Our 5 Core Services
Information and Referral:
Options provides current information about any disability related topic to individuals with disabilities, their families, service providers, and the community. Referrals are made to other resources as requested and appropriate.
Peer Support & Mentoring:
This involves sharing, problem-solving and exchanging information amongst individuals with disabilities who may share similar life experiences. Options seeks peer mentors to provide positive role-modeling and to share their knowledge if requested by another person experiencing a similar disability.
Cross Disability Peer Support Meetings – meets monthly in the Watseka office.
Independent Crusaders (ICRU) Meetings – Youth peer meeting; meets twice monthly in the Bourbonnais office.
Vision Information Group – meets twice quarterly; once in the Watseka office and once in Bourbonnais office.
Independent Living Skills Training:
Options CIL provides training as requested by individuals with disabilities to live independently in the community. Training may include self-advocacy, communication, mobility/transportation, community-based living, vocational, self-care, information access, personal resource management, relocation from a nursing home or institution and community/social participation.
Advocacy:
Individual advocacy means to advocate for oneself or another person. It means speaking out or arguing for a cause. Options places a high priority on assisting individual advocates in their efforts, and believes the key to true empowerment is full knowledge of one’s rights. Our team is trained to provide coaching and support to our consumers who want to advocate for themselves. By gaining self-advocacy skills, individuals learn how to communicate and negotiate with agencies, service providers, employers, and others in order to obtain needed benefits, services, or accommodations.
Systems Advocacy is achieved by promoting and effecting positive changes at the local, state, and federal level. Through various public awareness activities, special events, and active participation in the legislative process, Options CIL works to eliminate barriers and achieve equal access and opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
Transition Services:
Community Reintegration – Options works with adults with disabilities ages 18-59 who currently live in a nursing home whose goal is to live independently. Qualified individuals are provided with services and support systems needed to move out of nursing homes into their own residence and live independently. Options receives state and federal funding dedicated to providing services that support qualifying individuals with disabilities transition out of nursing home into home and community-based settings.
Youth Transition – Options strives to empower youth with disabilities to successfully navigate the transition into all aspects of adult life including perusing post-secondary education, employment, and independent living.
Nursing Home Diversion – Options supports community living for all individuals with disabilities. We receive various grants and charitable trust donations to provide Independent Living Aids, Assistive Technology, and Wheel-Chair Ramps to actively prevent nursing facility placement. Funding is limited and subject to eligibility guidelines.
Other Services:
Vision Services Program
Personal Assistant Program
Amplified Phone and TTY Demonstration Center
Equipment Loan Program
Sign Language Interpreter Referral