EAGLES Program Admissions

(Non-Negotiable Criteria)

Applicants must:

1. Have a documented intellectual disability consistent with the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA 2008; U.S.C. 110-315 §760).

   • IQ score approximately 75 or below

   • Significant deficits in adaptive behavior

   • Documentation from a licensed psychologist or qualified professional

   • Psychological or psychoeducational evaluation completed within the past 3 years

2. Have exited from a high school program (Diploma, certificate, occupational diploma, or modified diploma)

EAGLES is a residential, campus-based program with faded supports. Students must demonstrate baseline independence in the following domains:

A. Adaptive Behavior Profile

While we do not use a strict cutoff, competitive applicants typically demonstrate:

• Standard scores in adaptive behavior domains that reflect mild impairment range which is 55-75.

• Relative strengths in:

  • Communication

  • Self-care

  • Socialization

  • Community use

Important: Students should show skill acquisition over time and responsiveness to instruction.

Students must be able to:

• Remain unsupervised for up to 12 hours

• Independently manage:

  • Medication

  • Hygiene routines

  • Basic dietary needs

  • Sleep schedule

• Maintain personal hygiene with no more than occasional reminders

• Handle laundry and basic dorm living tasks

• Navigate campus safely with limited prompting

• Use money in practical settings (dining, purchases, budgeting basics)

1. Students must:

   • Communicate needs clearly (verbally, AAC, or written)

   • Ask for help appropriately

   • Advocate for accommodations

   • Demonstrate emotional regulation skills

   • Accept feedback without escalation

Students should demonstrate:

• Basic functional reading and writing ability at or above a third grade level

• Functional math skills (addition, subtraction, money management)

• Ability to attend 1.5-hour class blocks-

• Ability to follow multi-step directions

• Tolerance for structured academic routines

Students must independently:

• Use a smartphone

• Send and check email

• Access basic online platforms

• Use a laptop or tablet for coursework

(Digital literacy is essential for participation in modern campus life.)

Students must:

• Demonstrate behavioral stability across environments

• Have no recent history of:

  • Physical aggression

  • Sexual misconduct

  • Repeated elopement

  • Property destruction

• Show flexibility with routine changes

• Demonstrate conflict resolution skills

• Participate in group activities safely

(Challenging behaviors are evaluated in context and with documentation of current stability.)

Families must:

• Support independence and faded supports

• Understand that EAGLES is not a 1:1 program

• Support student autonomy in decision-making

• Accept that staff do not manage medications, diets, or medical care

• Understand risk and liability in residential college life

To provide clarity and protect the integrity of the program:

EAGLES is not:

• A 1:1 support program

• A behavior stabilization placement

• A therapeutic day treatment model

• A guardianship-driven oversight model

• A medically supported living environment