Welcome to the Summer 2025 issue!

In this edition, you’ll find highlights from across Vista’s programs, updates on recent events, and stories that celebrate the incredible work of our staff and the progress of the individuals we support. Whether you're a parent, staff member, donor, or community partner, we hope you feel informed, inspired, and more connected to Vista’s mission.

ALL Vista locations and programs are CLOSED on:

• Friday, July 4
• Monday, September 1

Streamlining Incident Management Across Vista

A long-standing organizational priority has finally become a reality: Vista has successfully launched a unified electronic client incident management system within our electronic health record platform. This achievement, made possible through close collaboration between the Quality & Compliance and IT teams, replaces the manual, paper-based, and email-based processes that varied across programs, often creating delays and inconsistencies in addressing incidents and identifying root causes.

The new system enables faster, more consistent reporting, centralized tracking, and enhanced analysis, thereby strengthening our ability to deliver safe, high-quality, and accountable care. It reflects Vista’s commitment to excellence, dependability, and innovation, and supports our mission to improve lives and inspire hope for individuals with autism and their families.

The system is already live at VASO, with phased rollouts planned this summer for Early Intervention and The Vista School (beginning with the SBS building). All programs are expected to be using the new process by the start of the regular school year in September.

Special thanks to the teams in Quality & Compliance and IT for turning a years-long goal into a system-wide solution.

Early Intervention

Summer is in full swing at Vista’s Early Intervention Center, and our young learners are making a splash, literally! We’ve kicked off our popular Water Days, which take place every Monday and Friday, providing children with fun and engaging opportunities to explore, play, and grow.

This year’s water play features a new splashpad and water table, along with returning favorites like the pool. The addition of reusable water balloons and water squirters has been a big hit, encouraging shared play, turn-taking, and peer interaction. Staff have also noted that changing in and out of swimwear provides valuable practice in Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)—all while keeping cool and having fun.

We’re also celebrating the graduation of several clients who are preparing to transition to kindergarten in their home school districts throughout the summer. At the same time, we’re welcoming new students who are just beginning their early intervention journey. Whether graduating or just starting out, every child at Vista is supported with care, creativity, and a commitment to helping them reach their unique potential.

The Vista School

We’re proud to celebrate the graduation of 10 incredible students from The Vista School this year! Our largest class ever!

Their hard work, growth, and perseverance have brought them to this exciting milestone, and we couldn’t be more honored to have been part of their journey.

Graduation will take place on Tuesday, June 18 at 12:30 PM in The Vista School gymnasium.

Be sure to follow Vista on our website, Facebook, and Instagram as we share graduate spotlight posts and photos from the ceremony in the weeks ahead.

Join us in congratulating the Class of 2025!

This year’s Vista School yearbook celebrates our journey "Hand in Hand, Through the Year"—capturing the moments, milestones, and memories that brought us together.

The yearbook includes student and class photos, as well as highlights from school events, classroom activities, and milestone celebrations throughout the year.

• Order Deadline: July 19, 2025
• Cost: $20
• Order Online: yearbookordercenter.com
• Vista School Code: 18780

Don’t miss your chance to own a keepsake from a year full of learning, growth, and connection!

Celebrating Student Successes in the SBS Building

This spring has been full of remarkable progress at the SBS Building, where staff and students continue to work together to create moments of growth, independence, and connection.

From gains in emotional regulation and communication to successful transitions and new friendships, students are making measurable progress. Notable wins include:

• Dramatic reductions in crisis behaviors, including a student whose average dropped over 85%
• Emerging friendships, like two students requesting to spend free time together for the first time
• Vocational and life skills development, with students independently completing chores, navigating transitions, and achieving 100% on personal goals
• Social successes, including group participation in OT, gym time, and shared classroom activities

Movie Day!

One of the biggest moments this quarter? Four students shared a movie day together for the first time—a milestone filled with popcorn, peer interaction, and progress. It’s a powerful reflection of how far they’ve come: just months ago, one student couldn’t tolerate peers at all, and another averaged over 100 behavioral incidents per day. That day, they watched together, calm, connected, and proud.

