Post-Secondary Funding for Students with Disabilities, Updated August 2022
Updated by Hilary Nelson, JD, MSW Candidate at the University of Calgary
This toolkit provides an overview of financial assistance available to eligible post-secondary students through their respective provincial/territorial as well as the federal governments. Please note this does not include private or school-specific scholarships, bursaries, or grants.
Students are encouraged to speak with the financial aid office at their university or college to learn more about what options may be available to them in terms of various resources including private or school-specific grants, scholarships or bursaries. All 13 provinces and territories in Canada are discussed.
As this review was done at a given point in time, programs and/or the relevant forms may have changed over time. As most guides, forms and other materials identified in this toolkit are commonly updated for each academic year, please check that you are referring to the most recent version.
We cannot guarantee that this review is fully complete, accurate or up-to-date. Please check with the Post-Secondary Education Financial Services office in your jurisdiction and/or institution to verify what is available to you.
NATIONAL/FEDERAL FUNDING
In the context of post-secondary education, accessibility considerations include financial supports that are intended to ensure that students with disabilities have equitable opportunity to all Canadians in their aims of pursuing post-secondary education. Below is an overview of some grants and loans available to post-secondary students with disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID), across Canada.
The Government of Canada offers grants and loans to post-secondary students through a program called Canada Student Grants and Loans. These grants and loans help students pay for their post-secondary education. Loans need to be repaid to the government, whereas grants do not.
The amount of funding a student can receive in grants and loans depends on a number of factors, including where they live, their family income, their tuition fees and living expenses, and if they have a disability. A particular student’s need will be assessed when they apply for a Canada Student Loan, and this will have a bearing on the funding for which they are eligible.
While Canada Student Loans are funded by the federal government, each province and territory’s financial aid office is responsible for administering them. A list of the provincial and territorial financial aid offices across Canada can be found here.
The following are specific assistance programs offered by the Government of Canada to post-secondary students with permanent disabilities, such as ASD and ID:
Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities
Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Permanent Disabilities
Repayment Assistance Plan for Borrowers with a Permanent Disability
Each of these plans are discussed below.
Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities
The Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities is a grant that provides up to $2,000 each academic year (August 1 to July 31) for post-secondary education for students who have qualified for a Canada Student Loan.
NOTE: The $2,000 maximum amount has been temporarily doubled to $4,000 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and is expected to continue until the end of the 2022-23 academic year.
Students can receive this grant for each year of their full-time or part-time studies (including undergraduate and graduate levels) as long as they continue to meet the eligibility requirements.
Students are eligible if they:
apply and qualify for full-time or part-time student financial assistance (have at least $1 of assessed financial need);
are enrolled in a full-time or part-time program at a designated post-secondary institution;
meet the definition for students with permanent disabilities:
“a functional limitation caused by a physical or mental impairment that restricts the ability of a person to perform the daily activities necessary to participate in studies at a post-secondary school level or the labour force; and is expected to remain with the person for the person’s expected life”; and,include one of the following with their loan application as proof of their disability:
Medical certificate
Psycho-educational assessment
Documents that prove they have received federal or provincial permanent disability assistance.
Eligibility for this grant will be automatically assessed if a student indicates they have a permanent disability when applying for a Canada Student Loan. There is no specific form needed for this grant.
NOTE: This grant is not available to students from the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Québec, as these provinces and territories operate their own programs (outlined below).
Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Permanent Disabilities
If students require exceptional services or equipment to support their education, they may be eligible to receive the Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Permanent Disabilities. This is a grant, meaning it does not need to be repaid.
With this grant, students could receive up to $20,000 per school year (August 1 to July 31) for each year of studies (including undergraduate and graduate levels) as long as they still qualify.
This grant may allow students to access services and equipment like:
Note-takers;
Tutors;
Interpreters; and/or
Technical aids.
In order to be eligible for this grant, students must require specific services and/or equipment. This needs to be confirmed, in writing, by:
a representative at a student’s institution (e.g. Disability Services);
their doctor; or
another medical professional.
More information may be requested. At the end of a student’s school year, they will have to provide receipts for all approved costs.
A separate application is required for the Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Disabilities (done through the student’s provincial/territorial student aid office).
