SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES  

Have you been diagnosed with a Permanent Disability? “Permanent Disability” for the purposes of student financial aid, means, 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 fully in studies at a post-secondary level or in the labour force and is expected to remain with the person for the person’s expected natural life. 

**Note: Not all medical conditions are considered permanent disabilities.

1. Grants and Bursaries
2. Services and Equipment
3. Learning Disability Assessment Bursary
4. Student Loan Forgiveness
5. Other Resources

Grants and Bursaries:

Grants and bursaries are non-repayable funds disbursed by StudentAid BC to a students. In order to receive a grant, students may need to apply for a student loan and complete the permanent disability programs application. See an Academic and Financial Planner for details.

• Assistance Program for Students with Permanent Disabilities
• BC Access Grant for Deaf Students
• BC Access Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities
• BC supplemental bursary for students with a permanent disability 
• Canada grant for students with permanent disabilities
• Canada grant for services and equipment for students with permanent disabilities

Services and Equipment:

• Visits with students in secondary schools and other settings
• Orientation to campus
• Liaison between students and instructors
• Exit planning
• Readers
• Note takers
• Tutors
• Interpreters
• Personal, educational and career counselling
• Exam adaptation
• Preferred parking
• CCTV
• Access to taped books
• Some access to large print books
• Computers with screen readers and large print systems
• Tape recorders
• TTY/TDD
• Referrals to Assistive Technology BC (AT-BC)

 Learning Disability Assessment Bursary:

The Learning Disability Assessement Bursary (LDAB): is a provincial financial needs based bursary to assist students with the up-front costs of a learning disability assessment. Students with a learning disability require a recent (within 5 years) learning disability assessment to establish they have a permanent disability and are therefore eligible for StudentAid BC disability related programs.

This grant program is available to full-time students attending BC public post-secondary institutions studying at the post-secondary level only. Eligibility for LDAB will be assessed based on the learning disability screening tool and the recommendation of the Academic and Financial Planner. LDAB is intended to cover the costs of the Learning Disability Assessment only. As student may receive up to $1800 once in a lifetime only.

Student Loan Forgiveness:

Full-time students with a permanent disability may be eligible for a grant to replace about $1000 in BC student loan funding.

Other resources:

Assistive Technology BC (ATBC): provides assistive technology services to support post-secondary students or employees who have a disability.

BC College and Institute Library Services (CILS): provides information services in alternate formats for BC post secondary students with print disabilities.

Resource Directory of Programs and Services: provides information for potential students and their counselors, families, and referral agencies on programs and services for students with disabilities at public post-secondary institutions.

Post Secondary Communication Access Services (PCAS): a province-wide service to support students with hearing loss.

CPP Disability Vocational Rehabilitation Program: offers vocational counselling, financial support for training, and job search services to people who receive CPP Disability Benefits to help them return to work.

BC Employment and Assistance Program (BCEA): helps adults 18 or over who have a physical or mental impairment that significantly restricts their ability to perform daily living activities such as monthly support and shelter allowance, various supplements, better medical coverage, low-cost annual bus passes, career planning services; job training, and earnings exemptions of up to $300/month.