Staff Shoutout

These everyday victories are a testament to the consistency, creativity, and compassion of the SBS team—and a reminder that every step forward, no matter how small, matters. These everyday victories wouldn’t be possible without the exceptional dedication of our staff. Special shout-outs to:

Bri, for taking the lead on debrief documentation and ensuring timely follow-ups

Meg, for stepping in to support transitions and mentoring new team members

Hannah, for doing an outstanding job as Lead EBS for her new student

Charlie and Dan, for going above and beyond to make a student’s birthday truly special

Together, these contributions reflect what makes the SBS team so effective—and so valued.

Growth Through Experience

The Transition & Employment Team at The Vista School has had an exciting spring full of new partnerships, skill-building opportunities, and student successes!

Volunteering with Purpose

Vista students recently began volunteering at Families United Network in Harrisburg, where they help sort and fold clothing donations by size. This partnership not only supports the community but also provides students with an opportunity to practice essential independent living skills, including organization, responsibility, and effective communication.

On-Campus Garden Project

Our campus vegetable garden is in full swing! Students have nurtured seedlings indoors, practiced watering routines, and recently transferred the plants into raised beds. We’re looking forward to watching their hard work bloom into a successful summer harvest.

Work-Based Learning in Action

High school student BB has taken on a consistent off-campus role delivering food boxes to our partner PowerPacks. With a big smile and strong work ethic, BB transports boxes built on campus to the loading dock and chats proudly with Terri, the regional coordinator, about his family and favorite Vista staff. On days he doesn’t deliver, BB preps boxes by applying stickers so they’re ready to go for the weekend.

Customized Employment Success

Student AB is now employed at L Myers Associates, assembling and taping shipping boxes used to distribute lottery tickets across Maryland. Thanks to consistent practice and determination, AB has doubled his speed, now building more than one box per minute!

Another exciting partnership is with Julie’s Flowers in Hummelstown, where student AOC is beginning an internship. Julie has created a custom jig to help AOC complete his tasks more independently, demonstrating the impact of an inclusive partnership.

From gardens to job sites, these opportunities are building confidence, skills, and meaningful pathways for our students, one experience at a time.

PowerPacks Partnership Brings Community Service to Campus

Students in Vista’s School Employment Services program recently had the opportunity to strengthen job skills and give back to the community through an exciting collaboration with PowerPacks in Lebanon County.

Throughout the week, several students travel to the PowerPacks site to help sort, package, and deliver food items for families in need. On campus, others support the effort by assembling the cardboard boxes used to transport food. But recently, this partnership took a new step forward, right to our doorstep.

Thanks to a great idea from Terri, the Regional Coordinator at PowerPacks, and collaboration with Pre-Employment Specialist Allie McClearn, we hosted an on-site PowerPacks work session right at Vista. A conference room was transformed into a series of workstations where students could rotate through tasks such as unpackaging food, labeling boxes, and assembling bags. Each student worked in 30-minute to 1-hour shifts, gaining experience in organization, attention to detail, and time management.

The visit was a huge success, engaging students in meaningful, hands-on work while strengthening community connections. Plans are already underway for PowerPacks’ next visit to Vista!

Webinar Replay

Promoting a Safe & Healthy Relationship Between Children and Dogs

If you missed it live, the recording of our popular webinar, Promoting a Safe & Healthy Relationship Between Children and Dogs, is now available to watch on YouTube!

Hosted by Vista Autism Services and led by Certified Professional Dog Trainer Amy Powell of Doggie U, this free training offers practical tools to help families build safe, respectful, and positive relationships between children and their dogs.

CoVE Update: Growth, Collaboration, and Celebrating Successes

As the 2024–2025 school year draws to a close, the CoVE team is celebrating a year marked by progress, creativity, and collaboration across all participating districts. Here are just a few of the highlights and accomplishments from this school year.