The federal government also offers support to students with disabilities who have taken out a student loan through the Repayment Assistance Plan for Borrowers with a Permanent Disability (RAP-PD).
Repayment Assistance Plan for Borrowers with a Permanent Disability
The Government of Canada offers help to students with permanent disabilities to manage their student loan debt.
The Repayment Assistance Plan for Borrowers with a Permanent Disability (RAP-PD) makes it easier for students to manage their student loan debt by reducing their monthly payment.
With RAP-PD, a student’s monthly loan payment would either be reduced, or they would not have to make any payments, depending on their financial situation. This could also depend on a student’s permanent disability-related expenses, which include allowable uninsured medical expenses, special care and other expenses directly related to their permanent disability.
Enrollment is not automatic, and students must re-apply for this plan every six months.
Students can check if they qualify for a reduced monthly payment by using the Repayment Assistance Estimator.
Note: Students whose loans were issued by Prince Edward Island or Manitoba, must apply directly to their province for repayment assistance for their provincial loan. Students are encouraged to contact their provincial student financial assistance office to find out more.
PROVINCIAL/TERRITORIAL RESOURCES
Below are resources specific to provinces or territories. Resources are reviewed one-by-one; hence, readers are advised to scroll down to your province/territory of residence.
For
more information on financial services in any of the following
jurisdictions, please visit the province or territory’s website. Links
are provided where applicable.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
The following provides an overview of the grants and loans available to post-secondary students with disabilities in British Columbia.
In BC, the student financial aid office is called StudentAid BC. They assist students in applying for student loans, grants, scholarships and bursaries. StudentAid BC is run by the provincial government and publishes the StudentAid BC Accessibility Program User Guide.
In addition to the federal grants, StudentAid BC offers four unique funding programs for post-secondary students with disabilities, including ASD and ID:
Assistance Program for Students with Permanent Disabilities
BC Access Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities
BC Supplemental Bursary for Students with a Permanent Disability
Learning Disability Assessment Bursary
Assistance Program for Students with Permanent Disabilities (APSD)
The Assistance Program for Students with Permanent Disabilities is designed to supplement the federal government's Canada Student Grant for People with Disabilities for students with disabilities who have exhausted their federal funding.
Eligible students can receive up to $10,000, or $12,000 for attendant care, in grant funding for each program year that the student is enrolled in an eligible post-secondary program or non post-secondary program.
Students can only receive this grant when they have used up all available funds through the federal Canada Student Grants. This funding is sent directly to a students’ post-secondary institution, so students are encouraged to contact StudentAid BC for more information.
BC Access Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities
The BC Access Grant helps with the cost of education for full-time students with a permanent or prolonged disability by replacing up to $1,560 per program year in BC student loan funding.
Students may be eligible if they:
qualify for a federal student loan;
are enrolled in a full-time program at a designated public or private post-secondary institution; and
have a permanent disability or prolonged disability as defined by the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program.
Instructions:
Students will be automatically assessed for the BC Access Grant for Students with Disabilities if they have previously submitted verification of their permanent disability to StudentAid BC.
If students have not yet established their permanent disability with StudentAid BC, they are instructed to complete the Appendix 8 – Disability Programs Application form here.
BC Supplemental Bursary for Students with a Permanent Disability
With this supplemental bursary, part-time or full-time students with a permanent disability may be eligible for a certain amount of funding, calculated based on the student’s course load.
An $800 bursary is available if they:
qualify for a Canada student grant for persons with permanent disabilities; and,
are studying at a course load of 40% or greater.
A $400 bursary is available if they:
qualify for a Canada student grant for persons with permanent disabilities; and,
are studying at a course load of 20% to 39%.
Students will be automatically assessed for this bursary if they have previously submitted verification of their permanent or prolonged disability to StudentAid BC. If a student has not yet established their permanent or prolonged disability with StudentAid BC, they should be instructed to complete a disability programs application form.
Learning Disability Assessment Bursary
This bursary program helps part-time or full-time students with the up-front costs of the learning disabilities assessment.
Up to $1,800 is available to eligible students. If students have a learning disability, they need a recent learning disability assessment to determine eligibility for services and/or equipment.
