Admissions
TIMELINES for Applicants
Applications open: January - March
Review Period by Faculty and Staff: April
Notification Letters: May, sent by email
Applications for the 2025-26 Training Year are open
Applications are due March 28, 2025
See below links for application information
NOTE: As an accepted trainee, you will need to show proof of specific immunizations and pass a background check and a drug screen. These requirements are mandatory (no exceptions) in order to comply with heath and safety regulations of our clinical partners. More information on these requirements is provided in the Agreement Letter we send after acceptance.
Long-Term Trainees
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.
Autism-Enhanced (AE) Trainees
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.
Things to Know
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.
Medium-Term Trainees
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.