OPTIONS Independent Living

OPTIONS: Part 3 of 5

Post high school students in the OPTIONS Program live in supervised apartments with other college - aged students, within the small midwest town of Carbondale, Illinois, located near the OPTIONS instructional building and the Southern Illinois University campus.

Each fully furnished apartment with amenities is shared by three students — each has his or her own private bedroom and bathroom.

Whenever students are present, the apartments are supervised by Independent Living Counselors, who oversee activities. Countless, real-life, "teachable moments" help move students toward healthy relationships and independence. A health and wellness support staff, including a nursing staff, provides health education and medication management.

Areas of focus:

• Meal planning, shopping and preparation
• Emotional coping skills
• Money management
• Follow-through & preparedness
• Interpersonal communication
• Social strategies training
• Self-management
• Accountability for actions
• Self-advocacy
• Safe behavior
• Time management
• Organization
• Personal hygiene
• Honesty and integrity

Also read:
Academic Core Classes (part 1 of 5)

Two Tracks (part 2 of 5)

The OPTIONS Program at Brehm is a comprehensive transitional program for students with complex learning disabilities who have graduated from high school, earned their GEDs, or who have chosen to defer graduation in order to participate in this empowering Program. The OPTIONS Program focuses on the academic, employment and social skills required for success by emphasizing independent living, self-advocacy skills, and learning how to learn. As students (most 18 to 25 years of age) transition through three phases of the OPTIONS Program, they develop academically, socially and emotionally — acquiring the crucial tools necessary for independent life.

Brehm Students Prepare for Pirates!

In the past six weeks, Brehm students have auditioned and prepared for the annual school play. Students have been working diligently and making sacrifices in order to practice three times a week. Rec Activities have taken the back seat as performers have shown dedication to the play.

This year, students will perform "Pirates of the Great Lakes" on Saturday, May 16th at 7 p.m.

Sponsor and faculty member, Jen Cowell explains the plot as follows:

"Arrrr matey, the year is 1782 and Johann Andreas' family business on the shores of Lake Huron is in trouble. For some reason nobody wants to stay at "Andreas Wasp Infested Inn." Luckily for Johann, Captain Short Fuse Composure arrives on the scene, having been stranded by a band of pirates who mistook Michigan for an island. In his possession is a treasure map, and he promises Johann a share of the loot if he can assemble a crew and reach the treasure in advance of his arch-rival, the dreaded Burgundy Beard. Between dealing with Captain Short Fuse Composure's fear of North Atlantic Sea Tigers, an idiotic crew, and a complete lack of knowledge about the sea, will it be possible for Johann to find the treasure, get the girl, charm her father, stop tripping over things, and save his family business?"

Freshman Jordan channels his inner thespian.

Austen, a Brehm 8th grader, works his jazz hands in play practice.

Students have worked exceptionally hard this year with this Brehm tradition and we expect a good turnout and fabulous show!

Project Complete!

Earlier this year, the Brehm family temporarily said to goodbye to the heart of Brehm campus- The Social Shed. This year, we have watched it transform from old to new and be rededicated in memory of three deceased students.

Now completely rebuilt, the Social Shed will continue to function as a place for traditional activities such as Gong Karaoke, student council speeches, pie-in-the-face and campus forum meetings. It will also continue to serve as a place for students to carry out everyday activities like process with faculty, share ideas, laugh, cry, sing, read, study, gather or just meditate.

One faculty reminisced, "It is a cozy place to sit face-to-face and face our issues."

We will miss you old friend.

Out with the old and in with the new!

Facitilites Maintenance, with the help of Barb Drew begin demo.

The Social Shed comes down in Phase 1

"The old Social Shed will be replaced but not forgotten. It holds too many memories for most of us," Dr. Collins said. 

Phase 2: Going up!

Project Complete!

The Social Shed was supported by memorial funds and current parents.

Other additions to Brehm campus have included: Brehm Falls, Academic East, Dorm 5 and the Student Activities Center, which includes a Cyber Cafe, Dining Hall and gym.

The BPA Donates Funds for Disc Golf

Now that spring has finally arrived, students on Brehm campus are reaping the benefits of a new disc golf course. The golf course consists of 9 "holes" throughout campus in varying lengths. Students often utilize this new feature after lunch and after class. Recently, students and families alike took advantage of this amenity over Parents' Weekend.

Money for the disc golf course was donated this spring by the BPA (Brehm Parents Association). Money from the BPA also supports student programs such as the Healthy Lifestyles Program.

A Year Later: Brehm Recycling Program is a Success!

Last year Brehm initiated a recycling program on campus with recycling containers in every dorm, outside, in academic building and administration. This was possible due to the support of Jackson County Health Department, who provides us with individual recycling containers, a recycling dumpster and pays the fee for emptying the dumpster. Last year we recycled 7,840 pounds of paper, plastic bottles and aluminum cans.

Brehm students follow through with this program with four major activities: campus clean-up, trash formations, waste-free lunch and recycling skits.

Students and staff alike (both shown), all pitch in to help keep Brehm campus "green".

Mike, a Brehm senior and student council member, participates in the Campus Cleanup.

Recycling Skits took place during Campus Forum, with Andrew taking the cash prize.

Students have already seen the benefits of "going green" with new soccer field benches made from recycled milk cartons.

We take advantage of events like Parents' Weekend and use them to challenge our students to maintain a campus they can be proud of.

Brehm Makes Giving Easy

Brehm has simplified giving with five programs that can be utilized on a daily basis.

• Show Brehm pride with Land's End logo apparel! Order apparel for men, women and children from the "School Uniform" section and Land's End will donate 3% of the order to Brehm. Enter Brehm's preferred school code #9001-1897-7 when ordering. Click here to start now!


