Frequently Asked Questions

Guidance counsellors should have knowledge on each post-secondary institution’s strengths and weaknesses with regard to academic programs and disability accommodations. If you are not receiving the type of support you need from the guidance counsellor at your school, please contact the Canadian Counselling Association to find out about other avenues of help. Canadian Counselling Association 116 Albert St, Suite 702 Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5G3 Telephone: (613) 237-1099 Toll-free: (877) 765-5565 Fax: (613) 237-9786 Email: info@ccacc.ca Web site: http://www.ccacc.ca

There are many ways to be a good self-advocate at the post-secondary level. First and foremost, you must believe that you are worth all that you desire. Maintaining good self-esteem will help you build positive relationships with others. Second, be proactive. Ask for accommodations early and follow the proper procedures to receive your accommodations. Third, join a disabled students’ group on campus that can help guide you in being a good self-advocate. Also, volunteering your time to a worthwhile cause or organization can be fulfilling. Find an organization that can help you build self-esteem, and that teaches you the assertiveness and confidence that will be crucial when asking for accommodations at school. If you would like to find more information on being a good self-advocate, contact your local Independent Living Centre through the Independent Living Canada (http://www.cailc.ca), or a member group of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) in your province.

All educational institutions have a legal obligation to provide reasonable accommodation, up to the point of ‘undue hardship,’ in order to ensure equity for students with disabilities. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the various provincial charters prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability, and post-secondary institutions have been mindful of the obligation to create an accessible environment dictated by these charters. Canadian colleges and universities are now beginning to articulate the rights of disabled students as they develop educational equity policy statements. It is recommended that disabled students contact their disability services office for more information: http://www.neads.ca/en/norc/edlink/ Other organizations that can help clarify the legal aspects of disability accommodations include: ARCH Disability Law Centre, Council of Canadians With Disabilities and Reach Canada. ARCH is “a non-profit community legal clinic which defends and promotes the equality rights of people with disabilities through litigation, law and policy reform, and legal education.” You can contact ARCH at its Toronto office: Advocacy Resource Centre for the Handicapped (ARCH) 425 Bloor Street East, Suite 110 Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3R5 Telephone: (416) 482-8255 TTY: (416) 482-1254 E-mail: archlib@lao.on.ca Web site: http://www.archdisabilitylaw.ca/ Reach Canada is “an Ottawa-based voluntary organization that empowers people with disabilities to remove barriers in education, work and the general community.” Contact Reach at: Reach 400 Coventry Road Ottawa, Ontario, K1K 2C7 Telephone: (613) 236-6636 TTY: (613) 236-9478 Fax: (613) 236-6605 Toll-free: (800) 465-8898 E-mail: reach@reach.ca Web site: http://www.reach.ca

There are many financial assistance programs available for college and university study through the provincial, territorial and federal governments. A number of non-governmental organizations such as the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (www.aucc.ca), the Canadian Paraplegic Association (www.canparaplegic.org), the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada (www.ldac-taac.ca), the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (http://www.chha.ca/chha/) and the Alliance for the Equality of Blind Canadians (http://www.blindcanadians.ca/ ) also offer designated scholarships or bursaries to support the post-secondary education of students with disabilities. Many schools establish bursaries for students with disabilities. Contact the Awards office at your college or university of choice for further information. You can also check out the Financial Aid Directory available on the National Educational Association of Disabled Students’ (NEADS) Web site: http://www.neads.ca/en/norc/funding/ Don’t forget that there are plenty of bursaries, awards and scholarships that are open to all students. We encourage you to research directories on this subject, which are usually available in both school and public libraries. There are also funding references on the Internet, such as at http://www.studentawards.com, that might be of help.

Effective August 1, 2000, the Canada Study Grant for students with disabilities includes as an eligible education-related expense, 75% of the cost of a diagnostic assessment for learning disabilities (up to a maximum of $1,200 per loan year). The $1,200 is included in the maximum entitlement of $8,000 per loan year under the Canada Study Grant for disabled students. Qualifying students must pay for their assessment up-front and will then be reimbursed through the CSG. For further information contact: Human Resources Development Canada Canada Student Loans Program P.O. Box 2090, Station ‘D’ Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 6C9 Telephone: (819) 994-1844 Toll-free: (888) 432-7377 Web site: http://www.canlearn.ca The Learning Disabilities Association of Canada (LDAC) is another valuable resource for information on assessments, where to have them done, and options for supporting the cost. The Association may be contacted at: Learning Disabilities Association of Canada (LDAC) 323 Chapel Street Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 7Z2 Telephone: (613) 238-5721 E-mail: information@ldac-taac.ca Web site: http://www.ldac-taac.ca

Students with disabilities may find themselves in a situation where it becomes necessary to study in a province/territory other than the one in which they are a resident. Such a decision may be a result of the inaccessibility of post-secondary institutions that offer the student’s choice of academic program close to home. It may also relate more directly to the student’s disability. It is recommended that students with disabilities contact their provincial student aid authority and/or ministry of community and social services to find out about the impact of choosing to study out-of-province on the coverage of disability and educational costs.

