Holistic Development | Post-Graduate Program
Empowering NEURODIVERSE Post-Secondary Students for Over 25 Years
Begin your journey toward a fulfilling, independent life with OPTIONS (Optimizing Potential Through Individualized Ongoing Nurtured Successes)—a program tailored for students with learning disabilities, attention disorders, and executive functioning deficits.
A Team Approach to Independence
Meet Our Experts: Speech-Language Pathologists, Vocational Counselors, and More
Empowering Post-Graduates Towards Independence with Expert Team-Based Support at OPTIONS Transitions to Independence. Our dedicated team, including speech-language pathologists, vocational counselors, and more, gathers weekly to monitor and discuss each student’s journey toward autonomy.
We ensure consistent progress and success by addressing challenges and strategizing personalized solutions. Join OPTIONS for a collaborative approach to overcoming obstacles and achieving milestones in personal and professional development. To meet our expert staff and learn more about how they can support you or your graduate, click below
“OPTIONS impacted my life in a big way. Working with a speech and language pathologist in both group and individual sessions has vastly improved my language skills. I live on my own and use the strategies I’ve learned to find solutions for my daily issues.”
I used to be rebellious. I didn’t care about much. I was depressed a lot. When I came to OPTIONS, things really turned around for me and everything got better. I have a great internship that I can build into a career, as well as a new attitude and a great outlook on life.
After struggling with parochial school, I was diagnosed with ADD and OCD. Soon after, I began attending Brehm and OPTIONS, which helped me through community college and then Southern Illinois University. Thanks to the lessons I’ve learned from Brehm and OPTIONS, I’m only the second person in my family to graduate from college.
Building Comprehensive Life Skills
Core Areas of Focus at OPTIONS
Whether it’s mastering time management, strengthening emotional regulation, or learning how to manage money responsibly, OPTIONS focuses on the real-world skills young adults need for independent life.
Emotional Resilience
OPTIONS supports students in developing coping strategies, emotional awareness, and regulation skills. Through guided practice, students learn how to respond to stress, frustration, and challenges in healthier, more productive ways.
Emotional Resilience
OPTIONS supports students in developing coping strategies, emotional awareness, and regulation skills. Through guided practice, students learn how to respond to stress, frustration, and challenges in healthier, more productive ways.
Emotional Resilience
OPTIONS supports students in developing coping strategies, emotional awareness, and regulation skills. Through guided practice, students learn how to respond to stress, frustration, and challenges in healthier, more productive ways.
Fiscal Responsibility
Students learn how to understand their needs, communicate effectively, and advocate for themselves in academic, workplace, and community settings. Self-advocacy is a cornerstone of independence and long-term success.
Fiscal Responsibility
With structure and coaching, students develop strategies to plan their schedules, prioritize tasks, and manage deadlines. These skills support academic success, workplace readiness, and daily life independence.
A Clear Path to Independence After High School
OPTIONS Transitions to Independence is a post-secondary transition program designed to support neurodiverse young adults as they build the academic, vocational, and life skills needed for adulthood.
We focus on what comes next after high school — helping students move toward greater independence through structured support, real-world practice, and individualized planning.
Academic & Learning Support
Learn With Purpose. Apply With Confidence.
OPTIONS provides individualized academic support that helps students understand how they learn, build confidence, and apply skills in real-world settings.
Rather than replicating a high school environment, academic programming at OPTIONS emphasizes:
- Executive functioning strategies
- Study skills and self-advocacy
- College transition support (when appropriate)
- Skill transfer across environments
Academic support is designed to prepare students for college coursework, vocational training, or continued learning — based on individual goals and readiness.
Community & Recreation
Engage. Connect. Practice Independence.
At OPTIONS, learning doesn’t stop in the classroom.
Structured recreational and community-based experiences help students practice:
- Social communication
- Decision-making
- Planning and time management
- Healthy routines and self-care
Through staff-led, student-led, and independent activities, students build confidence, explore interests, and develop the social skills needed for adult life.
Independent Living & Residential Support
Supported Living That Builds Real Independence
OPTIONS offers a supported independent living model where students practice daily life skills with guidance — not constant supervision.
We recognize that transitioning to independent living can be complex for young adults with learning differences. Our approach focuses on:
- Time management and organization
- Financial awareness and budgeting
- Self-advocacy and responsibility
- Daily routines and household management
Students live in apartment-style housing and gradually take on more responsibility as they demonstrate readiness.
Individualized Support Services
Whole-Person Support, Individualized by Design
No two students follow the same path.
OPTIONS uses a collaborative, team-based approach to support academic growth, communication, executive functioning, and independent living skills. Services are individualized and integrated into daily programming to ensure learning transfers beyond individual sessions.
Speech & Language Support
Communication Skills for College, Work, and Daily Life
Effective communication is essential for independence.
OPTIONS provides speech and language support focused on real-life application, including:
- Social and pragmatic communication
- Auditory processing and language organization
- Self-advocacy and workplace communication
Support is designed to help students navigate classrooms, workplaces, and everyday interactions with greater confidence.
Learn More → Speech & Language Support
Cognitive Development & Learning Strategies
Strengthening Learning Through Cognitive Development
Research in neuroplasticity shows that targeted practice can strengthen specific cognitive skills.
For students who qualify, OPTIONS offers the Arrowsmith Program, a structured cognitive training approach designed to support attention, processing, memory, and learning efficiency. Arrowsmith is embedded into the student’s schedule and coordinated with academic and life-skills instruction.
The Arrowsmith Program is not appropriate for every student and is offered based on individual need, readiness, and program fit.
Learn More → Arrowsmith Program
Social & Emotional Development
Confidence, Self-Awareness, and Emotional Growth
Independence requires more than academic ability.
OPTIONS supports students in developing:
- Emotional regulation
- Self-awareness and insight
- Healthy coping strategies
- Relationship and communication skills
These skills are reinforced daily through coaching, group experiences, and real-world interactions — helping students navigate adult responsibilities with confidence.
The OPTIONS Campus
A Snapshot of Our Learning & Living Community
OPTIONS is located in Carbondale, Illinois, and designed specifically to support young adults transitioning from high school to independent adult life. Our campus model prioritizes proximity, safety, and real-world independence.
30+
Years supporting neurodiverse young adults in post-secondary transition
18–25
Typical age range of OPTIONS participants
30+
Years supporting neurodiverse young adults in post-secondary transition
18–25
Typical age range of OPTIONS participants
1:1
Small Group Instruction
Individualized academic, vocational, and life-skills coaching
Apartment-Based Living
Real-world housing model with structured support and gradual independence
Team-Based Support
Academic, vocational, speech-language, and independent living staff collaborate weekly
Real-World Environment
Students practice independence in the same settings they’ll use after OPTIONS
Where Progress Happens When Other Paths Fall Short
OPTIONS supports young adults who need a different approach after high school — one that listens first, builds on strengths, and creates practical pathways toward independence.
We help students move forward by combining structure, individualized support, and real-world practice — so growth doesn’t stop at insight, but translates into daily life.
Through the OPTIONS program, students work toward:
- Stronger reading fluency, comprehension, and academic confidence
- Improved focus, engagement, and task follow-through
- Greater comfort and success with math and written expression
- Deeper understanding of how they learn — and how to advocate for themselves
- Meaningful friendships and healthy social connections
- Greater comfort and success with math and written expression
- Confidence in personal strengths, interests, and talents
- Lifelong strategies for goal-setting, planning, and independence
- Improved emotional regulation and energy management
- Authentic self-expression and personal growth