Admissions Criteria

Admissions Criteria

The following criteria will be used to determine acceptance into the program:

• Must be at least 18 years of age by the year of admission and no older than 26 by the year of admission
• Must meet eligibility guidelines for having an intellectual disability using the criteria as established by the Pennsylvania State Office of Developmental Programs:
  • Significantly sub-average intellectual functioning with an IQ of 70 or below through a standardized intelligence test.
  • Impairments in adaptive behavior (means not being able to do things that most other of the same age may do)
  • Manifested during the developmental period (means occurring before age 22)
• Have demonstrated the ability to learn and participate in classroom and work settings
• Must be able to negotiate around campus and the surrounding community with minimal assistance and level of independence
• Produce three letters of recommendation, one from a teacher, one from an employer, and one personal (excluding relatives)
• Be able to complete his/her own application working as independently as possible
• Agree to participate in an interview process
• Agree to participate in an independent living skills assessment and any other required assessments, and meet the criteria established by the CILLS program
• Have or had an Individual Education Plan (IEP) under IDEA at a certified secondary school
• Be able to provide CILLS with a high school transcript or equivalent
• Demonstrate an interest in possessing educational, employment and life experiences that are necessary to attain substantial independence upon completion from CILLS
• Have a proved ability to learn and participate in classroom situations and professional work settings
• Be willing to abide by all the rules and policies set forth by CILLS (rules and policies can be made available upon request)
• Participants must have acceptable social behavior, including ability to get along with peers, follow rules, accept supervision and have no history of illegal activity
• Meet immunization requirements for CILLS
• Participants and family must consent to being filmed, videotaped, interviewed and/or quoted in media and publications