Admissions FAQs

How long has Vista Life been operating?
Founded in 1989, Vista Life has been operating for over 30 years. Our Charter Club, comprised of 40 members and staff that have been dedicated to Vista Life’s mission for over 20 years, is a beautiful testament to our core philosophy of community and human connection.

What is the Discover Program?
The Discover Program is a year-round comprehensive post-secondary residential and community-based training program. The program is designed to provide students with a unique college-like experience within a dormitory setting.

Where is the Discover Program located?
The Discover dormitory is located in Westbrook, CT about 2 hours from major metropolitan areas. Westbrook is a small tight-knit community along the beautiful shoreline of Connecticut.

What are the Discover curriculum areas and how is it taught?
The core curriculum is individualized for each student and focuses on personal development in four core functional skill areas: Life Skills, Cognitive and Social Development, Community Involvement and Vocational Training. This is achieved through a student’s full immersion in our experiential, hands-on learning model in the dormitory, across our campuses and in the community. Vista's educational model combines experiential learning with a counseling-based service delivery plan that fades reinforcements over time.

When are Admissions tours scheduled?
We schedule tours Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. We encourage prospective students and members to schedule their tour at least two weeks prior to the intended date.

Who can come for a tour?
Vista Life welcomes families and professionals to visit our campuses and learn more about our programs and services. 

What should we bring to the tour?
Bring any questions you may have about the program and plan to spend approximately 2-3 hours with the Admissions team while touring our campuses.

Does Vista Life have an IQ requirement?
No, the majority of new students join Vista programs as young adults between the ages of 18-25 with a variety of diagnoses and varying abilities from high school, other programs, or the family home. Diversity is a core philosophy at Vista Life; we therefore take a wholistic approach when assessing an individual’s ability to be successful in our programs.