Please see tabs on left side for more information about the OPTIONS program.
Barbara Burger, Supervisor
Since 1985, OPTIONS Transition services have been developing programs to prepare secondary students with disabilities for their adult lives. OPTIONS addresses areas relating to employability skill training, travel instruction, job development/job coaching, assessments, the development of daily living skills and community access.
OPTIONS is also a provider for adult employment services for the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Office of Mental Retardation.
Enhanced Employment receives roughly 150 referrals for job coaching and development and Adult Services each year. Employability Skills, Travel Instruction, Community Living and Learning and Meaningful Day receive at least 180 referrals.
OPTIONS’ teachers communicate with families through a variety of avenues such as quarterly progress reports, end of the year reports, IEP/RR input, and phone conversations.
DCIU’s OPTIONS program includes a variety of services such as:
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Community Living and Learning
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Meaningful Day Program
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Vocational and Situational Assessment
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Community Based Vocational Training / Employment
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Travel Instruction
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SAILS
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Adult Program
The success of the OPTIONS program has been recognized and awarded the following:
- OPTIONS was a recipient of the state Autism Spectrum Disorder Grant to utilize technology to help students access their community.
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OPTIONS Enhanced was a recipient of 2009-2010 year round Youth Grant from the Office of Employment and Training to employ over 20 students.
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OPTIONS Travel Instruction received a New Freedom Funding grant for Developing Safe Community Access Skills through public transportation, and provided parent and community trainings on the OPTIONS Travel Instruction model.
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OPTIONS Community Living and Learning and Meaningful Day were recipients of DCIU Education Mini Grants for community activities.
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OPTIONS was a recipient of the Temple University Recreation Grant in 2009-2010, providing education to students and parents on accessing recreational activities in the community.
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OPTIONS hosted David Pitonyak, author of "Beyond Behavior" for a teacher and parent training in 2010.
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OPTIONS provided an appreciation event for all employers and community partners during the 2009-2010 school year.
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OPTIONS provides numerous parent, student, and community trainings during the year including: a Transition Fair, a Recreation Resource Fair, a Life Sharing Awareness event & the June Bug - a current & former student dance.
