Program Eligibility Criteria

Great Prospects stands out as the Atlanta area’s elite, private, nonprofit program providing enriching opportunities for young adults with developmental disabilities. One of the secrets of our success is that we’re selective. Not everyone qualifies for admission because we need to maintain a mix of individuals who are the right fit, highly likely to get along well and make friends with existing participants.

We need to make sure that everyone who comes to Great Prospects can benefit from our programs:

The Therapeutic Day Program helps young adults ages 21-40 maintain skills learned in high school and acquire new ones they will need as they advance to full adulthood. They participate 3 to 5 times a week and focus on social skills training, peer support, community service, health and fitness, therapeutic activities, and planning for a more independent future.

Saturday Fun Day is a special treat one Saturday per month for participants ages 16-40. The young people enjoy outings and socializing with their friends while families and caregivers take a well-deserved break.

Summer Friends is for 16 to 21-year-olds in high school. They join other Therapeutic Day Program participants for 6 weeks in the summer and on teacher workdays, school holidays, and breaks. It’s a great introduction to the TDP, which some join after high school.

The Drop-In Program is for young adults 21-40 who can attend only 1 to 3 times a week, and the Emergency Drop-In Program, which offers teens or young adults in any of the above programs a safe place to land when emergencies disrupt their parents’ or guardians’ schedules. Advance notice is required.

All program participants must:

  • Be ambulatory

  • Be continent

  • Show evidence of psychological maturity and stability

  • Be able to manage their medication as well as other health-related issues (stomachache, headache, etc.) Be willing to participate in Great Prospects activities

  • Be able to communicate their wishes, thoughts, and needs either verbally, manually, or through assistive technology

  • Be able to understand and accept consequences

  • Display sufficient maturity and self-control to effectively participate in a group activity

  • Be able to participate in a program with a staff to client ratio of 1:7 (no 1:1 support)

  • Be capable of participating in an active program

  • Does not display any severe behavioral issues, including aggressive behaviors towards self or others, sexual behaviors towards self or others, or elopement (wandering/running away from the group)                                                    

Our Programs

    • Be 21-40 years old

    • Have graduated or transitioned from high school with an IEP Eligibility Criteria  

  • Be 16-21 years old 

  • Be 16-40 years old

  • Be a participant in any of the above programs

  • Be 16-40 years old