Summit celebrates the Class of 2024 |
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On June 20, families, faculty, and staff gathered to celebrate this year’s eight Summit Academy graduates. CEO Lisa A. Foti, President Amy Jablonski, and Superintendent Mary Bennett shared remarks about the graduates and their achievements during their time at Summit.
The ceremony included a catered lunch, a heartwarming slideshow of the graduates, and a certificate ceremony. One student recited the “Pledge of Allegiance” after practicing for two weeks in school and at home.
Summit Academy – Hazelwood graduate David Leposa gave the following keynote speech:
“Good afternoon. My name is David Leposa, and I want to say congratulations to all of us graduating today. We worked hard. I made lots of friends here. I have loved coming to school here every day. I had awesome teachers. They helped me do my work. I love gym class, and I love my OT, Miss Marchon, and speech with Miss Laurel. I love my family and my puppets. I am most proud of my reading skills and my independence skills.” Congratulations to the graduates! We wish them all the best in their future endeavors. |
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Summit Operating Board
welcomes new members |
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The Summit Center Operating Board recently welcomed four new members.
Maria Cruz is the senior director of equity and inclusion at Evergreen Health. She currently serves on the boards of several organizations, including the Erie County Health Equity Board, Latina Mentoring Initiative Committee, and Hispanic Women’s League.
Dan DiPofi, CPA, brings many years of business experience and talent to The Summit Center. He currently sits on the boards of several companies in Buffalo and Rochester, including 3AM Technologies, Heretto, and Post Process Tech. In addition, Dan served on the board of Horizon Health Services and the Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center.
Jennifer Felber, Ph.D., BCBA, is a licensed psychologist and behavior analyst in New York State. She assisted in the development of Summit’s Pediatric Feeding Disorders Clinic in 2014. Currently, Dr. Felber is employed at Oishei’s Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, provides services through private practice in Williamsville, and is an adjunct faculty member in the applied behavior analysis department at Ball State University.
Matthew Shriver is the senior vice president of finance and CFO at YMCA Buffalo Niagara. He brings more than 30 years of experience in nonprofit administration to the board. Matthew is currently a member of D’Youville University's board of trustees. Additionally, he served on the board of directors of Autism Services for 10 years. Through diverse backgrounds and years of expertise, members of the Summit Operating Board ensure that The Summit Center sets and achieves goals that further our mission of lives made better. |
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Pictured from left: Maria Cruz, Dan DiPofi, Jennifer Felber, and Matthew Shriver. |
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Save the date: Summit Soirée set
for November 1 |
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Join us for a fun and elegant evening at this year’s Summit Soirée on Friday, November 1, at Salvatore’s Italian Gardens, 6461 Transit Road, Depew.
This year's chair couple is Kristina and Gregory Crozier. Missy and Gerry Cornish and Tammy and Steve Nicholson co-chair the event. Partygoers will enjoy a sit-down dinner, live and silent auctions, the Hope Awards, and dancing at the afterparty hosted by DJ Primo.
Sponsorships and tickets are now available at PartyForSummit.com. We look forward to an exciting evening to benefit The Summit Center Foundation!
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Thank you to the sponsors who have joined us so far! |
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Donors raise more than $6,400
on Give 716 Day |
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Donors helped raise more than $6,400 during this year’s Give 716 campaign to support Summit's growing programs. Some of those funds have been matched by local companies and the Buffalo Bills and Sabres Foundations.
Several of our programs have grown this past year, most notably our special education school, Summit Academy, which welcomed 100 new students. However, our educational and adult programs still have significant waitlists. Funds raised during Give 716 will support Summit in serving more individuals across our programs, providing them with the tools they need to reach their greatest potential. We are thankful to our donors for their generosity and for helping the children and adults we serve. |
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Pro Tips: Co-regulation
and self-regulation |
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Pro Tips provided by Nicole Conte, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA, case manager at Summit Academy Enhanced, and Nicole Folaron, M.S., OTR/L, clinical mentor and occupational therapist at Summit Academy Enhanced.
Regulating emotions and behaviors is an important life skill for both adults and children to learn. When our emotions and feelings are regulated, we can better handle stressful situations, make thoughtful decisions, and calm ourselves when needed. |
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What is co-regulation and self-regulation?
