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Day Programs promote community involvement, education, and health & wellness. Participants have the opportunity to engage in activities and make friends.
OPTIONS helps people with disabilities reach their Employment goals through community job placement and job opportunities within the agency.
OPTIONS provides 24/7 support for many participants. We have 4 community homes in the Hammond area. OPTIONS also has a Supported Living program.
Most of the people that we support do not have transportation. They are counting on OPTIONS to get where they need to go.
OPTIONS helps people with disabilities live and work in the community. Through maximizing life skills, providing meaningful work and activities, being a part of an inclusive community and ensuring support beyond the family, OPTIONS goal is to provide the highest quality of life for people with disabilities.
People with developmental disabilities share some common characteristics. They have difficulty in the acquisition of cognitive, language, motor, or social skills. This may involve a general delay, as in developmental disability or the delay may be in a specific area of skill acquisition. The term “developmental disability” refers to any mental and/or physical disability that starts before the age of 18. The term includes individuals with cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy as well as intellectual disabilities.
According to the DSM-5, intellectual disability involves impairments of general mental abilities that impact adaptive functioning in three domains, or areas. These domains determine how well an individual copes with everyday tasks:
While intellectual disability does not have a specific age requirement, an individual’s symptoms must begin during the developmental period and are diagnosed based on the severity of deficits in adaptive functioning. The disorder is considered chronic and often co-occurs with other mental conditions.
OPTIONS primarily focuses on services for adults and children transitioning out of special education.
Eligibility requirements and funding sources vary. Call us today to discuss your needs 985-345-6269.
For answers to additional questions, please contact OPTIONS at (985) 345-6269 or info@Options4u.org
© 2024 Options Inc. All rights reserved.
Shannon Trautman: Shannon joined the OPTIONS team in 2019. She holds a degree in Music Therapy from Loyola University and a Master’s degree in Education Counseling from Southeastern Louisiana University. She has worked with people with intellectual disabilities since she was in high school in the ’70s! Shannon loves to help our participants share the gifts they have that add value to others.
Andrea Gousman: Andrea is a graduate from Tulane University where she received a Bachelors of Art in Social Sciences. She has been a part of the OPTIONS team since 2011. She began her career in case management in 2007. Andrea enjoys working with families to help them navigate the complexities of provider and waiver services. Her goal is to ensure every participant is able to receive the premier services that they deserve and desire.
Jamie Guidry: Jamie joined OPTIONS in 2019. She holds a degree in Accounting from Southeastern. She has worked in the non-profit industry serving the elderly and disabled for over seventeen years. Jamie’s focus is to continue to serve this community and assure that these citizens are provided the best services available by striving to improve the financial health of our agency.
Jennifer Carona: Jennifer joined the OPTIONS team in 2021. She is a native of Independence, Louisiana. Jennifer received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Southeastern Louisiana University in 2004 and a Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Family Nurse Practitioner in 2020 from Herzing University. She is a Licensed Registered Nurse, Licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurse and a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner. Jennifer’s focus is to ensure that OPTIONS participants receive high quality healthcare so that they may live and flourish in their community to the best of their abilities.
Sharon Jacob: Sharon Jacob is a graduate of Coastal College where she studied Business Management in 1990. She is a native of Hammond, LA. with over 30 years of experience in Business Management. She has served in her role as the Director of Transportation since 2013. Sharon loves that OPTIONS has granted her the opportunity to do what she loves, transport and support people with disabilities, so they can live their dreams in our community.
Steve Leon: Steve joined the OPTIONS team in 2010. He is from Metairie and moved to Hammond in 1974 to attend Southeastern Louisiana University. He graduated with a Master’s degree in 1979 and worked for Southeastern for over 30 years as an administrator in Student and Business services before coming to OPTIONS. Steve is also a City Councilman for Hammond, La. Steve has been very active in the community throughout his career. His primary focus at OPTIONS is property management, operations, logistics and whatever else needs to be done!
Michelle Carruthers: Michelle received her BA in Psychology from UNC Greensboro and her M.Ed. in Counseling from Southeastern Louisiana University. For over a decade, Michelle has provided services to individuals with disabilities and their families. She joined the OPTIONS team in 2021 and continues her passion for empowering people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She is committed to helping OPTIONS participants lead fulfilling lives and accomplish their goals, whether it’s participating in their community, living independently, or finding meaningful work.
Dione Branch:Joining in 2020, Dione found OPTIONS’s dynamic culture to be a welcoming and supportive environment. As a credentialed SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), she actively engages at both the national level with SHRM and locally with NSHRM. An alumna of the University of New Orleans, Dione holds a Bachelor’s in Business Management specializing in Human Resources and an MBA with a focus on Healthcare Management. Within our HR department, our core commitment is to ensure that every employee receives the same level of support as the individuals we serve, fostering a culture of unity and shared purpose.
Alexis Sterling: Alexis is a graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University. She holds a degree in Family and Consumer Science with a concentration in Family Studies. Alexis began working at OPTIONS in 2016 and she enjoys coordinating fun activities for the participants year round. She shares her passion for OPTIONS by inspiring community members to get involved, volunteer, and make a difference in their community.
Casey Rudolph: Casey is a graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University where she studied Psychology. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, a graduate of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation’s Development Fellowship Class of 2022, and is a member of Leadership Tangipahoa’s Class of 2024. Casey began working with people with disabilities in 2014 and joined the OPTIONS family in 2020. She loves highlighting the stories of OPTIONS participants, fundraising to ensure the sustainability of our organization, and inspiring others to support our mission.
Sylvia Bush: For over 40 years, Sylvia has been advocating and helping create quality community services for people with disabilities. She served as OPTIONS President and CEO from 1979 until 2021. She was appointed President Emeritus by the Board of Directors in 2022. She continues to demonstrate her heart of service and her steadfast commitment by volunteering at OPTIONS on a weekly basis.
Carrie Mercke: Carrie joined the OPTIONS team in 2009. She is a Ponchatoula native, and holds a degree in Psychology from Southeastern and a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Louisville. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Board Approved Clinical Supervisor. Carrie’s focus is to build upon the legacy of our founding families through advocating for a more inclusive community for people with disabilities.