Students may be eligible if they:
qualify for student funding through StudentAid BC;
are enrolled in full-time or part-time post-secondary level courses at a designated public post-secondary institution in BC; and
have been recommended to have a learning disability assessment by a Disability Service Provider at their school.
In order to apply, students are encouraged to speak to the accessibility office at their post-secondary institution, and to fill out a StudentAid BC form.
Other
Students living in BC may also be eligible for federal funding, including the Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities and Services and Equipment Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities.
To apply for either of these grants in BC, a student must apply and qualify for student financial assistance and complete the Appendix 8: Request for Permanent Disability Programs form.
ALBERTA
The following provides an overview of the grants and loans available to post-secondary students with disabilities in Alberta.
In Alberta, the student financial aid office is called Student Aid Alberta. This office assists students in applying for student loans, grants, scholarships and bursaries. Student Aid Alberta is run by the provincial government. The Student Aid Alberta Student Loans & Grants Funding Guide can be found here.
Student Aid Alberta offers the Alberta Grant for Students with Disabilities.
Alberta Grant for Students with Disabilities
The Alberta Grant for Students with Disabilities may be issued to a full-time student with a permanent or prolonged disability who is not eligible to receive the federal government’s Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Permanent Disabilities (CSGP), or who has eligible expenses not covered by this grant.
The maximum amount of the Alberta Grant for Students with Disabilities that may be issued is $3,000 per year (not to exceed the costs of the services and/or equipment required).
When a student meets the eligibility criteria for both the Canada Grant for Service and Equipment and for the Alberta Grant for Students with Disabilities, the Canada Grant for Services and Equipment funds are always allocated first.
Costs that may be covered by the Alberta Grant for Students with Disabilities include all services and equipment that are covered under the Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Permanent Disabilities, and some costs not covered under that grant.
Disability related transportation costs not covered by the Canada Grant for Service and Equipment, such as parking and fuel for distance travelled, could be considered eligible. For these costs to be allowed under the Alberta Grant for Students with Disabilities, an explanation needs to be provided that clearly establishes that public transportation is not an option.
To be eligible for the Alberta Grant for Students with Disabilities, a student must:
have a documented disability, either permanent or prolonged/persistent, and the requirement for services and/or equipment,
complete a Schedule 4 and have it approved by an authorized official;
be enrolled in a full‐time program (at least 60% of a full course load or at least 40% for a student where the reduced course load was documented);
meet all eligibility criteria for receiving provincial funding; and
have at least $1 of provincial calculated need.
In order to apply, students must have a form completed which is known as a ‘Schedule 4 form’. The most recent form for the 2022-23 school year can be found here.
Other
Students living in Alberta may also be eligible for federal funding, including the Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities and Services and Equipment Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities. In order to apply for these grants in Alberta, students must apply and qualify for student financial assistance, and complete the Schedule 4 form referenced above.
For
more information or guidance on disability supports within Alberta, the
province’s Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) program helps
eligible adults with planning and services to meet personal needs and
goals. You can visit their website here for more information.
SASKATCHEWAN
The following provides an overview of the grants and loans available to post-secondary students with disabilities in Saskatchewan.
The Government of Saskatchewan offers the Canada-Saskatchewan Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Permanent Disabilities.
Canada-Saskatchewan Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Permanent Disabilities
Students with permanent or prolonged/persistent disabilities, including ASD/ID who are enrolled in a program at a Saskatchewan post-secondary institution, may be eligible to receive the Canada-Saskatchewan Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Permanent Disabilities.
This grant provides up to $22,000 per program year, or $20,000 from the federal Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities and an extra $2,000 from the Saskatchewan Grant.
The services and/or equipment covered by these grants may include:
Tutors;
Note-takers;
Interpreters;
Readers;
Alternate format;
Assistive technology (computer, software, etc.);
Specialized transportation (to and from school);
Attendant care for studies; or
Reimbursements for learning disability assessments.
In order to qualify for this grant, students must submit a separate application for student loans and grants. The application package can be downloaded here.
During the application process, students will be required to submit a Verification of Permanent Disability Form. This form can be completed by a school’s disability adviser and/or a recognized disability organization. They will recommend the services a specific student should receive, as each person’s needs are unique.
