When school-based services fall away at 21, families face a drop-off they call “the cliff.” Cliff Consulting helps individuals with developmental disabilities, their families, and the organizations that serve them find solid ground on the other side.
It's the point where school-based supports end and a fragmented adult service system begins — unfamiliar, hard to navigate, and often faced alone. Cliff Consulting exists to bridge that gap with practical consultation, education, and steady support.
Parents often feel unprepared for life after 21 — navigating residential options, guardianship, and future planning with little guidance.
Adult providers frequently support increasingly complex needs without access to a master's-level clinician or Board Certified Behavior Analyst.
Brothers and sisters preparing to become advocates, guardians, and trustees often feel isolated and underprepared for the roles ahead.
From behavior-analytic clinical work to caregiver coaching and organizational training — flexible, individualized, and offered on a private-pay or contract basis.
Functional behavior assessments, behavior support plans, skill-acquisition programming, crisis-prevention planning, environmental recommendations, and interdisciplinary collaboration that improve quality of life and community participation.
Transition planning for adolescents and adults, education on Illinois adult disability resources, CILA exploration, parent coaching, and future-planning conversations — clarity, guidance, and hope through the move into adulthood.
Coaching, education on guardianship and residential options, and individualized action plans for siblings stepping into roles as advocates, guardians, and trustees — building confidence and preparedness.
Staff and volunteer training, program development, quality-improvement initiatives, and leadership and board consultation to build sustainable behavior-support systems.
Behavioral consultation, staff coaching, environmental recommendations, and support through transitions into residential services — improving participant outcomes and staff confidence.
RBT supervision, competency assessment, BCBA fieldwork supervision, and professional mentorship for organizations working without an internal BCBA.
Private video sessions for siblings, parents, guardians, and future caregivers — a space to talk through questions, plan for what's ahead, and feel a little less alone in it.
Private one-on-one time by video — schedule one whenever you'd like support.
You'll share a few details and we'll email you to confirm a time.
Tell us a bit about you and when works best — we'll follow up by email to lock in a time.
We'll email you soon to confirm a time that works.
Cliff Consulting was founded by Nina Koehler, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Illinois-Licensed Behavior Analyst with a background in nonprofit leadership, program development, and systems-level consultation.
Nina is also the legal guardian of her brother, Tommy — an adult with Down syndrome and autism who lives in a Community Integrated Living Arrangement. She has navigated residential supports, future planning, and lifelong advocacy firsthand — not only as a clinician, but as family.
That combination — clinical rigor and personal understanding — lets Cliff Consulting meet every family and organization with both compassion and practical insight.
“Cliff Consulting helps families move beyond the cliff with confidence, hope, and community.”
The people living the transition, every day.
The teams building the systems of support.
Cliff Consulting operates on a private-pay and contract basis — intentionally outside the insurance model — to reduce administrative burden and keep support flexible and individualized.
Behavior-analytic services, program development, leadership consultation, and grant-related initiatives.
In-home and community-based consultation, transition planning, parent coaching, and future-planning discussions.
Whether you're a family planning ahead or an organization strengthening your supports, reach out to start a conversation. There's no cost to ask a question.
We'll be in touch by email soon. Thank you for reaching out.