Video of Accepted CILLS Program Participant Goes Viral, Puts East Stroudsburg University on the Map

A 50-second video of Rachel Grace learning she was accepted to the Career, Independent Living & Learning Studies (CILLS) program sponsored by East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania went viral a few days after her mom posted it on Facebook March 25, and by last week it had been viewed more than 14 million times.

The heart-warming video shows Rachel, a 20-year-old North Penn High School student who has Down syndrome, opening and reading aloud her acceptance notice to the CILLS program, and hollering happily, “I got in!” to her excited parents, Deb and Tom.

The three-year CILLS program allows about eight program participants with intellectual disabilities to be integrated into the ESU campus community, including joining college clubs and activities alongside ESU students while taking courses that help them learn practical skills in independent living, such as money management, as well as skills for jobs.

Grace will be living near campus in a house with other participants in the CILLS program supervised by a house resident — usually an ESU student — who will help the participants become more self-sufficient.

“We love the aspect of independent living, living in a house with an ESU student mentor,” said Deb Grace. “It’s just the right amount of oversight and freedom.”

Deb Grace said they had looked at other higher education opportunities for Rachel but picked CILLS, which is a certificate program, sponsored by ESU.

“We chose ESU because of the community, the support the university community seems to have around this program, from the students to the faculty,” she said. “It’s amazing. It just felt like a really good fit for her.”

Terry Barry, Ed.D., dean of the college of education, said the program is a win-win because just as the CILLS participants get to experience college life and gain key social and work skills, ESU students learn from them.

“It’s important that we clarify that Rachel and others joining her in the CILLS program are certification program participants, not students of the university,” he said. “However, within the college of education we have students who are studying special education and rehabilitation and they work hand in hand with the CILLS program participants to acclimate them to campus, to help them with their classes, to socialize with them, to cheer alongside them at sporting events and go to the gym and eat meals together in the cafeteria.”

Special Education Professor Domenico Cavaiuolo, Ph.D., who coordinates the CILLS program, said that participants like Rachel will be able to audit some of the classes that ESU students take and will also have internships on campus.

“At the end of the three-year program our goal is to transition CILLS participants back into their home community and work with the families to try to help them be employed and in a living arrangement commensurate with the person’s abilities and needs,” Dr. Cavaiuolo said. “So it’s a very holistic type of approach.

“It’s the experience and social aspect, the fun that goes along with being at a university, and also the practical learning and work that goes into helping the CILLS participants become productive citizens that makes this satisfying,” he said.

Since the video of Rachel went viral, there has been a whirlwind of news coverage and public attention for the family who live in North Wales, Pa. and for East Stroudsburg University. For Rachel and her family, that activity has included interviews with her and her parents on the Fox television show “Fox & Friends,” 6 ABC Action News and other outlets. And while the features of ESU’s CILLS certificate program are different than the 56 bachelor’s degree programs offered at ESU, Rachel’s acceptance to this distinct program makes her an ESU Warrior at heart.

“Rachel has received such a great outpouring from ESU alumni and ESU current students,” her mom said.

Those Warrior alumni reaching out include some notable people who are used to the media glare.

“Today I got a letter from the head football coach at Penn State congratulating me for getting into college,” Rachel said. James Franklin ’95 sent her a formal letter praising her “amazing achievement” and inviting her to be a special guest at a Penn State Football practice.

“We went to Target the other day and she actually got recognized,” Deb Grace said.

So how does it feel to get that kind of attention?

“It felt awesome and amazing,” Rachel said.

14 million views … and counting.

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