In many cases, nowhere is that this more evident than within the lives of disabled students.
For many Canadians with disabilities, it’s an uphill battle to even pursue post-secondary education. Actually, Data from Statistics Canada notes that youth ages 20 to 24 with disabilities are less more likely to attend school than their peers without disabilities. At the identical time, more students are working alongside their studies, and students with disabilities are sometimes at an obstacle in each areas, as they face higher rates of underemployment and lower earnings while the price of living increases.
Nevertheless, there are supports which are intended to cut back the burden somewhat and provides disabled students more room to focus on completing their studies and preparing for the job market.
Starting from the baseline
Before we delve into federal and provincial programs, it’s helpful to begin with the muse: the talents and planning that could make post-secondary education less financially burdensome for college students with disabilities. Seanna Takacs, PhD, senior lecturer in accessibility services at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and outgoing co-chair of the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services (CACUSS), says disabled students often need to grasp their financial realities before their peers.
“I think students with disabilities need to have opportunities to budget younger, earlier, and more thoroughly…What does it mean to have an emergency fund? What does it mean to have savings? Things like that that you wouldn’t emphasize as much to any other 18 or 19 year old.”
How to Pay for School and Live a Life – A Guide for Students and Parents
In practice, this implies knowing about programs just like the Disability Tax Credit or the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP). In some cases, which means taking up responsibilities that transcend typical student budgeting, akin to coordinating personal care support, a process some locally check with as your personal human resources department. Being a disabled student often means being conscious about financial support from social safety nets and family.
Takacs compares the experience to an already burdened start.
“You add brick after brick after brick. And it can be too hard for anyone. When it comes to financial matters and you’re a student with a disability, you’re already starting with a wheelbarrow full of bricks.”
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Reducing this burden often begins with understanding government funding, including the Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment and the Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities. These programs will help offset the prices of not only services but additionally adaptive equipment. Some common examples include computers, text-to-speech software, magnification tools, noise-cancelling headphones, and subscriptions to productivity services.
But federal subsidies are only a part of the image in the case of making postsecondary education more cost-effective for college students with disabilities.
Check out scholarships and financial aid
It could appear obvious, but many university students – disabled or not – leave money on the table just by not applying for scholarships. Millions of dollars in scholarships, the truth is remain unclaimed yearly. Whatever college or university you select, it’s value testing the funding options available, including awards specifically for college students with disabilities.
There are also databases and organizations that help students with more comprehensive searches. The National Educational Association of Disabled StudentsFor example, maintains a scholarship database which you could filter by province. In addition, a lot of disability-focused nonprofits and corporations offer targeted awards, including organizations akin to Accessible Media Inc., the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Canada and company sponsors akin to Deloitte Canada.
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While the proverbial headlines may speak of ever-increasing tuition costs, students with disabilities may additionally find it useful to study supports akin to housing insecurity grants, food banks, and other resources of this sort.
Takacs says constructing that support network often comes right down to knowing where to ask. She points specifically to the financial aid and accessibility offices on campus, noting that employees in these roles often find funding and resources that aren’t immediately visible to students. She even describes financial aid staff as “wizards” because they can uncover supports that students may not know exist.
This could also be particularly true for college students who’ve just begun to grapple with disability identity or are only starting to grasp the range of supports that could be available to them
Keep track of your eligibility
To use Takacs’ wheelbarrow stuffed with rocks analogy, considered one of the heaviest burdens can simply be continuing to be entitled to the support one already relies on. Many disability-related programs, including the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), have ongoing eligibility requirements that it’s essential to meet throughout the varsity 12 months and beyond. Similarly, Canada Student Loans require you to take care of a minimum course load, which is mostly lower for college students with disabilities but doesn’t completely waive. The last item you would like is to show to the federal government to maintain the funds you would like.
