Community Options, a nonprofit which aims to provide housing and employment opportunities for people with disabilities, recently opened its latest location, in Rutherford.
The 501(c)(3), created in 1989 and headquartered in Princeton, now operates in 12 states.
Community Options believes in the dignity of every person — and in the freedom of all people to experience the highest degree of self-determination.
The Rutherford location, which received funding from Valley Bank, will offer an opportunity for people with disabilities to do just that.
Here’s how it works.
Community Options’ programs incorporate the Gentle Teaching philosophy, a way of educating and supporting individuals that promotes trusting relationships. By helping individuals feel unconditionally safe, the group feels it removes the underlying cause of many challenging behaviors and create a space for showing love in moments of stress.
Community Options staff working with children are trained in the Nurtured Heart Approach, an evidence-informed methodology for working with children and youth with challenging behaviors.
Community Options also utilizes Applied Behavior Analysis therapies and techniques in order to assist individuals with autism in building important life skills.
No aversive conditioning or negative behavior modification is used and the agency preference is to avoid any kind of physical management.
All initiatives undertaken by Community Options are based on respect for the individuals and their families.
