Permanent disability

A permanent disability is 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 postsecondary school level or to participate in the labour force, and
• is expected to remain with you for your expected life.

If you self-identify as a student with a disability but your disability is not permanent (see definition above), then select “No” to the question “Is your disability permanent?”.

• For 2021-22 applications, if you select “No” to the question “Is your disability permanent?”, then you would be considered to have a temporary disability (see related definition below).
• For 2022-23 applications, if you select “No” to the question “Is your disability permanent?”, then an additional question would populate to ask, “Is your disability persistent or prolonged?” (see related definition below).

Persistent or prolonged disability

Note: this definition will come into effect beginning in the 2022-23 academic year.

A persistent or prolonged disability is 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 postsecondary school level or to participate in the labour force,
• has lasted, or is expected to last, for a period of at least 12 months, and
• is not a permanent disability.

Temporary disability

Note: this definition is in effect for 2021-22 Micro-credentials applications.

A temporary disability is a functional limitation that is:

• caused by a physical or mental impairment that restricts your ability to perform the daily activities necessary to participate in studies at a postsecondary school level or in the labour force, and
• is not expected to remain with you for your expected life.