Autism Services programs, services to transition to People Inc., The Summit Center |
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Two local nonprofits that support people with developmental disabilities are working together to ensure the continuation of educational, residential, and other services currently provided by Autism Services, Inc.
Autism Services, Inc. supports 175 people in day programs, group homes and other programs funded and regulated by the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). It also operates two New York State Education Department-certified school age special education programs located in Buffalo and Amherst, serving approximately 100 students. As a result of insurmountable financial challenges, beginning Feb. 1, 2024, Autism Services’ OPWDD-funded programs will transfer to People Inc. The Summit Center will expand its school services on or about Feb. 1, 2024, providing school age educational programs to current students attending Autism Services' schools.
Autism Services faces significant operational and financial challenges, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this year, Autism Services approached People Inc. seeking an affiliation to assist with administrative, back-office, and managerial support. As part of its strategic assessment of the agency, People Inc. hired an outside accounting firm to determine Autism Services’ financial viability.
The findings revealed an operating deficit that threatened the continuation of Autism Services’ programs and services. Despite aggressive and deliberate efforts over the last several months to stabilize operations, Autism Services’ Board of Directors has determined the only way to preserve these vital services is to transition the operation of its programs to other agencies with the capacity and expertise to support them.
“Since Autism Services came to us for assistance, the goal has been to ensure the continuation and consistency of high-quality services,” said Anne McCaffrey, President and CEO of People Inc. “After the results of our due diligence, we are grateful to have arrived at this best-case scenario, with The Summit Center taking on what they do best, and People Inc. doing what we do best. In the end, the winners are the people served and their families.” People Inc., a leading provider of services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and The Summit Center, well known for its expertise in educational programs for people with autism, are working together with Autism Services to ensure a smooth and seamless transition as Autism Services ceases operation. McCaffrey and Lisa Foti, CFO and incoming CEO of The Summit Center, said they are thoughtfully planning for little or no disruption to the day-to-day services currently provided, including affording employment opportunities Autism Services employees and keeping the schools and programs in the same locations.
“We know that change can be very disruptive for students with autism, so our initial focus is on the seamless continuation of educational services provided by staff members they know and trust,” said Foti. “On the financial side, when these additional students come under Summit’s umbrella, we will be able to take advantage of higher reimbursement rates while continuing to provide a high-quality educational program.”
The OPWDD services moving under the auspices of People Inc. include 12 group homes with a total of 53 residents, two day programs serving 64 people, and other programs for neurodiverse adults and children. All Autism Services employees who work as direct support professionals in these programs will have employment opportunities at People Inc. |
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| Summit unveils
Stephen R. Anderson Endowment |
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For the past 28 years, Dr. Anderson has been the visionary leader behind The Summit Center. His north star has been to provide hope for individuals and families facing the challenges of autism, and the impact he’s had on the services available today is immeasurable.
In 1997, Dr. Anderson launched the Early Autism Program, an intensive intervention program for young children. His vision for a state-of-the-art facility for Summit Academy became a reality in 2005 and in 2012, he led the opening of the Behavioral Pediatrics Clinic. Almost a decade ago, Dr. Anderson began the daunting process of opening a severe behavior program. He saw that parents were desperate for treatment that didn’t exist in Western New York. His response? “This is simply not acceptable.” Last fall, Summit opened the region’s first school-based program for students with severe behaviors.
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When Dr. Anderson announced his retirement, my fellow board members and I knew his legacy must be preserved. To honor his devotion, we have established the Stephen R. Anderson Endowment. Donations will uphold his belief in proven methods and continuous improvement.
To make a gift in Dr. Anderson’s honor, go to www.TheSummitCenter.org/AndersonEndowment. Your donation will strengthen Summit’s evidence-based programs, provide professional development opportunities, secure the latest technology, and support other practices that give people the best chance to learn and grow.
Steve, thank you for your dedication to helping all individuals reach their full potential. You will be missed, but because of the Steven R. Anderson Endowment, you will never be forgotten. |
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Tom Rosenecker
President, Summit Foundation |
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Summit Academy students visit Burchfield Penney Art Center |
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Recently, Summit Academy students took a field trip to the Burchfield Penney Art Center, located on Buffalo State University's campus. Students toured the gallery, learning about different artwork and the techniques used to create them.
Afterwards, the group gathered in the gallery's classroom area to experiment with making their own Gelli prints. Gelli prints are made by coating a reusable Gelli plate with ink or paint and pressing paper onto the plate to create textures and layers of color. The students enjoyed expressing their creativity and learning more about the creative arts. |
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Holiday Cheer makes the season brighter for families in need |
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| It's the holiday season and The Summit Center will once again be collecting items for our Holiday Cheer program. The Holiday Cheer program grants wishes to Summit families in need of help during the holiday season. Last year we provided assistance to 29 families and granted over 400 wishes.
