Summit board announces
succession plan for CEO |
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Pictured above from left is Stephen R. Anderson, Ph.D., BCBA-D, CEO, Lisa A. Foti, CPA, CFO, and Amy L. Jablonski, Psy.D, Vice President - Education and Behavioral Health. |
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The Board of Directors of The Summit Center has announced that effective January 1, 2024, Stephen R. Anderson, Ph.D., BCBA-D will retire as Chief Executive Officer and move into a consulting role turning over the agency’s reins to Lisa A. Foti, CPA, Chief Financial Officer, who will be promoted to chief executive officer and Amy L. Jablonski, Psy.D., Vice President-Education and Behavioral Health, who will be promoted to president.
Throughout 2024, Dr. Anderson will consult as needed to the new CEO and president on strategic direction and initiatives and assist with external fundraising to ensure a smooth transition. Dr. Anderson will also continue to oversee the development of Summit’s commercial products, SummitUp, a web-based software, and SafeGuard Protective Apparel.
“Steve’s 28-year tenure as CEO has been marked by tremendous growth not only financially, but in terms of the number of people served and the variety of programs and services provided. With a steadfast focus on evidence-based practice and many years of expertise in autism treatment, he changed the landscape in Western New York for services for people with autism,” said Mark Brand, President and CEO at Actuarial Consulting Services, Inc., and president of Summit’s board of directors. “He has grown the organization from a small local program to a nationally respected center of excellence and leaves an indelible legacy.”
In naming Foti and Jablonski as Anderson’s successors, Brand said: “With their many years of dedicated service and combined talents, we believe Lisa and Amy are the best candidates to move Summit forward in its strategic initiatives. They are both highly accomplished professionals who know the agency well and understand its strengths and opportunities. Our board has the utmost confidence in their leadership.”
Diana Schmit, MS, Vice President of Community and Adult Services, will continue to play a critical role on Summit’s Executive Leadership Team overseeing the operation and strategic direction of Summit’s OPWDD programs, QA/QI Department, and Administrative Services. She will also lead the agency’s strategic plan initiatives related to investigating housing opportunities and expanded day programs for adults. Effective January 1, 2024, Dana L. Zakes, CPA, Director of Finance, will be promoted to chief financial officer, reporting to Foti. She will be responsible for all financial operations and reporting. |
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Celebrating favorite interests during
Autism Acceptance Month |
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April is Autism Acceptance Month, which highlights the achievements and perspectives of the autism community. While The Summit Center celebrates the children and adults we serve all year long, April is a special month. Every individual we serve has their own set of unique talents, interests, and strengths. Here are some of their favorite interests:
Oliver: Oliver loves everything about skateboarding. His dad shared, "Oliver is obsessed with skateboarding. We watch skateboard videos all day, every day. He skateboards through the house, and we go outside to the local schools and ride around. Every day he comes home from school he asks to go skateboarding."
Théo: Théo's fascination is the ocean and all the creatures in it. His mom said, "We first noticed his interests when he began choosing adult nature documentaries over traditional children’s cartoons. He would light up when ocean animals showed up on the screen. He started finding specific pages out of nature books that had ocean scenes on them and would precisely place them all around the floor - almost like he was creating his very own seascape. When we took him to the Aquarium of Niagara we knew we had found his 'happy place.' The animals there truly seem to have a sense of when Théo arrives. They all swim right up to the glass to visit with him. It’s remarkable. We hope with time to be able to travel with him to the Georgia Aquarium so he can spend time with his favorite ocean animal - the manta ray!"
Matt: Matt participates in Summit's Community Habilitation program. He tends to be shy but comes alive when talking about his special interest: fans. Ceiling fans, table fans, box fans - Matt is fascinated by them. He's even started his own side business cleaning fans. |
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New CDC report finds 1 in 36 children
diagnosed with autism |
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One in 36 (2.8%) 8-year-old children have been identified with autism spectrum disorder, according to an analysis of 2020 data published on March 23 in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Surveillance Summaries. This is higher than the previous 2018 estimate published in December 2021, which found a prevalence of 1 in 44 (2.3%).
It is important to note that this estimate is based on 8-year-old children who participated in the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network and does not necessarily represent the entire population of children in the United States. Established in 2000, the ADDM Network tracks the number and characteristics of children with autism and other developmental disabilities in 11 communities around the United States. It provides estimates of the prevalence and characteristics of autism among 8-year-old and 4-year-old children in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin.