Program Highlights

• Consistency and Commitment: Our classrooms remain full—and here’s something worth celebrating: We haven’t had a single staff departure since November 2024.
• Trout in the Classroom: Our Middle School class raised trout from eggs and released them into local waterways as part of a hands-on STEM learning project. Led by Stephanie Mitchell, this inclusive environmental education experience has sparked curiosity and confidence in our students. Read more »

• Program Expansion: We’re thrilled to share that CoVE has expanded its footprint in the Carlisle School District, supporting even more students and school communities.
• Stronger Together: A recent collaboration with Liz Fisk and Jody Muldowney provided training to all CoVE staff, reinforcing best practices in inclusive instruction and behavior support.

Team Shout-Outs for the Year

• Allison Beigel and Marc McKenna coordinated a successful school-wide Walk for Autism, pivoting quickly to make the event a success indoors due to the weather.
• DeAnna Antonicelli led efforts to ensure maximum student turnout for the Fall Special Olympics and organized a College-Based Instruction trip to Shippensburg University, inspiring students to start thinking about higher education.

• Olivia Mallery accepted a promotion to Behavioral Supports Supervisor, but continues to step into classroom roles to support the team—true leadership in action.
• Four CoVE students were recently featured in a district-wide art show, showcasing their talent and creativity.
• Cassie Tipping is set to earn her Ph.D. in General Psychology this July—congratulations, Dr. Tipping!
• Karen Buckley launched the first-ever CoVE student talent show, giving students a new way to shine.

A special all-program event took place on May 27, where students released the trout they raised in class—a powerful moment of learning, collaboration, and connection to the natural world.

Looking Ahead

CoVE students have been participating in more community-based instruction (CBI) and general education field trips than ever before, and this momentum will continue into ESY.

Vista’s Outreach team continues to go above and beyond in supporting students across districts, and this spring has been no exception.

Program Highlights

Our Outreach Itinerant Support Specialists have taken on the complex task of writing Reevaluation Reports for several students in the Carlisle Area School District throughout the school year. Their willingness to embrace new responsibilities while delivering high-quality work speaks volumes about their professionalism, adaptability, and deep commitment to the students they serve.

Team Shout-Outs

A big thank you to Dawn Jeter, whose flexibility and focus have made a real difference as she managed shifting responsibilities and welcomed several new students to her caseload over the past two months.

When her assigned student transitioned to a cyber charter school mid-year, Devon Taylor seamlessly stepped into a new role supporting students in a district-run autism support classroom in Carlisle. Her expertise in ABA and ability to calmly navigate behavioral challenges have made her an essential part of the classroom team. Thank you, Devon, for your dedication and impact!

Welcomes and Milestones

Welcome back, Rachel Hess! Rachel rejoined Vista in March as an Outreach Itinerant Support and has quickly built meaningful relationships with both students and school teams.

The Outreach team is also planning a team-building event to celebrate the close of a successful 2024–2025 school year and recognize the incredible effort of every team member.

Congratulations to Sarah Richards, who completed her BCBA supervision requirements in March! The team is cheering her on as she prepares for the exam—everyone is confident she’ll pass with flying colors.

The Hershey Day Services team has been busy spreading joy, building community, and celebrating the incredible people who make it all happen.

Kindness Rocks!

This spring, clients and staff launched a community art project by painting inspirational messages on rocks and placing them throughout the region for others to discover. These "Kindness Rocks" carry messages of hope, encouragement, and creativity—and invite the community to keep the chain of kindness going. Read the full story here!

Want to see where our Kindness Rocks turn up? Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date, see when rocks are found, and share in the joy they bring across our community!

Looking Ahead

We’re excited for some meaningful and fun summer activities in June:

June 11 – Outdoor Fun Day with Zack, featuring games, sunshine, and laughter

June 19 – Trip to Lake Tobias, where clients will explore the petting zoo, safari tour, and more

We’ll also be recognizing National Hydration Day by purchasing water and Gatorade to donate to our local first responders, giving back to those who serve our community.

