Author: Susan Huebert

We are soon coming to the end of this series of articles outlining what financial aid is available to post-secondary students with disabilities in the provinces and territories across Canada. This article focuses on Nova Scotia, the last province to be featured. The Northwest Territories and Nunavut are the only territories yet to be written about.

The program responsible for student financial assistance in the Nova Scotia government is called the Student Assistance Program. Students with disabilities are supported in three significant ways. One, they are given more time to complete their studies: a maximum of 520 weeks of funded studies, compared to 340 weeks for other students.

Two, full-time students will generally be given more funding than part-time students. For reference, full-time studies is defined as taking at least 60% of a full course load. Students with disabilities are given greater flexibility in this determination: if they are taking at least 40% of a full course load, they are considered to be full-time students. This designation allows them to hold a more manageable schedule and access greater funding.

Which brings us to three: students with disabilities are given additional funding to ensure equitable access to education. Read on below for the details.

1. The Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities

Students with disabilities in Nova Scotia will complete the same general application as other students—except the application must indicate that the applicant is a student with disabilities. With this one application, the student is assessed for both federal and provincial financial aid.

This grant is a federal grant, giving students with disabilities a maximum of $2,000 per school year (August 1 to July 31 of the next year). This funding may be used to cover tuition and related costs.  Students are eligible if they are found to have at minimum $1 of financial need; are taking either part-time or full-time studies; and submit documentation of a physical or learning disability.

2. The Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities for Services and Equipment

This federal grant provides additional support for students with disabilities who may need specialized services and equipment in order to access their education. A maximum of $8,000 is available per school year. As long as the applicant has been approved for the Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities, the applicant is eligible for this second grant.

A separate application is required for each year students want to apply for the Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities for Services and Equipment. This application will require students to clearly indicate what services and equipment are necessary as well as their associated estimated costs.

The general application process for students with disabilities is to first complete and submit the general application. This application will ask if you are a student with disabilities and you will indicate yes to that question. The next step is to gather and submit your medical documentation. Of the two grants above, you are automatically considered for the first while the second requires a separate application. The key is to apply early!

References:

1. https://novascotia.ca/studentassistance/apply/new/FundingAvailable.asp
2. https://novascotia.ca/studentassistance/apply/new/StudentsWithDisabilities.asp
3. https://novascotia.ca/studentassistance/Apply/returning/ReturningStudents.asp
4. https://novascotia.ca/studentassistance/Apply/New/FundingLimits.asp#Max_Weeks
5. https://novascotia.ca/PSDS/grants.asp
6. https://novascotia.ca/studentassistance/apply/new/FullTimeStudy.asp#full_course_load
7. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/education/grants/disabilities.html
8. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/education/grants/disabilities-service-equipment.html

This is the next article in my series of articles outlining the financial assistance available to Canadian post-secondary students with disabilities. Every province will be covered and given their their own article in order to accurately reflect their own unique financial aid availability. Prince Edward Island will be the focus of this article.

The provincial government’s Department of Workforce and Advanced Learning administers among other programs, Student Financial Services. The Canadian and Prince Edward Island governments together provide student financial aid, with the latter responsible for processing and distributing the funding. Below, the first two are courtesy of the federal government and the third is unique to Prince Edward Island.

1. The Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities

Eligible students with permanent disabilities may receive a maximum of $2,000 per academic year. This funding is meant to assist with paying for education-related expenses.

To be eligible, you must have been assessed to have a minimum of $1 in financial need; enrolled in either full-time or part-time studies; and provide evidence of physical or learning disability. Students with physical disabilities must submit a Permanent Disability Medical Form; this form can only be completed by a relevant health care professional. Students with learning disabilities must submit their psycho-educational assessment; these evaluations are must be performed by a registered psychologist. Note that Student Financial Services will only look at your application once the all medical documentation has been submitted and received.

2. The Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities for Services and Equipment

Eligible students with permanent disabilities may receive a maximum of $8,000 per academic year. This funding is meant to assist with paying for services and equipment that allow students with disabilities to access post-secondary education.

The eligibility requirement is simple: in order to be eligible for this grant, you must have been approved to receive the Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities.

The application process is a little less simple: wait until your general financial aid application has been reviewed and approved, then you will need to meet with your school’s accessibility services or disability coordinator. Together, you will determine what services and equipment will be needed for that academic year. The school must be involved because they will be the one receiving the cheque with funds to cover the requested services and equipment. However, it is your responsibility as the student to ensure all spending is accounted for; you must keep all receipts and send them to Student Financial Services. Should you have leftover funds that do not get used, they have to be paid back.

3. Prince Edward Island Severe Permanent Disability Benefit

This benefit is unique to Prince Edward Island. Having a severe permanent disability can mean the person cannot pursue further post-secondary education or join the workforce. If this reflects your circumstances and you have student loans, you can apply to have these loans terminated through this benefit, so you no longer have to pay them back.

In order to apply, you must first apply for approval for the Federal Severe Permanent Disability Benefit. Note that approval for this benefit ensures your federal student loans are voided. The next step is contact the provincial Student Financial Services and apply for the Prince Edward Island Several Permanent Disability Benefit. You must complete an application; part of this application requires evidence documenting your approval for the Federal Severe Permanent Disability Benefit. If you receive provincial approval, your provincial student loans will be cancelled—note that this approval means you may not apply for any student financial assistance in the future.