The federal Budget 2008 announced a series of changes to the Canada Student Loans Program to help more students with permanent disabilities attend university, college or trade school. The key elements are: • Recognizing previous assessments of permanent disability in determining eligibility for specific debt-management measures so that students will not have to send in documentation repeatedly. • Treating all borrowers with permanent disabilities compassionately by eliminating time restrictions on forgiveness of loans issued from 1995 to 2000 (risk-shared loans). • Offering a new Accelerated Repayment Assistance Plan for borrowers with a permanent disability who do not qualify for immediate loan forgiveness. • Providing immediate loan forgiveness for borrowers who will never be able to repay their student loans due to a severe permanent disability. Accelerated Repayment Assistance Plan. Effective fall 2009, an Accelerated Repayment Assistance Plan will be available to borrowers with a permanent disability. For the first time, Canada Student Loans will offer repayment assistance designed for borrowers with a disability. This assistance will ensure the following: • Disabled borrowers with low incomes will not be required to make loan payments, and will see their debt gradually written off over 10 years. • The calculation of repayment assistance will factor in the extra costs faced by disabled borrowers, reducing the amount of their affordable payment compared with that of other borrowers. These changes build on existing programs for students with permanent disabilities, which include extended eligibility for loan assistance. Students with a permanent disability will continue to receive grant assistance similar to what is available through the Canada Access Grants for Students with Permanent Disabilities and Canada Study Grants for the Accommodation of Students with Permanent Disabilities. The Government of Canada understands that students with permanent disabilities face additional barriers to post-secondary education. These new measures support the inclusion of students with a permanent disability by enhancing their ability to benefit from educational opportunities and to develop workplace skills while making it easier for them to repay their student loans if they encounter difficulties after school. Since 2000, Canada Student Loans have been directly financed by the Government of Canada through the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC). To provide efficient service, one division of the NSLSC is responsible for serving borrowers attending public institutions (universities or public colleges). The other division is responsible for serving borrowers attending private vocational institutions (career colleges or trade schools). Borrowers attending a public university, college or technical institution should contact the National Student Loans Service Centre ­ Public Institutions Division Toll-free: 1-888-815-4514 (within North America) Telephone: 1-800-225-2501 (outside North American plus appropriate country code) TTY: 1-888 815-4556 Web site: http://www.canlearn.ca/cgi-bin/gateway/canlearn/id/nslsc.asp Borrowers attending a private trade school, vocational institution or career college should contact the National Student Loans Service Centre ­ Private Institutions Division Toll-free: 1-866-587-7452 (within North America) Telephone: (416) 503-6671 (outside North America, you may call collect) TTY: 1-800-855-0511 Web site: http://www.canlearn.ca/cgi-bin/gateway/canlearn/id/nslsc.asp Human Resources and Social Development Canada Student Loans Program P.O. Box 2090, Station “D” Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 6C6

Many colleges and universities across Canada have either a campus group of students with disabilities or an accessibility committee. Some schools have both types of organizations. Contact your students’ association or the office that provides disability services on your campus to find out if there is a group at your school and how you can become involved in meetings and other activities. If you would like to find out more about these groups visit this page of the NEADS web site: http://www.neads.ca/en/norc/campusnet/groups.php

You should get in touch with the Office for Disability Issues (ODI) of Human Resources Skills Development Canada (HRSDC). The ODI describes its mandate in this way: “…to support the lead minister for disability issues in the Government of Canada and work with all sectors of society to ensure the equitable access and effective participation of Canadians with disabilities in all activities within federal jurisdiction. The objective is to share information and support networking with other federal government departments as well as with non-governmental organizations.” Contact the ODI at: Office for Disability Issues (ODI) 1st Floor, 105 Hôtel de Ville Gatineau, Quebec, K1A 0J9 Telephone: (819) 997-2412 Web site: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/disability_issues/

The Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) unites 500,000 students who are members of over 80 college and university students’ unions across Canada. By lobbying, conducting research, mobilizing members, and organizing campaigns the Federation works to ensure a high quality system of post-secondary education that is accessible to all. Within the Federation there is a Constituency Group for Students with Disabilities. Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) 338C Somerset Street West Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 0J9 Telephone: (613) 232-7394 Fax: (613) 232-0276 E-mail: web@cfs-fcee.ca Web site: http://www.cfs-fcee.ca The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) is an alliance of students associations and student unions representing over 300,000 students from 23 post-secondary institutions in Canada. CASA represents and defends the interests of post-secondary students to federal and inter-provincial levels of government. Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) P.O. Box Station D Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 6H8 Telephone: (613) 236-3457 E-mail: casacomm@casa.ca Web site: http://www.casa.ca/

The National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS) is a consumer organization with a mandate to encourage the self-empowerment of post-secondary students and graduates with disabilities. NEADS advocates for increased accessibility at all levels so that disabled students may gain equal access to college or university education. The Association provides information on services and programs for students with disabilities nationwide, publishes a regular newsletter, has an extensive web site, and conducts research on issues of importance to its members. Members include disabled students, campus organizations and accessibility committees, educators, and professional service providers. NEADS is governed by a twelve person board of directors with representatives from the provinces and territories. Board members are all students or recent graduates with disabilities. You can contact NEADS at the national office: The National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS) Rm. 426, Unicentre Carleton University Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6 Telephone: (613) 380-8065 TTY: (613) 526-8008 Fax: (613) 369-4391 E-mail: info@neads.ca Web-site: http://www.neads.ca

The Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) represents people with disabilities across the country. CCD works to improve the status of disabled people through the monitoring of federal legislation as it impacts on people with disabilities. The Council includes in its membership provincial groups from coast to coast, along with equality-seeking national consumer organizations of people with disabilities. CCD publishes a quarterly newsletter called “A Voice of Our Own”, and has many committees that address specific issues, including transportation, human rights and youth. NEADS is a member of CCD and sits on its national council. Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) 926-294 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3C 0B9 Telephone: (204) 947-0303 TTY: (204) 947-0303 E-mail: ccd@ccdonline.ca Web site: http://www.ccdonline.ca

You should speak with the office responsible for disability services at your school of choice. A service provider should be able to provide you with all of the information you need. Schools often have campus maps showing the location of elevators, automatic doors, accessible washrooms, ramps, curb cuts etc. Also, many schools offer campus orientation sessions for students with disabilities. A tour of the campus can probably be arranged during orientation so you can check out the facilities first hand. If you don’t have contact information, visit the NEADS web site and check out the EdLink section, which will allow you to search schools by province and territory and access the web sites of the service centres

Make an appointment with your professors and the service provider on your campus several weeks before your courses begin and discuss your accommodations. A faculty department secretary usually can tell you who will be teaching your course. Develop a schedule with the professor to determine when you will need a specific chapter or article in an alternative format and work with the disability services office to ensure that the materials reach you in a timely manner. It will be important to receive reading lists from professors well in advance, so you will have alternative format materials when you need them.

Many schools have volunteers that put books on tape. There are post-secondary institutions that also produce materials in Braille and do scanning of texts. Some provincial programs provide funding for the production of materials in alternative forms and it is recommended that you investigate this option.

Depending upon where you are going to school, there are a number of organizations/centres where you can get books on tape, including the following: • The Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) http://www.cnib.ca • The W. Ross MacDonald School (Brantford, Ontario) http://www.wrms.ca/ • Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic (Princeton, New Jersey) http://www.rfbd.org • The Crane Resource Centre and Library (Vancouver, British Columbia) http://www.library.ubc.ca/home/access/crane.html • The Ferguson Library (Halifax, Nova Scotia) http://www.smu.ca/administration/atlcentre/ • BC College Institute and Library Services: http://www.langara.bc.ca/cils/ • AMICUS - Library and Archives Canada: http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/amicus/

Services and accommodations vary greatly from one school to the next. Some typical services include: tutors, note-takers in class, extended time for tests/exams, oral exams, access to computers with adaptive hardware and software, an adaptive technology centre, assistance with research in libraries, sign language interpretation in lectures, texts on tape, communication with faculty regarding accommodations in the classroom, special parking permits for mobility impaired students, orientation sessions, attendant services, and accessible transportation. The fact of the matter is, all students require different accommodations depending upon their disabilities and individual circumstances. Speak to a service provider at your school of choice to find out what is available to support students with disabilities in their pursuit of accessible education.

Contact the disability services office and/or health services centre on your campus to find out about the level of medical support and attendant services offered at the post-secondary institution. You may also want to ask about hours of service and qualifications of personnel.

This will depend upon the school that you attend. Of course, some of the services that you receive may be covered by provincial or federal funding programs that you are eligible for, while other services will be supported by your school. Some colleges and universities charge for tutors, notetaking, large-print transcription, photocopying etc. If in doubt, talk to the coordinator of the service centre on your campus.