After this (and pending approval), they will then receive an approval letter outlining the services/equipment that are being funded. The Canada-Saskatchewan grant money can only be put towards services and/or equipment outlined in this approval letter. Students will have to submit receipts for the approved items/services purchased as part of the grant process.
The Receipt of Support Services Form must be used to keep track of the service hours and costs such as Tutor, Note-taker, Exam Supervisor/Proctor and other services. Students must submit this form along with the other receipts.
How to Apply
Saskatchewan Student Service Centre recommends first talking to the accessibility advisor at a student’s educational institution for assistance throughout the process.
Detailed instructions on how to apply can be found here.
Adult Basic Education or Apprenticeship Program
Students enrolled in an adult basic education or apprenticeship program can apply for the Canada-Saskatchewan Grant without applying for a student loan (as is required by other post-secondary students). Students in this type of program may also be eligible for the Education and Training Incentive, which replaced the Provincial Training Allowance on July 1, 2022.
Other
Students living in Saskatchewan may also be eligible for federal funding, including the Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities. Students will be automatically assessed for this grant when they submit a student loan application, which can be done here.[Text Wrapping Break]
MANITOBA
The following provides an overview of the grants and loans available to post-secondary students with disabilities in Manitoba.
In Manitoba, the student financial aid office is called Manitoba Student Aid (MSA). This office assists students in applying for student loans, grants, scholarships and bursaries. As of July 4, 2022, the administration of the MSA program has been integrated with the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program (CSFA). More information on how this may affect you can be found here.
Funding offered in Manitoba includes the Manitoba Bursary and the Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiative.
Manitoba Bursary
Manitoba Student Aid offers the Manitoba Bursary to eligible students. These are needs-based bursaries that do not need to be paid back.
Students are automatically considered for this program when they submit their application for Canada and Manitoba Student Loans. There is no separate application for the Manitoba Bursary.
Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiative
Through the Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiative, the provincial government matches a lot of the private donations that schools receive from donors at a 1 to 2 ratio (1 government dollar for every 2 private dollars donated).
This means that the provincial government gives $6.75 million to schools each year, which then match these dollars to make more than $20 million available to students. Each school then divides this money into different types of non-repayable scholarships, grants and/or bursaries.
Schools eligible for the Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiatives, and links to their websites, can be found here.
Other
Students living in Manitoba are also eligible for federal funding, including the Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities and Services and Equipment Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities. To access these grants in Manitoba, students must first apply and qualify for financial assistance, which can be done here.
ONTARIO
The following provides an overview of the grants and loans available to post-secondary students with disabilities in Ontario.
In Ontario, the student financial aid office is called Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). They assist students in applying for student loans, grants, scholarships and bursaries. OSAP is run by the provincial government.
OSAP offers the Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD) for post-secondary students with disabilities, including ASD and ID.
Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD)
The Ontario government has combined the Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD) with the federal government’s Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities (CSG-PDSE). These two programs are intended to assist students in meeting the additional costs of equipment and supplies needed for their education. It is only for specialized equipment and services required for participating in post-secondary studies.
This may include funding for:
Note-takers;
Tutors;
Interpreters; or
Technical aids.
This bursary is needs-based. The amount of aid provided depends on the costs of a student’s required disability-related educational services and equipment.
To be eligible, students must be studying full-time at an approved public post-secondary institution, and in an approved program. Full-time is defined as a 40% course load or higher for students with ASD and/or ID. More information can be found here.
Students who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents, or who are from another province and have not resided in Ontario for at least 12 consecutive months, are not eligible.
The BSWD is made up of two components:
The federal Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Permanent Disabilities (maximum $20,000). Only students who have applied and qualified for OSAP are eligible for this portion of the BSWD.
Provincial bursary funding provided by the Ontario government (maximum $2,000). Students who are not eligible for loan funding may still be eligible for this bursary, including those with permanent and/or prolonged or persistent disabilities. In determining eligibility, disability-related education support costs are included in the calculation of eligible education costs in the Ontario portion of the Canada-Ontario Integrated Student Loan needs assessment.
Application
The BSWD/CSG-PDSE application outlines what supporting documents are required based on the student’s requested accommodations. It also outlines who to contact if a student needs help in completing their application. The BSWD/CSG-PDSE application form can be found here. Note: Only the 2021-22 form was found online. Readers are advised to check if completion of a more recent form is required.