“While these numbers are reported by very specific communities, they are indicative of the importance of access to early evaluations and intervention,” said Stephen R. Anderson, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Chief Executive Officer of The Summit Center. “Beyond the prevalence numbers, we know that with early intensive behavioral interventions children with autism can make progress that changes the course of their lives. Based on the waitlists for Summit’s programs and services, the need in our community continues to grow.”
To view the full report visit https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/pdf/ADDM-Community-Report-SY2020-h.pdf |
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Maurer family shares their story |
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Nearly two years ago, the Maurers' son, Luke, was diagnosed with autism. Read about their journey in their own words and the progress Luke has made at The Summit Center:
"After failing many hearing tests, we learned in April of 2019 that our son Luke was profoundly deaf. The news was gut wrenching. Luke had a difficult first year that included missed milestones, zero babbling, and many therapies. We were determined to help our son in any way we could. At just 13 months old, we made the decision to give Luke a chance of life with hearing with the help of bi-lateral cochlear implants.
After the implants, we noticed Luke was still not making progress. In September of 2021, Luke was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. This was a double whammy for our kiddo. Autism spectrum disorder was not something our family was familiar with. We didn’t know much about it, where to turn, or who to talk to. There is no guidebook, and the hardest part is that every child has different challenges. Asking for advice can be difficult.
We were committed to giving Luke the support he needed to reach those critical early milestones. After countless phone calls to parents and agencies throughout Western New York, we realized The Summit Center would be the best fit. We prayed there would be a spot for him. Because of Summit’s success in serving individuals with autism, most of their programs have a long wait list. Luckily, a space was available in Luke’s age group. He was placed in Summit Academy’s preschool program.
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Over the past year, Luke has learned to turn when we call his name and to communicate short phrases with his device. He is also working on self-help skills, things our daughters picked up instinctively. With Luke, sometimes these skills seem impossible. He needs constant routine to accomplish tasks like washing his hands and putting on his shoes. With repetition, we’ve seen great improvement in what Luke is capable of. Once Luke does master something, he is very confident and loves repeating it.
Having a child with autism is a full-time job. We’ve learned to anticipate Luke’s needs, always keeping watch to see if he needs help. He doesn’t have the ability to communicate things to us, like when he’s frustrated because he can’t find his favorite toy. Parenting a child with autism is different from parenting your other children. Luke has two sisters who adore him, but they don’t understand why he “gets all the attention.” As hard as raising a special needs child may be, The Summit Center makes it much easier. We have hope in Luke’s continued progress, and we have a community of other families who share our challenges and triumphs. We’re so grateful for the teachers, aides, and administrators for making such a difference for our family." -The Maurer Family |
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Register and fundraise for the
2023 Autism Walk, win prizes |
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There's still time to register and fundraise for the 2023 Autism Walk, taking place on Saturday, May 13.
This year's theme centers around the word "believe," because at The Summit Center we believe in every individual's potential. Join parents, community advocates, and other supporters for a 2-mile walk in celebration of autism acceptance and understanding. |
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Not only will you be helping those we serve, but you have a chance to win prizes during our Tops Week and Basket Week contests! Tops Week runs from April 24 - 28 with a chance to win $25, $50, or $100 in Tops gift cards. Basket Week will take place from May 1 - 5 with chances to win baskets from Orange Theory, the Aquarium of Niagara, a Play-Doh basket, or a summer fun themed basket. Additional contest details will be shared soon.
To register for the Autism Walk, visit SummitAutismWalk.org. Celebrate the gifts and strengths of the autism community and help raise critical funds for programs that directly impact hundreds of children and adults.
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Activities for children with autism |
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There are many activities around Western New York geared toward children with autism and their families. Some activities are held in April as part of Autism Acceptance Month, while others are offered in the summer or all year long. Be sure to check your local youth and parks and rec departments for adaptive sports and other activities. The list below includes some, but not all, activities available: |
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Au-Some Evenings at Explore & More
Once a month, Explore & More hosts Au-Some Evenings to give children with autism and their families an opportunity to play and learn in a supportive environment. Families have access to the museum, play zones, sensory friendly spaces, and quiet kits. Explore & More features different activities such as a music center, therapy dogs, art projects, and gross motor activities. Explore & More is located at 130 Main St., Buffalo. Learn more about Au-Some Evenings here.
