, and casino games. During the evening, Kathy Ralabate Doody, Ph.D., and Gerry and Missy Cornish were recognized with the annual Hope Awards.
The Party for Summit raised nearly $180,000, which will help sustain critical programs and services. The evening was a success thanks to our event chair, Tammy Nicholson, our event committee, volunteers, sponsors, and donors. Thank you for making the evening a special one!
Relive the evening with beautiful photos from Tom Burns Photography at www.tomburnsphotography.com. |
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Upcoming S.T.A.R. Parent Trainings |
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The Summit Center’s S.T.A.R. Training, funded by the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), offers parents and caregivers new strategies to manage various stages of their child’s life. Sessions will be conducted by The Summit Center’s professional staff who have significant background, training, and experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities. Respite opportunities may be available at a future date for participants.
Eligibility: All sessions are open at no cost to those who are OPWDD eligible. Those with Self-Direction must include this in their budget.
To register: Please call Laurlen Parry, Coordinator of Community Services, at 716-799-8163 or Ashlee Bronson, Assistant Director of Community Services, at 716-799-8156. For virtual sessions, a link to the training will be emailed to you after you are registered. Please note that the registration/ approval process may take up to five days to complete. Timeframe for approval through Self-Direction may vary. Please allow sufficient time for this approval process prior to each session you wish to attend.
Download the list of all upcoming S.T.A.R. trainings here. |
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Tuesday, Nov. 29 - Giving Tuesday: Give back to The Summit Center to support our Community Habilitation program this Giving Tuesday on Nov. 29. Your gift will support individuals in becoming more independent through community activities and experiences. Visit TheSummitCenter.org/achievedreams to donate.
Saturday, Dec, 17 - Buffalo Beauts Autism Acceptance Night: Celebrate Autism Acceptance Night at the Buffalo Beauts vs. the Toronto Six game at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, at The Northtown Center at Amherst, 1615 Amherst Manor Drive, Williamsville, NY 14221. Former Summit student Britini D'Angelo will drop the puck. Click here for tickets or more information.
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The first signs of autism usually appear before age 3. The earliest signs typically include poor eye contact, lack of pointing, difficulty in the use or understanding of language, and unusual play or lack of play. Although there is no cure for autism, children can make substantial gains with early intensive intervention. (CDC, 2022) |
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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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