The Difference We Make.
Our Story
The Power of a Story Continued
Beyond the Sentence is more than a literacy program — it is a collaborative effort to dismantle the communication barriers that hold individuals back.
By pairing DePaul University’s clinical expertise with the evidence-based literacy intervention of Wilson Language Training, we provide services that transform how incarcerated individuals read, speak, and advocate for themselves.
We believe that a sentence shouldn’t be the end of someone’s story — it should be the beginning of a new chapter.
About Our Program
What We Do
Four evidence-based services designed for personal, academic, and vocational success.
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Literacy
We build comprehensive linguistic foundations using SPELL-Links — an evidence-based program that targets reading comprehension, vocabulary, written expression, and fluency.Learn More
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Language Skills
We target receptive language, expressive language, and social pragmatics — giving participants the verbal tools they need to succeed in vocational settings.Learn More
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Social Communication
Pragmatics is the unwritten rulebook of human interaction. We prepare participants to navigate authority, reconnect with family, and code-switch in professional environments.Learn More
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Advocacy
Self-advocacy is a clinical skill that can be taught. We provide the scripting, role-play, and vocabulary frameworks participants need to speak up for themselves with confidence.Learn More
The Impact of Our Work
When communication barriers fall, doors open.
Why It Matters
✓ Reduced Recidivism
Evidence shows a direct correlation between addressing communication barriers and successful reentry. When individuals can advocate for themselves, they are better equipped to stay connected to employment, housing, and family.
✓ Vocational Readiness
Our participants leave with the literacy and oral language skills required for living-wage jobs — reading manuals, following safety protocols, and communicating professionally with supervisors and colleagues.
✓ Facility Safety & Stability
Improved communication reduces miscommunication-driven conflict within correctional facilities. Residents who can clearly express needs and understand instructions contribute to safer, calmer environments for everyone.
✓ Zero Cost to the Facility
High-quality, graduate-level clinical services at absolutely no cost to the correctional facility or the individual resident. Our partnership model makes this possible.