Government of Ontario

Canada

2014-2015 Ontario Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD) Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Persons with Permanent Disabilities (CSG-PDSE)

How It Works

You can get funding to help pay for disability-related equipment and/or services required for your education. The funding comes from the Government of Ontario through the Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD) and from the Government of Canada through the Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Persons with Permanent Disabilities (CSG-PDSE). You will be considered for both programs by filling out this application form.

To be eligible for the Canada program you must have a permanent disability, which is defined as a functional limitation:

• caused by a physical or mental impairment;
• that restricts your ability to perform the daily activities necessary to participate in studies at a postsecondary level or the labour force; and
• that is expected to remain with you for your whole life.

To be eligible for the Ontario program, you must have either a permanent or a temporary disability.

You must provide supporting documents to verify your disability. Documentation is usually only required once by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (the ministry). However, the ministry or your school can ask for additional documentation at any time to confirm or re-establish disability status.

Steps to Follow in Completing Your Application

All services and equipment must be recommended by your physician, other regulated health care practitioner, or a disability advisor at your school:

• If you’re attending a publicly-assisted Ontario college or university, make an appointment with a disability advisor at your school to discuss your disability-related educational needs and the type of documentation you require. They can also answer any questions you may have about completing your application.
• If you’re attending a private postsecondary school in Ontario or a postsecondary school outside of Ontario, discuss your disability-related educational needs and proof of disability documentation requirements with a disability advisor at your school, your physician, other regulated health practitioner, or contact the ministry for assistance at 1-877-OSAP-411 (toll free in North America) or (807)343-7260 or 1-800-465-3958 (TTY).

Begin your application process before your classes begin as it may take time to get all the required documentation.

Where to Send Your Application

• If you’re attending a publicly-assisted Ontario college or university:your completed application form must be sent to your school’s Financial Aid Office and all documentation requirements will be verified by that office. Staff at your school’s Office for Students with Disabilities is available to help you to complete your application and explain your documentation requirements. They will also work with the Financial Aid Office at your school in assessing your eligibility for funding.
• If you’re attending a private postsecondary school in Ontario or any postsecondary school outside of Ontario: have your school's Financial Aid Office review, sign, and send your completed application form and all documentation to:
  
         Student Financial Assistance Branch
         Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
         P.O. Box 4500, 189 Red River Road, 4th Floor
         Thunder Bay ON  P7B 6G9
  

Application and Supporting Document Deadlines

Your completed application must be received no later than 60 days before the end of your study period. All supporting documentation must be received no later than 40 days before the end of your study period. Any approved funds cannot be released to you until your school has confirmed your enrolment.

Documentation Required With Your Application

You must provide the following supporting documents (as applicable) to support your application:

• Proof of your disability in ONE of the following formats:
  • If you are a person diagnosed with a learning disability, you must provide a psycho-educational assessment performed by a registered psychologist or psychological associate. The assessment must have been completed when you were at least 18 years of age or within the past five (5) years; OR
  • If you are attending a publicly-assisted Ontario college or university, visit your school’s Office for Students with Disabilities to receive instruction on providing proof of disability. Your school may have a disability verification form used to outline any academic accommodation required from your school that may also be used to determine your eligibility for disability-related OSAP funding; OR
  • If you are attending a private postsecondary school in Ontario or any postsecondary school outside of Ontario, please complete the OSAP Disability Verification Form, available on the OSAP website at www.ontario.ca/osap; OR
  • Documentation provided from your physician or other regulated health care practitioner that clearly states the following information:
    • diagnosis;
    • impact of your disability(ies) your participation in postsecondary studies;
    • permanence of your disability (temporary or permanent), and
    • the physician or health care practitioner’s name and contact information
• A written recommendation for the services and/or equipment being requested from a disability advisor at your school and/or provided as part of the proof of disability documentation from your physician or other regulated health care practitioner.
• Estimates for the cost of any requested service(s) (e.g., tutors, note takers), which must include the following:
  • hourly cost of each service;
  • total hours per week of each service (cannot exceed weekly in-class time);
  • total number of weeks you will be using each service;
  • which of the courses you are taking require the service; and,
  • the name and contact information for the person or agency providing each service.
• Receipts for the cost of equipment, software, and/or a psycho-educational assessment purchased before your study period start date and/or for any other service or equipment purchased during your study period but prior to funding approval (see below for further instructions).

How Your Service and/or Equipment Costs are Considered

You may be reimbursed for the cost of the recommended disability-related equipment and software purchased no more than 60 days prior to your study period start date. Costs for psycho-educational assessments performed after February 1, 2014 may also be reimbursed. All amounts approved are subject to caps. Also note the following:

• Any purchases made prior to the approval of funding are at your own risk as they will not necessarily be considered for your BSWD/CSG-PDSE application. Reimbursement will only be provided if all eligibility requirements are met and you have a clearly documented need for the items purchased.
• Receipts for purchases made prior to approval of funding must be submitted with your application.
• All other purchases (equipment and/or services) must be made within your study period.
• All approved purchases MUST be made before the end of your study period.

Documentation Required After Your Application is Approved

You must provide receipts for your approved services and/or equipment as follows:

• Equipment and/or software receipts: must be provided no later than 30 days after you receive your funding.
• Services receipts: must be provided no later than 30 days after the end of your study period. You must provide a time log of your tutoring and note taking services to accompany receipts for these items.

If receipts are not provided and/or you do not use all of the funds provided to you in your study period, you must return the un-receipted/unused funding. Failure to do so may result in being restricted from receiving any further OSAP funding, 30% Off Ontario Tuition grant, and/or BSWD/CSG-PDSE funding.

Government of Ontario

Canada

2014-2015 Ontario Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD) Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Persons with Permanent Disabilities (CSG-PDSE)

Section A: Personal Information

Social Insurance Number:
Ontario Education Number (OEN), if assigned to you:

Last name:
First name:
Date of birth: (Day/Month/Year)

Section B: Information about Your School and Program

What is the name of the school you plan to attend or are currently attending for your 2014-15 study period?
Student number at your school:

Start date for the 2014-2015 study period (Day/Month/Year)
End date for the 2014-2015 study period (Day/Month/Year)

Section C: Equipment and/or Services

All requests must be supported by a recommendation from a disability advisor from your school or in consultation with your physician, or other regulated health care practitioner. Please work with them to complete this section. Individual costs must be provided for each item requested. If you require additional space to detail or explain the item(s) you are requesting, please provide the information in a seperate letter and attach it to this application.

Estimates must be attached to this application for each service requested. Estimates must include the following:

• hourly cost of each service;
• total hours per week of each service (cannot exceed weekly in-class time);
• total number of weeks you will be using each service;
• which of the courses you are taking require the service; and,
• the name and contact information for the person or agency providing each service.

Estimates must be attached to this application for each service requested. Estimates must include the following:

• hourly cost of each service;
• total hours per week of each service (cannot exceed weekly in-class time);
• total number of weeks you will be using each service;
• which of the courses you are taking require the service; and,
• the name and contact information for the person or agency providing each service.