Welcome to Pathway to Independence
Growth isn't a linear process. Some days, tasks come easily; other days, they don't. I'm here to support and empower you through both, every step of the way.
I'm Sydni Rapson, founder of Pathway to Independence, and I built this practice from both sides of the desk.
What Buffs are saying
“I just wanted to say that I’m feeling a little nervous about school, and I truly couldn’t do this without you. The support you provide with scheduling and executive functioning helps ease my anxiety and makes everything feel so much more manageable. I really want you to know how much I appreciate everything you do. Your support and patience never go unnoticed and I’m incredibly grateful for all of it. Thank you for everything.”
— Current Client, CU Junior “I have never had a teacher or tutor who explains things to me the way you do. For the first time in school I do not feel stupid or ashamed of how my brain works”
— Current Client, CU Sophomore “Working with you in book club was actually fun. That was the first time I actually finished a book since probably middle school. I have never enjoyed reading and just thought I was bad at it before working with you.”
— Current Client, CU Junior “Thank you for understanding that I need music while I work. Appreciate that my coach can play bangers and help me turn in my homework on time.”
— Former Client, CU Freshman “Sydni, thank you so much for everything you do for my son. I was so nervous he was not going to pass this semester and would ask me to drop out. I can not say enough how much I appreciate that you understand the emotions and education behind our students with executive function struggles. I do not know what we would do without you!”
— Current Client, CU Parent My Credentials & Lived Experience
I bring both professional expertise and lived experience to coaching. As a neurodivergent adult with ADHD and dyslexia, diagnosed in my twenties, after college. I understand executive function struggles firsthand, not just clinically. I skipped two grades in high school, then struggled through my early college years and beyond without the structure I needed. That gap between "capable" and "supported" is exactly what I built this practice to close.
Clinical & Academic Background
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) — private practice, clinical settings, public schools, and a facility school
Executive Function Coach before founding Pathway to Independence
Behavior Therapist & Lead Therapist, running social skills and pragmatic groups
Research experience in CU Boulder's Neuro Motor Speech Lab with Dr.Hilger
Private pod teacher for small student groups during COVID-19
Certifications & Training
ASHA Certified — Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
Certified Life Coach Practitioner, Academy of Applied Psychology
Executive Functions for ADHD Professionals, PAAC Certified Course
Certified Behavior Therapist
CDE and DORA Certified SLPA
AAC and GLP Certified Provider
Dyslexia Brain Exercises for Adults and Children
International Sensory Certificate for Speech Therapy with Autistic Children
Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Training · CPR & First Aid Certified · DDRC State-Approved GO4IT Universal Training
My Journey to Pathway to Independence
My path here was not a linear journey either. I trained as a Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant and worked with autistic and AAC-using students, including a boy named Mason, whose progress from non-speaking to thriving reshaped how I think about communication and independence. I went on to work in behavior therapy, education, and research at CU Boulder, and along the way, I kept running into the same gap: almost no dedicated support exists for young adults with disabilities as they transition into adulthood. Pathway to Independence exists to close that gap.