Applications must be received by a student’s financial aid office no later than 60 days before the end of a student’s study period.
After applying, a student’s financial aid office will check the information and documentation to make sure it’s complete. Applications will then be assessed for eligibility, and determination of the most efficient and cost-effective method to fund the equipment and services required by the student.
Other
Students living in Ontario may also be eligible for federal funding, including the Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities. Students will be automatically assessed for this grant when they submit a student loan application, which can be done here.
QUÉBEC
The following provides an overview of the grants and loans available to post-secondary students with disabilities in Québec.
In Québec, the student financial aid office is called Québec Student Financial Assistance (Aide financière aux études). They assist students in applying for student loans, grants, scholarships and bursaries. Québec Student Financial Assistance is run by the provincial government.
Student Financial Assistance
The Student Financial Assistance (SFA) brochure contains information about eligibility criteria and categories of funding. It also details the rules that SFA uses to determine the amount of assistance to applicants.
SFA offers the Loans and Bursaries Program and the Allowance for Special Needs Program.
Loans and Bursaries Program
The Loans and Bursaries Program provides Québec students in need of financial support with resources to pursue full-time secondary school level vocational training, or studies at the college or university level.
This program is contributive in nature, meaning that students and, if applicable, their parents, spouse or sponsor, are primarily responsible for the cost of their education.
Students may be eligible for the Loans and Bursaries Program if they are part-time (enrolled in at least 20 course hours per month) and have ASD and/or ID.
Students with ASD/ID must submit a Major Functional Disabilities and Other Recognized Disabilities form, which is to be completed by a doctor. This form needs to be submitted only once.
If students qualify, they could:
Receive Québec Student Financial Assistance during a gap from studies, even if they are not an active student during that time, on the condition that they return to their studies in less than four months;
Receive an allowance for expenses related to their special needs;
Obtain self-supporting student status if they have been attending university for at least three years and have earned 45 credits in a single program; and/or,
Receive the full amount of their financial assistance as a bursary.
Allowance for Special Needs Program – Adults
Under the Allowance for Special Needs Program – Adults, students may be eligible to receive an allowance to cover the costs of the technical tools and material they require to allow them to pursue their secondary-level adult education and vocational training, or college and university education.
Students with special needs may qualify for financial assistance for the various types of support required to accommodate a student’s studies at a post-secondary institution.
Students must speak with an accessibility representative at their post-secondary institution who will need to fill out a component of the application. This individual will verify the types of assistance each student needs.
The eligible types of assistance vary according to the studies a student is pursuing. For a full list of eligible programs, read here. Each type of assistance must be recommended by a representative from the student’s educational institution, and is not guaranteed.
This may include specialized services, paratransit and housing allowance, or material resources, for the following types of expenses
Specialized services:
Reader
Note-taker
Transcriber
Interpreter
Attendant
Paratransit service and housing allowance:
Assistance paying for public transit
Transportation with a private passenger vehicle or carpooling
Taxi
Private transit
Housing allowance ($105/month)
Material resources – equipment that is required to pursue studies at home:
Specialized software
Computer access device
Desktop or laptop computer (up to $2,000)
Assistive communications device
Equipment repair or replacement
In order to apply, students are encouraged to speak with the accessibility office at their post-secondary institution, as they will be responsible for filling out certain components of the application.
If a student’s disability has not yet been recognized by SFA, they must, among other things, have a physician fill out the Medical Certificate – Major Functional Disabilities and Other Recognized Disabilities form. This form can be found on this page.
NEW BRUNSWICK
The following provides an overview of the grants and loans available to post-secondary students with disabilities in New Brunswick.
In New Brunswick, the student financial aid office is called Student Financial Services. All applicable federal and provincial student loans, grants and bursary programs for New Brunswick post-secondary students are administered by Student Financial Services.
Full-time post-secondary students seeking financial support must submit a single Student Financial Assistance application for a Canada-New Brunswick Integrated Student Loan. Each application will be assessed for a combination of non-repayable grants/bursaries and repayable loans from both the Government of New Brunswick and the Government of Canada.
To apply for Student Financial Assistance for Full-Time Post-Secondary Students in New Brunswick, please follow this link for more information.