Co-regulation is the way you support another person in regulating their arousal, thoughts, attention, feelings, or behaviors through your own attention, feelings, and behaviors. Self-regulation is when the individual can regulate their emotions, thoughts, behaviors, etc. on their own. It's easier for an individual to learn how to self-regulate after learning skills through co-regulation first. Regulation methods are specific to each individual.
Every child is different, so methods that work for some individuals may exacerbate feelings or behaviors in others. Discuss any co-regulation methods you want to practice with your child's teacher, therapist, or staff to ensure a cohesive learning structure. When practicing co-regulation, the most critical aspect is that you, as the parent or caregiver, are present. Your full attention and focus need to be on the child, whether you are modeling calming techniques or supporting your child through the situation with your own actions and ability to regulate.
Some examples of regulation methods may include opportunities for needed movement, controlled breathing, activities or responses that distract current thoughts, addition or removal of certain environmental stimuli, modeling calming procedures, providing verbal reassurance, and other specific sensory strategies tailored to your child’s needs. Consistency in scheduling and predictability can also help in a proactive way to help keep your child regulated. Practicing co-regulation at home.
Co-regulation doesn't always have to be reactive. You can help your child practice regulation throughout the day by using methods like deep breathing when they’re already calm. When your child is not in distress, practicing co-regulation techniques helps them learn coping strategies proactively. If your child is already showing signs of distress, make sure your emotions are calm and regulated before approaching them. If you are anxious or showing signs of stress, your child may pick up on that, which could worsen the situation.
Keeping eye contact is essential. Although children with autism may have difficulty making eye contact, if they happen to look at you, they will know your full attention is on them. Avoid saying phrases like, “It’s okay,” because it’s not okay for them at that moment. Say something like, “I’m here. We can do this together,” or, “We’re in a safe place. If you need something, I’m here.” Providing reassurance doesn't need to be verbal. You can offer reassurance by being near your child or using body language that lets them know you are there to help them.
Talk to your child’s team.
Parents know their children best, but if you're having trouble practicing regulation strategies and techniques at home, don't hesitate to contact your child's occupational therapist and behavior consultant. They are there to support you and your child and can collaborate with you on co-regulation strategies that will work best for your family. |
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Team Spotlight - Presented by West Herr |
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This month, we spotlight the behavior team at our adult day hab program S.T.E.P.S. (Success Through Engagement and Positive Supports). This team helps ensure all five S.T.E.P.S. locations run smoothly. Thank you to: |
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Sarah Palazzolo, behavior consultant
Colbie Jarrell, behavior technician Christina Wojcinski, behavior technician Michael Anders, behavior technician
Below are a few comments from our leadership team about the hard work and effort these individuals put in every day.
“They are some of the most flexible team members we have, rotating between five different locations, sometimes multiple times per day. They assist in transporting individuals to and from home and activities during the day. Our team ensures the individuals we serve are safe and satisfied with the services we provide at S.T.E.P.S. They provide daily, weekly, and annual training to our life skills trainers and supervisors as needed/required. They support us in times of crisis and are at the table when we meet with individuals and their families. The behavior support team is an essential piece of our S.T.E.P.S. programming, and we are fortunate to have them."
- Wendy Loverme, director of community services, and Melissa Kimmel, assistant
director of community services
“The S.T.E.P.S. behavior support staff are an amazing group of professionals who go above and beyond each day to ensure our individuals feel safe, our staff feel safe and supported, and the environment is set up to best support everyone’s needs. These staff are highly skilled, compassionate, and caring, and they love working for a program that provides such meaningful and rewarding opportunities for our individuals. They celebrate the little things and are always looking to capitalize on learning opportunities as they naturally occur, knowing that learning is a lifelong process. I have seen firsthand how much skill development, socialization, and independence have been gained in individuals who were previous Summit Academy students.
They embody Summit’s core values, including flexibility and adaptability on days that they are needed to cover when the program is short-staffed or days when they must drop everything to support another location and ensure people are safe. They are all amazing collaborators, working together with staff to reduce challenges and encourage and promote the independence of our individuals. I am so proud they are part of my team!” – Johanna Shaflucas, coordinator of behavior support department |
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July is known as Disability Pride Month to recognize the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990. The ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places open to the general public. (Source: ADA.gov) |
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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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