TIMELINES for Applicants
Applications open: January - March
Review Period by Faculty and Staff: April
Notification Letters: May, sent by email
Applications are due March 28, 2025
See below links for application information
Long-Term Trainees complete 300 hours of URLEND activities between August and April. Most trainees receive stipends of at least $5,000 for their participation in URLEND. We have three types of Long-Term Trainees:
Healthcare Discipline Trainees represent various disciplines and are graduate students or working health care professionals.
Community Trainees are working within community settings that have a focus on youth with disabilities either professional or informally.
Self-Advocates and Parents/Guardians are individuals with disabilities / parents/guardians of individuals with disabilities. They provide valuable insights into the lived experiences. Many self-advocates and parents/guardians want to learn how to speak out about rights and responsibilities for themselves or for others with disabilities.
Trainees who have completed the URLEND Long-Term Training can apply for the second-year Autism Enhanced (AE) Program. This program is designed to meet individualized goals to build autism expertise and features in-depth exploration of research and issues with AE faculty and guest speakers. Trainees work on an autism-focused leadership project and attend a week of training at Utah State University's research-based instructional ASSERT program.
Time Commitment: 150 hours over two semesters.
Stipend: A stipend is available to most AE trainees.
Acceptance: Competitive; a limited number are accepted in the AE program.
Individuals who wish to complete 40-299 hours of the Core URLEND Program may be considered for Medium-Term acceptance. There is not an official application process for Medium-Term trainees. If you are interested in being a Medium-Term trainee please contact the URLEND faculty member most closely affiliated with your discipline.
Stipends are not available for Medium-Term trainees.