Community Options, Inc.

Community Options, Inc., is a nation-wide nonprofit organization (IRS 501 (c) (3) that has served individuals with disabilities since 1989.  Community Options, Inc. provides housing and supported employment for approximately 1,500 individuals with disabilities.  With headquarters out of Princeton, New Jersey, Community Options, Inc. has expanded its’ services to nine other locations: Connecticut, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Texas, Tennessee, Ohio, South Carolina, Kentucky and New York.  

The Community Options, Inc. mission is to believe in the dignity, and the freedom of all people to experience to the highest degree of self-determination.  Community Options, Inc. prides itself on the use of ‘gentle teaching’ techniques and the non-application of aversive conditioning, negative behavior modification and the avoidance of physical management of any kind.  By creating four businesses, “The Daily Plan-It,” “Vaseful,” “The-Presents-of-Mind,” and “Just Add Water,” (opening in 2009) Community Options is able to employ individuals with disabilities to work alongside trained staff who serve as employment specialists for job coaching.

The transition from school to work is a challenging time for young adults. For young people with disabilities, these challenges can be overwhelming. Sampling different types of employment opportunities is often the best way for students preparing to enter the work world as well as assessing preferences and attitudes.

Currently, Community Options, Inc. is partnering with local school systems and the New Jersey Division of Rehabilitation to enroll students in special education who are in their last year of high school and/or between the ages of 18 to 24. Those who are graduate students (over the age of 21) will be provided services through the New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.   This unique Community Options program, S.T.E.P. (Student to Employment Program) is designed to aid students in their learning of many transferable skills to prepare them for future meaningful employment.

The structure of the internships are based on a two to six week job sample, that is either half-day, full day or an alternating day program. The students/individuals will be transported to the work site for three hours of hands-on working experience in the field of their designated job and their employment specialists will provide job coaching as needed. (For each internship, the weekly and hourly range may vary depending on the needs of the student.)