Through Student Financial Services, the Government of New Brunswick offers the New Brunswick Bursary and the Renewed Tuition Bursary. These bursaries do not require a separate application. Each student’s eligibility will be automatically assessed by Student Financial Services based on their Student Financial Assistance application.
The New Brunswick Bursary
The New Brunswick Bursary (NBB) is available to eligible students with a permanent disability who are enrolled in over 40% of a full-time course load where assessed need is greater than the maximum student loans available. The maximum amount of NBB available to students is $130 per week of study.
Renewed Tuition Bursary
The Renewed Tuition Bursary (RTB) is a non-repayable provincial bursary designed to make post-secondary more accessible through the provision of increased upfront financial assistance. The goal of the RTB program is to ensure that a portion of tuition costs are covered for qualifying students. Please refer to the FAQ’s for more information on eligibility.
Through the RTB, students can receive up to $3,000 for university and $1,500 for college.
Other
Please note that a separate application is required if students are applying for the Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities and Services and Equipment Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities.
In order to qualify for these grants, students must verify their disability with the Canada-New Brunswick Financial Assistant Program Medical Assessment Form.
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
The following provides an overview of the grants and loans available to post-secondary students with disabilities in Prince Edward Island (PEI).
In PEI, the student financial aid office is called Prince Edward Island Student Financial Services. They assist students in applying for student loans, grants, bursaries and awards. Prince Edward Island Student Financial Services is run by the provincial government.
While there are no provincial financial supports for post-secondary students in PEI, they may be eligible for federal funding through the Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities and/or Services and Equipment Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities.
In order to access the Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities in PEI, students must apply and qualify for student financial assistance, and complete the Permanent Disability Medical Form.
Prince Edward Island Student Financial Services also offers a generic bursary to PEI students attending the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), Holland College, Maritime Christian College or College de l’Ile.
PEI Bursary
If a student is a PEI resident, they could receive $4,400 to $8,800 in bursaries, depending on their program of study. No application is required.
To receive this money, students must simply enroll as a first-time student at UPEI, Holland College, Maritime Christian College or College de l’Ile.
NOVA SCOTIA
The following provides an overview of the grants and loans available to post-secondary students with disabilities in Nova Scotia.
In Nova Scotia, the student financial aid office is called Nova Scotia Student Assistance. It assists students in applying for student loans, grants, scholarships and bursaries. Nova Scotia Student Assistance is run by the provincial government.
Nova Scotia Student Assistance offers the Nova Scotia Grant for Services and Equipment.
Nova Scotia Grant for Services and Equipment
With the Nova Scotia Grant for Services and Equipment, students with permanent disabilities pursuing post-secondary education may be eligible for non-repayable assistance for educational disability related services and/or equipment required to participate in the student’s program of study.
This grant may cover expenses like:
Tutors;
Note-takers;
Learning strategists;
Text to speech or dictation software; and/or
Technical aids.
To apply for the Nova Scotia Grant for Services and Equipment, students must first declare their disability through Nova Scotia Student Assistance. This can be done here.
Other
Students living in Nova Scotia may also be eligible for federal funding, including the Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities and Services and Equipment Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities.
In order to qualify for these grants, students must verify their disability through Nova Scotia Student Assistance and submit a student loan application (can be done here).
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
The following provides an overview of the grants and loans available to post-secondary students with disabilities in Newfoundland and Labrador.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, student financial aid is managed through the Department of Education. They assist students in applying for student loans, grants, scholarships and bursaries. More information specific to students with disabilities can be found here.
Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Student Financial Assistance Program
The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Student Financial Assistance Program provides additional benefits to assist eligible students with permanent disabilities with accessing and successfully completing a post-secondary education.
As a student with a verified permanent or prolonged/persistent disability:
You may be eligible for up to a non-repayable grant up to $4,000 per academic year
You have access to extra time (520 weeks of funding) to complete your program with the help of student financial assistance;
You may qualify as a full-time student with a smaller, more manageable course load (40% of a full course load); and/or,
You may qualify for extra funding that is specifically designed to help you pay for exceptional educational-related expenses related to your disability, such as transportation, specialized equipment, specialized textbooks, learning support services, and more.