This year's list of wishes have been compiled into registries at Amazon and Target as well as a sign up list on Sign Up Genius. Items purchased in-store at Target or on the Sign Up Genius link can be dropped off at a Summit location. Gift collection boxes will be available at the reception desks at 150 Stahl Road, 165 Creekside Drive, and 75 Pineview Drive. |
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If you wish to support the Holiday Cheer program, please click on the links below. Please make your purchase by December 5.
Questions can be directed to Stacey Chambers at schambers@thesummitcenter.org or 716-629-3462. Thank you for your support! |
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An Enchanted Evening with Summit
raises $236,000 to support programs |
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On November 3, nearly 400 guests gathered at Salvatore’s Italian Gardens to celebrate at An Enchanted Evening with Summit presented by Reeds Jewelers, Tammy and Steve Nicholson, and Missy and Gerry Cornish.
An unforgettable tribute honored CEO Stephen R. Anderson, Ph.D., BCBA-D, recognizing his contributions to Summit and the Western New York community. After a 28-year tenure at Summit, Dr. Anderson will be retiring at the end of the year. Attendees also enjoyed silent and live auctions and an afterparty hosted by DJ Primo. An Enchanted Evening with Summit raised $236,000, which will help sustain critical programs and services. The evening was a success thanks to our event co-chairs, Tammy Nicholson and Missy Cornish, our event committee, volunteers, sponsors, and donors. Thank you for making the evening a special one! |
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Thank you to our sponsors! |
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Pro Tips: Planned Ignoring |
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Pro Tips provided by Claire Spangenthal, MA/SC, NCSP, BCBA, unit director at Summit Academy Enhanced. There are a variety of strategies available to parents and caregivers to teach children appropriate behaviors. Planned ignoring is a strategy where a parent ignores an attention-seeking behavior their child is engaging in until they stop.
Below are some tips for using planned ignoring and when it might be appropriate to use: |
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1. Consult with a professional
Before using planned ignoring, talk to your child’s teacher or a behavior consultant first to make sure it’s the right strategy for you. Planned ignoring can be difficult for parents to implement and should be used with caution. It should only be used for behaviors you can safely ignore, such as low-intensity tantrums. Planned ignoring should not be used if a child engages in self-injury or aggressive behaviors.
2. Introducing planned ignoring
Choose the attention-seeking behavior you want to change and make sure it's one that you will be successful at ignoring. Next, determine the conditions in which you are going to ignore. For example, it may be easier to ignore behaviors at home rather than in public spaces like a grocery store.
When your child starts engaging in the attention-seeking behavior, start ignoring. You can give verbal reminders to your child such as, “When you’re ready,” “When you use your words,” or, “When you have a calm body then we can talk.” When your child has stopped engaging in the behavior, you can say something like, “I love that you have a calm body now. What would you like?” 3. Consider alternative strategies
Planned ignoring needs to be done reliably and consistently to work. If it seems too challenging to implement, there are other strategies parents can consider. These include reinforcing smaller behaviors while teaching the appropriate skill, reinforcing communication attempts, providing reassuring statements, redirection, or distraction. These strategies may want to be considered before moving on to planned ignoring. Any new strategies should be discussed with a child’s teacher or a behavior consultant beforehand.
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Employee Spotlight - Presented by West Herr |
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Meet Sandy Looker!
What is your role at Summit?
My role is creative arts teacher at Summit Academy, and I teach all ages from pre-K through age 21. Describe what your day might look like.
I split my days between Summit Academy's Stahl Road and Creekside locations. I typically see classrooms once a week. Depending on the classroom’s needs, I will either host a class in my own room or bring my cart to their classroom. For most classes we start with a seasonal song, then a drawing lesson to sketch in our sketchbooks. The main activity will be an art project, and then we finish up by playing some instruments and our goodbye song. What are you most proud of, personally and professionally?
In my personal life, I’m most proud of the time I spend volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Professionally, I’m most proud of taking the leap back into teaching, and finding my place here at Summit. Hands-down, I think have the best job in the whole organization, and I love coming to work every day.
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Where is your favorite place to eat in Western New York?
My favorite place to eat in WNY would either be Mooney’s or Dinosaur BBQ.
Name someplace on your bucket list.
A place on my bucket list would have to be Austria to see their Krampusnacht festivals. |
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November 28 - Giving Tuesday: Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving to make our world a better place. On November 28, donations will support children and adults in reaching new levels of growth and independence. You can make a life-changing impact by donating at www.TheSummitCenter.org/GivingTuesday.
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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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