Staff Spotlight: Teaira Chavis

From the moment she joined the team, Teaira Chavis has stood out for her reliability, positive spirit, and natural ability to connect with clients. She brings professionalism and compassion to everything she does—following protocols with care, collaborating seamlessly with teammates, and building meaningful relationships with the individuals we serve.

Clients light up when they see her, and it’s easy to understand why—Teaira meets every person with warmth, respect, and enthusiasm. Her commitment to excellence makes her a valuable and indispensable part of the Hershey team.

Thank you, Teaira, for all that you do!

Congratulations to Justin Miller on Earning His RBT!

Please join us in congratulating Justin Miller, Life Skills Instructor at Hershey Day Services, on earning his Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) certification!

Justin’s dedication to professional growth and commitment to supporting individuals with autism continues to shine. Earning this nationally recognized credential reflects both his dedication and passion for delivering high-quality, person-centered care.

Way to go, Justin—we’re proud to have you on the team!

Adult Day Services - Camp Hill

It’s been a season of creativity, growth, and meaningful moments at Vista’s Adult Day Services program in Camp Hill!

Clients have been actively exploring new interests and experiences, including joining a joyful drumming circle led by staff member Michael Bush. With smiles all around, participants are learning to mix beats and rhythms, building both musical skills and social connection. Outdoors, clients are helping care for a thriving garden full of vegetables and blooming flowers—hands-on work that brings satisfaction and sensory engagement.

In May, the Camp Hill team celebrated two special days with clients: National Rescue Dog Day on May 20, where staff and clients dropped off donated items to help cheer up local rescue dogs; and National Tea Day on May 21, when everyone enjoyed a relaxing tea tasting with both warm and iced blends.

We’re also celebrating the arrival of two new team members: Wendy Fulginiti and Kelita Jones, who have completed their training and are already making a positive impact through their enthusiasm and care for our clients.

Finally, we congratulate client AnWi on beginning her journey with a new service dog, Cubby, after retiring her longtime companion Harlem, who is now enjoying life as a beloved family pet.



Every day, staff at Camp Hill are capturing moments like these—big and small—that reflect Vista’s values and the power of community in action.

Adult Behavior Support Services

Empowering Lives Through Person-Centered Support

Vista’s Adult Behavior Support Services (BSS) team is introducing a new planning framework that puts clients’ long-term goals and personal strengths at the center of care.

The new Person Centered Behavior Support Plan (PCBSP) replaces the traditional, behavior-focused model with one that focuses on building meaningful skills in areas like communication, self-advocacy, and social relationships. Each plan is tailored to help individuals reach their goals at home, in the workplace, and in their communities.

This new approach emphasizes:

• Strength-based planning guided by the COACH model
• Compassionate, proactive support using the ALIFE model, which emphasizes Acknowledging, Listening, Interacting, Facilitating, and Exhibiting behaviors that promote client success and staff effectiveness
• Flexible, individualized crisis planning and safeguards

The PCBSP will be fully implemented across all adult clients by October 1, bringing even greater alignment between our services and Vista’s mission: to improve lives and inspire hope.

Spotlight on Staff Excellence

We’re proud to recognize the BSS team members who have gone above and beyond during this exciting transition:

• Kristin Leber for maintaining client services during staff transitions
• Lauren Blackbird & Brianna Zimmerman for training and supervising new RBTs
• Ashley Wyland, McKenzie Betz, and Peter Spangler for launching Vista’s first embedded clinical team in the Intensive In-Home Program

Together, we’re advancing person-centered care and helping individuals achieve goals that matter most to them.

Help Us Serve Our Community and Expand Our Team.

At Vista Autism Services, we are committed to delivering the highest quality care to our clients. To better serve our clients' needs, we are currently looking to fill several critical roles:

• Behavior Analyst - Early Intervention
• Behavior Consultant - multiple program and site options
• Special Education Teacher
• Life Skills Instructor
• Behavior Health Technician
• Lead Speech and Language Pathologist
• Employment Specialist

If you know someone passionate about making a difference in the lives of individuals with autism, please encourage them to apply. 