To be eligible, you must have a disability which is defined as any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment – or a functional limitation – that:
Restricts your ability to perform the daily activities necessary to pursue studies at a post-secondary school level or to participate in the labour force; and
Has lasted, or is expected to last, for a period of at least 12 month or is expected to remain for your expected life.
Note: You must provide supporting documents to verify your disability. Documentation is normally only required once.
Other
Students living in Newfoundland and Labrador may also be eligible for federal funding, including the Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities and the Services and Equipment Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities.
Students may also be eligible for the Provincial Grant for High Need Students with Disabilities in circumstances where education-related costs associated with a diagnosis exceed the amount available through federal grants (i.e., greater than $20,000). Eligibility for the Provincial Grant for High Need Students is automatically assessed when you apply for the federal Services and Equipment Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities, and no additional application is required.
In order to qualify for these grants, students in Newfoundland and Labrador must complete a Verification of Eligibility Form. To access the Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities in Newfoundland and Labrador, students must apply and qualify for student financial assistance, and complete the Application for Services and Equipment form.
If these forms are no longer up-to-date, you can visit this page to find the most recent form.
YUKON
The following provides an overview of the grants and loans available to post-secondary students with disabilities in the Yukon.
The Government of Yukon’s student financial aid office offers the Yukon Grant.
The Yukon Grant
The Yukon Grant is available for Yukon students who are taking full-time post-secondary classes at a designated institution. Students with disabilities, including ASD and ID, are eligible for the Yukon Grant even if they aren’t taking a full course load.
With the Yukon Grant, students can receive up to 170 weeks of funding over their lifetime. They must continue to meet eligibility requirements.
Travel Amount
Students going to school outside of the territory may also be eligible for an annual travel amount of $1,500. Students are automatically assessed for this amount, and the travel amount is typically included with the first Yukon Grant payment.
Information about applying for the Yukon Grant can be found here.
Other
As a territory in Canada, students living in the Yukon may also be eligible for federal funding, including the Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities and Services and Equipment Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities. Information on how to apply for these grants in the Yukon can be found here.
To apply for either of these grants in the Yukon, a student must apply and qualify for student financial assistance, and complete the Schedule D Canada Student Loan Application for Grants for Students with Permanent Disabilities.
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
The following provides an overview of the grants and loans available to post-secondary students with disabilities in the Northwest Territories (NWT).
In NWT, the student financial aid office is called NWT Student Financial Assistance (SFA). It assists students in applying for student loans, grants, scholarships and bursaries. Student Financial Assistance is managed by the territorial government.
Student Financial Assistance Program Overview
Through the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, SFA offers financial assistance to NWT residents attending accredited post-secondary institutions and programs through the SFA Program. More information on the SFA, including up-to-date resources can be found here.
SFA offers three funding programs for post-secondary students with disabilities, including ASD and ID:
Basic Grant
Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities
Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Permanent Disabilities
The amount of funding that each student can receive from SFA grants depends on a classification called a ‘student category’. There are three student categories as designated by SFA:
Northern Indigenous Resident – offered to students who are Dene, Métis, Inuvialuit, or Inuit
Northern Resident Schooled in the NWT – offered to students who successfully completed one or more of grades 1 through 12 in the NWT
Northern Resident Not Schooled in the NWT – offered to students who were not residents of the NWT while attending grades 1 through 12.
Basic Grant:
Basic Grant provides:
up to $2,400 in funding for tuition and fees per semester;
up to $550 for books per semester; and,
funding for travel fees associated with travelling to the nearest institution offering student’s program of choice.
In order to be eligible for the Basic Grant, a student will have to provide documentation of their disability, and explain the way in which it limits their ability to participate fully in post-secondary studies.
The Basic Grant is available to the following student groups: Northern Indigenous Resident and Northern Resident Schooled in the NWT.
Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities:
The Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities is $2,000 per academic year, disbursed over 2 semesters ($1,000 increments at the beginning of each semester).
It assists with the additional costs of:
tuition fees and books;
travel; and/or
accommodation.
The Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities is available to the following student groups: Northern Indigenous Resident, Northern Resident Schooled in the NWT, and Northern Resident Not Schooled in the NWT.
The Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Permanent Disabilities:
The Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Permanent Disabilities is available for up to $8,000 reimbursed per academic year.
It assists with costs associated with:
Tutor;
Interpreter – oral, sign, note-taker;
Reader;
Transportation – to and from school daily depending on circumstance;
Special equipment; and/or
One-time medical assessment – 75% of the cost up to a maximum of $1,000.
The Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Permanent Disabilities is available to the following student groups: Northern Indigenous Resident, Northern Resident Schooled in the NWT, and Northern Resident Not Schooled in the NWT.
Application
To apply for any of the three SFA programs outlined above, students must complete and submit an application each academic year. Applications can be downloaded here or students can apply online. Students with ASD/ID should check the box “NWT Study Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities” in Section 2 (page 2) of the SFA application.
Students applying for SFA online for the first time will need a Web Access Code (WAC), which can be requested here. Students will then be able to log into the NWT SFA website (‘MyECE’) and apply for student financial assistance.
Annual deadlines for SFA applications are:
June 30 for programs starting between August 1 to September 30;
October 31 for programs starting in January; and
One month prior to the program start date for all other months.
NUNAVUT
The following provides an overview of the grants and loans available to post-secondary students with disabilities in Nunavut.
In Nunavut, the student financial aid office is called Financial Assistance for Nunavut Students (FANS). This office assists students in applying for student loans, grants, scholarships and bursaries. FANS is run by the territorial government.
In order to receive financial assistance through FANS, a student must:
Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
Be a resident of Nunavut (live in Nunavut) for at least 12 months before applying for FANS;
Enroll in a program that is at least twelve weeks in duration at Nunavut Arctic College or another designated post-secondary institution;
Be a full-time student (carry at least 60% of a full course load) as defined by a student’s institution;
Be studying towards a certificate, diploma or degree; and
Demonstrate satisfactory progress and attendance.
The FANS program recognizes three categories of students. These are:
Nunavut Beneficiaries: If a student is a Beneficiary under the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement, they are eligible for basic and supplementary grants, which they do not have to pay back. They are also eligible for needs assessed loans.
Nunavut Residents with Nunavut Schooling: If a student is a Nunavut resident with some or all of their elementary or secondary schooling in Nunavut, they qualify for one year of a basic grant for each three years of school that they successfully completed in Nunavut, which they do not have to pay back. Students are also eligible for primary, secondary and needs assessed loans.
Nunavut Residents without Nunavut Schooling: If a student is a resident of Nunavut, but did not attend school in the territory or have fewer than three years of schooling in the territory, they are eligible for loans only. These students are entitled to a primary loan to cover one year of post-secondary education for each three years that they have been a resident of Nunavut. They must return to live and work in Nunavut to have these loans forgiven. Secondary loans must be repaid in full.
Basic Grant
The Basic Grant is to help students with costs associated with tuition, school fees and travel.
The Basic Grant provides a maximum of $3,428 per semester as well as the actual costs of airfare to and from a student’s home community and the closest gateway city to their institution or to the Nunavut Arctic College campus they will be attending. This includes a student’s spouse and dependents.
The Basic Grant is available to the following student categories: Nunavut Beneficiary and Nunavut Residents with Nunavut Schooling.
Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities
This grant is intended to help with the extraordinary costs associated with post-secondary studies for those with permanent disabilities.
This grant allows up to $8,000 for equipment and services directly related to a student’s training or up to $1,000 for each full credit distance/correspondence course. Students can apply to this grant at any time during the academic year.
In order to qualify for this grant, students must provide a medical or learning ability assessment by a certified medical professional describing the manner in which their disability impacts on their ability to participate in post-secondary studies. The Disability Assessment Form can be found here.
Application
Students are encouraged to read more about the FANS application process here.
For students new to post-secondary education, they are instructed to fill out a new application form, which can be found here. Students who have already received support from FANS, but are requesting it to continue, must complete this form annually. FANS will send an acknowledgement letter after they receive a student’s application or continuation form.
The most recent FANS Handbook can be found here. For further information or inquiries, FANS recommends contacting them by email: fans@gov.nu.ca, fansloans@gov.nu.ca, fanstravel@gov.nu.ca
The Disability Grant Application can be found here.
Photo by Vasily Koloda on Unsplash
