BUILD UNDERSTANDING.
BUILD VILLAGES.
BUILD OPPORTUNOTIES.
Empowering Lives Through EDUCATION AND Therapeutic Consultation
BUILD UNDERSTANDING.
BUILD VILLAGES.
BUILD OPPORTUNOTIES.
OUR SERVICES
OUR GOAL
OpportunOTies Therapeutic Consultation Services aims to provide education, consultation, and practical resources designed to increase understanding of neurodivergence, strengthen the villages that support neurodivergent people, and expand opportunities for meaningful participation, inclusion, and belonging.
STAFF EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Understanding is the foundation of meaningful support. OpportunOTies Therapeutic Consultation Services provides engaging, practical education and professional development for staff who work with, teach, serve, support, or interact with neurodivergent children. Education is customized to the needs of the organization and may be provided to schools, childcare programs, businesses, healthcare and human-service organizations, recreation programs, nonprofits, community organizations, and other professional groups.
Topics may include Autism Spectrum Disorder and neurodiversity, sensory processing, communication and regulation, inclusion and accessibility, environmental supports, elopement and safety, and understanding behavior through a broader neurological lens as well as providing practical tools and resources. Programs may range from brief educational sessions to half-day or full-day professional development and ongoing staff education.
PROFESSIONAL CONSULTATIVE SERVICES
Understanding is important. Knowing how to apply that understanding within your organization is the next step.
Professional consultative services are designed for businesses and organizations seeking customized guidance in creating more accessible, supportive, and neurodiversity-affirming programs, services, and environments.
Through consultation, OpportunOTies Therapeutic Consultation Services works with organizations to better understand their specific needs, identify potential barriers, and develop practical recommendations related to accessibility, participation, sensory and regulatory needs, communication, environmental supports, safety, programming, policies, and inclusive practices. Consultation may address a specific concern, project, or program or occur through an ongoing consultative relationship. We help organizations move from understanding to application.
EDUCATIONAL FUNSHOPS
Understanding and inclusion can begin early. Our interactive Educational Funshops introduce children to autism, neurodiversity, and human differences in developmentally appropriate and engaging ways.
Funshops help children understand that their peers may communicate, play, learn, move, regulate, or experience the world differently while encouraging curiosity, empathy, friendship, acceptance, and inclusion. Programming can be adapted for schools, childcare programs, camps, recreation programs, community organizations, and other settings where children learn and play together.
PARENT & CAREGIVER EDUCATION & CONSULTATION
Families and caregivers are an essential part of a person's village. OpportunOTies Therapeutic Consultation Services provides education and consultation to help parents and caregivers better understand the sensory, regulatory, developmental, communication, environmental, and participation needs that may influence everyday life.
Education builds understanding, while consultation helps families apply that understanding to their own routines, environments, questions, and challenges. Support may include practical guidance, strategies, resources, environmental considerations, safety concerns, routines and transitions, participation in home and community life, and other areas important to the family.
RESOURCES & PRACTICAL TOOLS
Information becomes more valuable when people can use it. OpportunOTies Therapeutic Consultation Services develops practical guides, educational materials, visual supports, sensory resources, safety resources, and other tools designed to help families, businesses, and organizations translate understanding into everyday support.
Resources may be used independently or alongside education and consultative services.
DISCLAIMER: OpportunOTies Therapeutic Consultation Services (owned and operated by Umoja Business Group LLC_ is an independent entity. The opinions, recommendations, and services offered through this website or any other mode of communication reflect the professional judgment of the owner alone and do not represent the views or policies of any current or former employers, school districts, healthcare systems, agencies, contractual partners etc.
Meet your therapeutic consultant
Tonia Sanford Rutledge, MS, OTR/L, is an occupational therapist, consultant, and educator with more than two decades of diverse professional experience throughout the Chicagoland area and Northwest Indiana. She completed her undergraduate studies in Sociology and Psychology with distinction at Illinois State University and earned her graduate degree in Occupational Therapy with honors from the University of Illinois Chicago, with a specialization in working within urban communities.
Tonia began her career working with neurodivergent children in school and community settings, supporting children in participating more fully in the activities, relationships, and environments that matter to them. Throughout her career, she has worked with individuals across the lifespan and with a wide range of diagnoses and support needs in hospitals, long-term care, schools, community programs, healthcare organizations, and home-based settings.
As the parent of two neurodivergent children, including a younger child diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Tonia has experienced disability and service systems from both sides of the table. This perspective has strengthened her longstanding commitment to improving how families are supported not only within therapy settings, but throughout their homes, schools, communities, and everyday lives.
Today, Tonia brings together her experience as an occupational therapist, consultant, educator, and parent to help families and organizations better understand neurodivergence, identify barriers, develop practical supports, and build stronger connections across environments. Her eclectic, evidence-informed, individualized, and neurodiversity-affirming approach centers relationship building, participation, collaboration, and respect for the needs and preferences of each individual and family.
LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT SUPPORT COULD LOOK LIKE!
Looking for consultation, professional development, education, customized resources, or support for your family or organization? Let's connect to discuss your needs!
Contact us by phone, text, email or click below!
Hours
Today | By Appointment |
Closed Major Holidays
