Bridging Education and Employment: Empower Your Child for Lifelong Success”

Imagine navigating adult life without the ability to clearly express your thoughts or advocate for yourself. For many young adults, this is a daily challenge—but it doesn’t have to be. At OPTIONS Transition to Independence, speech therapy is a transformative tool that empowers students to find their voices and thrive in academic, social, and professional settings.
Hi there! My name is Victoria Ruggeri, and I am the Speech-Language Pathologist at OPTIONS. I have the privilege of working with young adults aged 18 and up, helping them develop essential communication skills that are key to their independence. I joined OPTIONS over four years ago as a part-time support staff member and returned after earning my master’s degree in Communication Disorders and Sciences from SIU.
Every day, I see how critical effective communication is—not just for expressing ideas, but also for improving speech clarity, language comprehension, and even voice quality. These skills open doors to self-advocacy, academic success, meaningful relationships, and confidence in every setting.

Why Communication Skills Matter

Communication isn’t just about talking—it’s about making connections. Whether a student is advocating for accommodations, navigating a workplace conflict, or engaging in a group discussion, effective communication empowers them to participate fully in life.
At OPTIONS, we take a holistic approach to communication, addressing each student’s unique needs through individual and group sessions. Here’s how we make it happen.

How Individual Sessions Help

In individual sessions, we focus on personal goals tailored to each student’s needs. Whether it’s improving speech clarity for smoother conversations, building language comprehension to handle complex information, or enhancing voice quality to ensure confidence, every session is personalized.

We also work on tools like:

• “I-statements” for self-advocacy, helping students articulate their needs effectively.
• Social behavior mapping, inspired by Michele Garcia Winner, to understand how actions affect others.
• Conversation skills, like maintaining eye contact and recognizing cues for active listening, to improve social and workplace interactions.

Seeing students apply these tools in their daily lives—whether it’s acing a job interview or advocating for themselves in class—is incredibly rewarding.

Building Social Confidence through Group Work

Group sessions at OPTIONS are equally transformative. In small groups of three to four students, we tackle real-world challenges like initiating conversations, engaging in group discussions, and navigating conflicts.

Here’s what we practice:

• Active Listening: Teaching students to focus on others’ words and respond meaningfully.
• Perspective-Taking: Helping them consider how others feel and adjust their responses accordingly.
• Conflict Resolution: Guiding them through managing disagreements in professional and social settings.

Even awkward pauses and unexpected moments during group work become opportunities for learning. These scenarios teach timing, adaptability, and patience, which are invaluable in real-life interactions.

Empowering Voices, Transforming Lives

At OPTIONS, our goal is to make every student feel empowered by their voice. Effective communication builds bridges to meaningful relationships, rewarding careers, and greater independence. Whether through individual coaching or group practice, speech therapy equips students with the tools they need to thrive in the adult world.

I am honored to help each student find their authentic, clear, and confident voice—and it’s my privilege to watch them use it to shape their futures.

Are you curious about how speech therapy can support young adults at OPTIONS? Contact us today to learn more about our transformative program!