• Help your child get organized with Mabel's Labels. Mabel's Labels sells a variety of labels for virtually any personal item to withstand laundry, microwave, dishwasher and more! These handy little items can prevent items from being lost and are a must-have for boarding students! Mabel's Labels will donate up to 20% on all orders associated with Brehm. Check out products here.


• Target's "Take Charge of Education" program donates up to 1% of anything purchased with the Target Visa, Target Red Card, Target Check Card or Target Business Card. Just apply and/or enroll here.


• Brehm participates in the Campbell's "Labels for Education" program which helps to get free classroom supplies. Just clip the UPC code of any eligible product and send them to Brittany Morlan at Brehm.


• A similar program, "Box Tops for Education" donates cash for each Box Top coupon for products such as Cheerios®, Betty Crocker®, Juicy Juice®, Ziploc®, Kleenex®, Hefty® and more! Clip box tops and send them to Brittany Morlan at Brehm.

Contact Brittany Morlan, Coordinator of Communications, for more information on any of programs listed above at bmorlan@brehm.org. For information on more traditional ways of giving, contact the Coordinator of Development, Russ Williams at rwilliams@brehm.org.

OPTIONS Students Enlightened Trip to Spain

Six students from the OPTIONS Program had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Spain over spring break. Their journey took them to the major cities of Madrid and Seville as well as the southern coastal towns of Cadiz, Bolonia and Fuengirola. Along the way, they learned much about the history of Spain, as they visited several sites of ancient Roman ruins. On the final day, they visited the Rock of Gibraltar and were able to interact with the local monkeys. It truly was a remarkable experience!

“One of the places that I really enjoyed seeing was
the ruins of Italica, the birthplace of the Roman
emperors Trajan and Hadrian”. — Blaire C.

"I really enjoyed all of the places we went to. My
favorite city was Seville because of all of the orange
trees around the streets". — Cameron B.

"The most spectacular sites that I loved seeing
were the Roman ruins. They were amazing; they made me
feel as though I was sitting in the stands of the arenas just
like in the olden days". — Abby E.

"I thought Gibraltar was one of the greatest places we
visited. I had the bestexperience with the wild monkeys that
touched me and even climbed on my shoulder". — Libby G.

“When I went to Spain, it was so amazing and interesting.
I enjoyed the buildings, cathedrals and their
Flamenco dancing.” — Cathy M.

“The experience I had in Spain was memorable.
I think the beaches along the Costa del Sol were some of
the nicest I have ever seen”. — Matt P.

"Getting to go inside the lemur sanctuary at the Fuengirola
Zoo was one of the highlights for me, especially when one
tried stealing my glasses". — Jeff Bilyeu, OPTIONS Faculty

Brehm's Bi-Annual Parent's Weekend Goes Off Without a Hitch

Recently, Brehm School held it's bi-annual Parent's Weekend. The weekend included some new and favorite events such as: a college fair for students with learning disabilities, "Brehm-Family" silent art auction, spring banquet and talent show.

Parents, faculty and staff dubbed this year's banquet as "the best ever." 

Students, parents, faculty and staff enjoy a social hour, complete with a silent art auction. Auction donations were created by faculty and students.

Assistant Director Brian Brown acted as M.C. to a crowd of more than 300.

Brehm Food Services please all with a wide
array of food, desserts and beverages.

First year student, Elizabeth, performs a song

and excerpt from a favorite musical.

Brehm's very own Irish step-dancer, Austen,

is too fast for the naked eye.

Top notch performances all around for this year's Talent Show.

Brehm student Sarah received acclamations from the audience

for being the first student to ever to M.C. the Talent
Show portion of the evening.

Basketball Challenge: Brehm's Annual Staff vs. Students

It is tradition at Brehm for the faculty and staff to challenge the students to a scrimmage in soccer and basketball seasons. This year was no different, with members of each team anxiously awaiting the on-court match-up. Each team was coached by a player of the Brehm Prep basketball team, with the faculty under the supervision of "Bamba" and the students under Mike.

Under intense pressure and the watchful eyes of the student body, the faculty pulled through with a 15 point lead to win the game... but not without some unforgettable moments.

"Go team Brehm!"

Coach Aaron Lee goes low for the kill.

A little on-court action keeps Administration on their toes!

"Good game, good game, good game..."

The Brehm family has fun on and off the court!

Brehm-Family Silent Art Auction to Take Place Over Parent's Weekend

New to this year's Parent's Weekend program is a Brehm-Family silent art auction. For the first time, Brehm students, faculty and staff have donated a wide variety of art to be auctioned off.

In the name of giving, art submissions range from photography and paintings to quilts and CDs. Proceeds of this event will go towards the 2008-2009 Annual Giving campaign.

Come prepared to buy and look for the work of your student this Saturday, beginning at 5 p.m. Bidding for this event will end promptly at 6:30 and pieces will be available for pick-up at the close of the evening.

For more information, contact Brittany Morlan, Coordinator of Communications, at 618.457.0371 or bmorlan@brehm.org.

Brehm Student Completes Studio-Produced Album

A student known as "Frenchy" on Brehm campus is commonly seen toting around a guitar and entertaining classmates. Oftentimes, after school, Frenchy can be found singing a variety of original and cover version songs throughout campus.

As Brehm is known for its talented students, Frenchy is celebrating the completion of his first studio-produced album. The CD is set to be released on Parent's Weekend and will be available on-campus.

To hear a sample from Frenchy's CD, visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eRxRiGmF9k

There are two versions of the CD, each will be
available to be purchased for $10.

Congratulations Frenchy!!