At Vista, we are committed to excellence, teamwork, dependability, dignity, and consistency. Our comprehensive benefits package includes premium health care, competitive pay, a 401(k) plan, tuition reimbursement, paid time off, and opportunities for advancement.

Learn more about our open roles at Vista Careers.

This year, Vista Autism Services was honored to receive a generous grant from T-Mobile, presented as part of their commitment to supporting education and innovation in local communities. Representatives from T-Mobile—including Erik Delk—visited our campus to present the award and learn more about Vista’s mission in action.

This prestigious award will provide critical funding to transform classrooms at The Vista School into more engaging, flexible, and sensory-friendly spaces that cater to the unique learning needs of our students.

We’re deeply grateful to T-Mobile for their partnership and belief in Vista’s work. Together, we’re creating brighter pathways for students and adults with autism across Central Pennsylvania.

18th Annual Vista Golf Classic Raises Over $65,000

Rain couldn’t dampen the spirit—or the impact—of this year’s Vista Golf Classic. Held at Dauphin Highlands Golf Course, the event brought together 127 golfers, generous sponsors, enthusiastic volunteers, and the Vista community for a memorable day on the green that raised just over $65,000 in support of Vista Autism Services.

One of the day’s most meaningful moments came during the awards banquet, when Vista parent Mary Beth Gatchell, joined by her husband Shaun and their two sons (both students at The Vista School), shared how Vista has transformed their family’s life. Her heartfelt words were a powerful reminder of the importance of our work—and the direct impact of every dollar raised.

The event featured golf, raffles, skill games, and even a bit of unique fun on the course—like the inflatable axe-throwing game at Hole #10, brought to us by Stumpy’s Hatchet House – Hershey. Participants took their shot at a soft, Velcro target, helping raise over $250 in additional donations. Rain and all, it was one of the most popular stops of the day!

Special thanks to our Platinum Sponsors:

• The Rothrock Foundation
• Code Administrator

Rex Rothrock thanks the golfers for their support during the awards banquet.

Three of the winning foursome accepting their awards.

We’re also grateful to everyone who supported our raffle, silent auction, and live auction—including spirited bidding on a framed, autographed Saquon Barkley Philadelphia Eagles jersey (valued at $900, sold for $515!).

For those who missed out, a few silent auction items are still available for purchase online at their starting bid prices:👉 Shop Now

Thank you to every golfer, sponsor, volunteer, and donor for helping us meet our fundraising goals while creating a day filled with fun, connection, and purpose.

Save the Date: Passport to Possibilities — November 8, 2025

Join us on Saturday, November 8, for an unforgettable evening celebrating the journeys of the individuals and families we serve. This year’s theme invites you to take a trip around the world—no passport required—while making a meaningful impact right here at home.

The evening will feature global-inspired entertainment, dinner, silent and live auctions, and opportunities to support Vista’s mission in bold and exciting ways.

Be sure to bookmark vistaautismservices.org/gala, and keep an eye on your inbox for ticket information, sponsorship opportunities, and event updates. More details will be added to the site in the coming weeks—check back often!

We're regularly adding new items to the Vista Branded Merchandise Store! Dive into a splash of color with our latest collection of tie-dye sweatshirts and t-shirts, available in a variety of vibrant colors and styles. Perfect for showing your Vista pride while staying fashionable!

Remember, our store is open year-round, and we welcome your suggestions for new items at communications@vistaautismservices.org.

Check out the latest offerings and make your pick at our new easy-to-remember URL: http://vistaautismservices.org/store.

Celebrating Success with Integrity

At Vista Autism Services, we believe that every story we share is a testament to the growth and achievements of those we serve. Our commitment to ethical storytelling is reflected in our photo use policy, which ensures that all images are shared with informed consent, respecting the privacy and dignity of our clients, staff, and community members.

To learn more about our practices and guidelines, please visit our Photo Use Policy.

We have compiled news and updates from program across Vista to keep you up to date and to celebrate all the good things happening for our clients, staff and community. If you have any questions or would like to make a suggestion for our next issue, please contact communications@vistaautismservices.org.