S.T.E.P.S. gives back to community through volunteer work |
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Volunteering is a core part of Summit’s day hab program, S.T.E.P.S. (Success Through Engagement and Positive Supports). All five locations visit their local communities to give back during the week.
Individuals at both S.T.E.P.S. Tonawanda locations support food delivery to those in need. One group collaborates with St. Francis of Assisi Church's’ food pantry to deliver perishable and nonperishable items to local community members. Many of these recipients do not have a mode of transportation and are grateful for the deliveries from S.T.E.P.S. and the pantry. Volunteers from our Tonawanda location participate in a food shuttle on Wednesdays and Fridays. On Wednesdays, they collect food from Dash's and Lexington Co-Op and deliver it to Restoration Society. On Fridays, they deliver food from Dash's to Altamont VA. The food typically consists of pre-made items such as sandwiches, salads, bread, and pies. Other S.T.E.P.S. locations volunteer with Meals on Wheels, local food pantries, and more. Volunteering benefits the community and supports individuals in learning and practicing skills like communication, customer service, and teamwork. |
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Summer engagement activities
at Summit Academy |
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Summit Academy students participated in several fun activities during the summer session.
Summit Academy – Creekside students enjoyed a fun, movement-based class led by Benjamin Berry, a local teaching artist and performer. His program offerings include hula hoop dance, accessible circus arts, and seated/standing creative movement. Students engaged in a group activity learned how to balance plates on wooden dowels and move with colorful fabric.
In late July, WNY Tiny Petting Zoo brought some animal friends to visit students at Summit Academy – Stahl. The petting zoo included goats, ducks, chickens, and bunnies. Students learned about each animal during this close-up encounter. Thank you to Benjamin Berry and WNY Tiny Petting Zoo for providing these wonderful opportunities for our students. |
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Sponsorships now available
for the Summit Soirée |
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Sponsorships and tickets are available for the Summit Soirée, taking place on Friday, November 1 at Salvatore's Italian Gardens, 6461 Transit Road, Depew.
Partygoers will enjoy a sit-down dinner, live and silent auctions, the Hope Awards, and dancing at the afterparty hosted by DJ Primo. This year's Hope Award recipients are Cindy DeMarti and West Herr Automotive Group.
Visit PartyForSummit.com to purchase sponsorship or tickets, and check out our Amazon gift list to donate to the silent auction.
We look forward to an exciting evening to benefit the Summit Foundation! |
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Thank you to our sponsors! |
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Educator workshop to address
early school year successes, barriers |
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This October, The Summit Center will be hosting the three-hour virtual workshop “The First 30 Days: Troubleshooting and Overcoming Challenging Behaviors and Its Related Barriers.” This workshop is for educators and school personnel working with students with autism, anxiety, and/or behavioral disorders. “The First 30 Days” will be presented by David Meichenbaum, Ph.D., clinical director of the Behavioral Pediatrics Clinic at The Summit Center. The virtual event will take place from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 17. Registration is $98 and includes three CTLE or Psychology CEU credits. The workshop will cover early successes, challenges, and barriers participants have encountered during the beginning of the school year.
For more information, including additional details on Dr. Meichenbaum's credentials, visit our educator workshops webpage. |
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David Meichenbaum, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist and serves as the clinical director of the Behavioral Pediatrics Clinic and director of community consulting and clinical services at The Summit Center. |
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Supporting students in the
back-to-school transition |
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Going back to school after a long summer break can be stressful for any child, and especially those with autism or anxiety. Thoughtful collaboration and communication can help ease your child’s worries about returning to school.
Educating school personnel about your child is critical. Individual Education Plans (IEPs) only include some of the information about your child that can help support a smooth transition. Be sure to tell your child's teacher about behavioral triggers, warning signs, and any safety or medical concerns. Equally important is sharing their strengths, interests, and proven motivators. |
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Knowing what to expect can reduce uncertainty: - Arrange for a visit to the school before the first day. Consider bringing your child multiple times to increase their familiarity with the school.
- At home, display photos of the school where your child can easily see them.
- Consider attaching visual supports to their backpack, like their schedule and bus number.
Social stories are effective in fostering predictability. Create a story that outlines what your child can expect in the first days back, such as, “I can ask my teacher if I forget where to go,” or even, “My dog will be waiting for me when I get home.” Using social stories to embed positive thinking about returning to school is an effective tool. With older students, talk through familiar aspects highlighting positive experiences they can anticipate, and reframe any fears by pointing out past instances when they’ve successfully navigated uncertainty.
Above all, be sure to validate your child’s feelings. Reassure your child that it’s okay to be anxious or scared. As your child’s biggest advocate, you can create a supportive environment that helps them cope. |
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Employee Spotlight - Presented by West Herr |
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Meet Jazmin Perez! What is your role at Summit? My current role at Summit is a teacher in a 6:1:3 classroom at our Summit Academy — Elmwood location.
Describe what your day might look like.
My day consists of engaging in activities such as morning meetings, academic instruction, and vocational and life skills activities with my students. I prioritize building and maintaining a great rapport with students daily and encourage any staff that works in my room to do the same.
We build great relationships with students by beginning our day with engaging questions, which spark interesting and fun conversations between staff and students and help students explore similarities with their peers. Then, we move on to curriculum, such as everyday speech, to help students build strong communication skills that will stick with them as they progress into adulthood and their transition years. |
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We emphasize a positive and enjoyable environment in our classroom. We follow routines and implement structure into our students' day so that they may receive a great educational experience. With a strong focus on functional life skills such as hygiene, cleaning, cooking, shopping and completing laundry, we hope to build skills that our students can practice and be successful with in their everyday life.
We are always looking for appropriate tasks to complete around the school so that students can practice vocational skills. Students in our classroom love to engage in activities such as shredding, folding/breaking down boxes, and recycling (we love to save the earth). We build leisure skills with students by playing games, encouraging them to relax in our reading area, or drawing and coloring while listening to music. We encourage healthy relationships with peers and teach students positive and effective ways to use downtime.
In our classroom, we believe in making education enjoyable for students while teaching them the essential skills they need to thrive.
What are you most proud of, personally and professionally?
Personally, I am most proud of my ability to be a great mom to my 4-year-old son. Professionally, I am proud of my ability to create and maintain positive relationships with my students and their families by always making sure to reach out and make them feel supported. I do my best to communicate and build rapport with parents and caregivers because I believe it takes a team. By doing this, I always hope to create an all-around positive educational experience.
What is your favorite place to eat in Western New York?
My favorite places to eat are Gabriel’s Gate and The Cheesecake Factory.
Name someplace on your bucket list.
A place on my bucket list is Santorini, Greece. |
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Autism varies greatly from person to person, meaning no two people with autism are exactly alike. Autism impacts the development of the brain in the areas of social interaction, communication skills, and cognitive function. Individuals with autism may have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities. (Source: World Health Organization)
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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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