Prince Edward Island Student Financial Services provides students with disabilities access to two federal grants as well as a benefit that essentially turns previous loans into grants. The first two are available to students with disabilities across Canada while the last is available only in Prince Edward Island.

References:

1. https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/topic/grants-bursaries-and-awards
2. https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/workforce-and-advanced-learning/canada-student-grant-students-permanent-disabilities
3. https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/workforce-and-advanced-learning/services-and-equipment-grant-students-permanent
4. https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/workforce-and-advanced-learning/severe-permanent-disability-benefit

Jobs. They’re one of the first steps towards truly feeling like an adult and many young people start their first job in high school. It’s a great way to not only gain money, but also learn essential skills that will no doubt be an asset later on in life. However, having a job during the school year is not an easy task. This is why many students opt to work only during the summer. Though, if you’re planning on getting a job during the school year, it’s best not to go in blind.

Getting Your First Job

Often, students find that a lack of experience is the main thing preventing them from getting a job. Employers like experience, so how on earth would one go about getting a job without any? Everyone has to start somewhere. If you can’t list work experience on your resume, focus on your skills and qualifications and any volunteer work you might have done. Maybe you’re a hardworking individual who works well under pressure, or you’re extremely involved in your community. Those are some characteristics that will get you hired. Having references will also help. So, if you know any teachers or community leaders who recognize that you’re a good worker, knowing their contact information will be beneficial.

Regardless of how convincing you appear on your resume, you will most likely face rejection. It’s all a part of the process. Applying to lots of different places will increase your chances of being employed. There are plenty of places to find work: fast food chains, grocery stores, and retail stores, to name a few. The key is determination.

Having A Job

Once you have a job, say goodbye to a good chunk of your free time and say hello to time management. Procrastination will definitely not be your friend if you get a job. You need to be disciplined. Having a job in high school means that you have to be able to get your homework and studying done in significantly less time than before. Having any extra curricular activities such as clubs or sports will make this even more difficult. You must be prepared to deal with this; otherwise having a job will end up being more of a burden than an asset.

Moreover, working in general is a task that requires your energy and attention. Customers won’t always be friendly and in these cases, patience is key. Communicating with people who are frustrated with you may be something that you will have to learn how to deal with. Communication in general is extremely important in any kind of job. Know that you will probably make mistakes and that’s completely normal. After all, mistakes are what help us improve.

Getting your paycheck is extremely gratifying. It’s nice to see that all your hard work has quite literally paid off. Though, it’s best not to go too crazy with spending. While the urge to immediately use all the money you’ve earned to treat yourself is understandably strong, it’s not exactly the wisest decision. Rewarding yourself for your hard work is good but it shouldn’t cost you all of your money. Learning how to budget and save money is a skill that people need to practice and it’s best to start when you’re young. Being responsible with money will be beneficial in the future, especially if you plan on doing post-secondary education. Tuition isn’t exactly cheap.

Although tiring, having a job in high school is incredibly satisfying. It makes you feel more responsible and a bit more prepared for the future. First jobs give you some experience in the work place so that when you do pursue a career, you’re not quite out of your depth. Not to mention, it allows you to treat yourself at the end of the day.

It’s a typical day in the neighbourhood. Everything is going fine until you pass by a window with a giant sale tag. Or you pass by your favourite store and convince yourself you need something. Next thing you know, you’re lugging home several bags’ worth of items you can’t exactly squeeze into your budget. How do you prevent this typical scenario from happening in the future?

It’s tempting to grab new things for a little retail therapy session, but there are some crucial warnings to keep in mind.

Extra Money Helps The Future You

Think of all the things you could do with more money in your pocket. A little extra spending money can be used toward a trip, put into a rainy day fund, or even towards schooling. Plus, think of emergency scenarios like car expenses and medical care. You’ll feel much better knowing you have some spare change saved for when you really need it.

Things Don’t Make You Happy

In the long run, when you grab that new item, you won’t be happy for very long. You know you shouldn’t have spent the money, so that sinking feeling in your stomach accompanies you home from the store. And it’ll accompany you at home when you unload your bags.

Not only that but there are only so many trips to the mall you can take before filling your home with senseless items. Keep your mind and wallet happy by walking away from stores when you don’t need anything.

Those tips sound well and good, but how do you keep from actually splurging in stores? A few things to keep in mind are:

• Sit down with your money; speak to a professional at the bank or go through your statements yourself to see where your money is going and how you can trim spending.
• Go on a cash diet; once you have your budget all worked out, withdraw a suitable amount of money and use that until your next paycheque. Even if you need to make changes to your lifestyle, you’re doing future you a favour.
• Make a list of your inventory; seeing toiletries or small items on sale usually draws us in, but bringing home the sixth deodorant or tenth pair of socks isn’t doing you any good. Take stock of what you have at home and whether you really need to buy any more of it. You might surprise yourself with how much you currently own.
• Think purchases through; don’t grab something impulsively! This method works wonders for online spenders, as you can return to your cart at a later date. Better yet, if you’re shopping for non-essentials, close the tab without saving your cart. When you return, you may have forgotten what it is you even wanted to buy, thereby proving how unnecessary it was.

Saving money is hard enough when you’re a student. Think your actions over and work to understand your money and how to better manage it. You’ll thank yourself later.