Sensory Friendly movies
Flix Stadium 10 in Lancaster hosts a sensory friendly film series the first or second Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. Films will be shown with the theater lights on and the sound lowered. Learn more about Flix 10's series here.
AuSome Evening at the Aquarium of Niagara
Several times a year, The Aquarium of Niagara hosts AuSome Evenings for families of children with autism. Guests can enjoy a trip to the aquarium in a sensory-friendly environment. The aquarium is located at 701 Whirlpool St, Niagara Falls. For more information, click here.
Autism Nature Trail Letchworth State Park
Letchworth State Park features an Autism Nature Trail designed to meet the sensory needs of children and adults with autism. It’s a mile-long loop with sensory stations, including nature-inspired musical instruments, swings, a maze, and more. To visit, use the Castile entrance at Letchworth located at 6787 County Rd 38, Castile. The trail is next to the Humphrey Nature Center. Visit autismnaturetrail.com for more information.
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Employee Spotlight - Presented by West Herr |
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Meet Owen Krieger!
What is your role at Summit? I'm a Life Skills Trainer with Summit's S.T.E.P.S. (Success Through Engagement and Positive Supports) program.
Describe what your day might look like. A typical day for me is being able to work with amazing people and helping individuals grow and achieve their goals while being in the community.
What are you most proud of, personally and professionally? One thing I am most proud of is always trying to create a positive atmosphere and carrying it through work, music, and just life in general. Where is your favorite place to eat in Western New York? My favorite place to eat is Moneybags Dumplings.
Name someplace on your bucket list. Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee |
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S.T.E.P.S. searches for additional location |
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This summer, Summit is planning to expand it S.T.E.P.S. (Success Through Engagement and Positive Supports) program, a day habilitation “without walls” for adults (ages 21 and up) with developmental disabilities. In operation since 2014, S.T.E.P.S. provides a high level of support for program participants as they spend their day learning new skills, volunteering in the community, and engaging in leisure activities.
We are looking for a location in Williamsville, Cheektowaga, Bowmansville, Clarence, or the Buffalo Airport area to serve as a community home base for the program, which will serve up to 12 individuals. To date, we have successfully partnered with churches which offer active communities and opportunities for engagement and volunteerism.
Are you associated with a church or know of a facility in one of the areas listed above that might be a good home for S.T.E.P.S.? If so, please contact Wendy Loverme, Director of Community Services, at 716-799-8152 or email her at wloverme@thesummitcenter.org to share details. |
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April 20 - Tacos, Community & Beer: Dine in at Tacos, Community & Beer all day on Thursday, April 20, at 6449 Transit Rd, East Amherst. 10% of sales will support the 2023 Autism Walk. April 22 - WNY Beer Trail Autism Awareness Fundraiser: Enjoy a fun afternoon at the 3rd Annual WNY Beer Trail Autism Awareness Fundraiser from noon - 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 22, at Resurgence Brewing, 55 Chicago St., Buffalo. The event will feature a special beer, live music, raffles, and more!
April 29 - Chocolate Fusion Fundraiser for Théoden’s Fellowship: Enjoy a sweet treat for a good cause! Visit Chocolate Fusion from 2 - 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 29 at 10065 Niagara Falls Blvd., Niagara Falls. Other local businesses will offer tumblers, jewelry, and sweets for sale. 100% of the proceeds will benefit the 2023 Autism Walk. May 8 - Pie-O-Mine: Skip the dishes and dine at Pie-O-Mine & Greens from 4 - 9 p.m. on Monday, May 8, at 1725 Sheridan Dr., Tonawanda. 20% of sales will support the 2023 Autism Walk.
May 13 - The Summit Center 2023 Autism Walk: Join us at The Summit Center 2023 Autism Walk on Saturday, May 13 at 150 Stahl Road, Getzville NY 14068. Check in opens at 8 a.m. with the opening ceremony beginning at 9:30 a.m. Register at SummitAutismWalk.org.
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Over the past 11 years, The Summit Center Autism Walk has raised more than $3 million dollars to help fund critical programs for children and adults with autism and other developmental, social, and behavioral challenges. In 2023, The Summit Center is celebrating the Autism Walk's 25th anniversary. |
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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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