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  • Choosing a College or University

    Choosing a College or University

    Deciding between college and university is a tough decision, and it’s important to consider one’s strengths and interests when making the decision. It is also important to keep in mind that there are many colleges with transfer programs in which students move to university from college in second or third year, and similarly some students who begin at university later choose to complete a college program.

    A brief description of what can be expected at college and university is given below.

    COLLEGE
    Colleges tend to be more directly career-oriented than universities. They often offer practical or hands-on training in smaller classes, which can lead to greater student-teacher interaction.

    Colleges offer a range of programs, including apprenticeships, certificate programs, diplomas, and degrees. Programs range from less than one year, up to 3 or 4 years. Some colleges also offer programs in partnership with a university to grant both a degree and a diploma.

    Students who have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (or equivalent from another province) can apply for college programs. Students who have not completed high school, but are at least 19 years old are also eligible to apply for some college programs. Different programs and schools may have additional requirements, so be sure to check them out before applying.

    UNIVERSITY
    Universities generally offer programs that are more theory-based and academic than colleges. Instruction tends to be lecture based, and many classes are quite large in size, meaning professors may not have the opportunity to get to know students on an individual basis.

    Universities generally offer 3-4 year undergraduate programs (a bachelor’s degree), as well as graduate programs (master’s and doctoral degrees). The 4-year program (sometimes called an honours degree) is usually required to go on to enrol in a graduate program. Some universities offer partnerships with a college to grant a degree and a diploma concurrently.

    To apply to university, an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent is required often with a certain number of high school credits in university or academic level courses. Each university has its own admissions policies, so be sure to check them out before applying.

  • NEADS National Student Awards Program

    NEADS National Student Awards Program

    Purpose

    The NEADS National Student Awards Program is offered to encourage full access to post-secondary education for persons with disabilities, who often have greater barriers to participation in higher education, as well as extra costs because of their disabilities. Students must currently be registered in and continuing at post-secondary institution and provide documented proof of registration as part of the application and on receipt of the award. The award will be offered to outstanding applicants who meet the criteria of the program. The awards are paid directly to the post-secondary institution (in the students accounts) that the recipients are attending to defray the cost of tuition fees for post-secondary study.

    Eligibility

    • Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada
    • Applicants must have a permanent disability*
    • Applicants must be currently registered in and returning to a full-time program of study at an accredited Canadian post-secondary college or university. Full-time status is at least 40% of a full course load.

    *For the purpose of these awards, a permanent disability is a permanent functional limitation which affects the ability of the student to participate fully in post-secondary education.

    Criteria

    • Strong commitment to your academic discipline
    • Exemplary record of volunteerism and/or employment
    • Demonstrated potential to be an outstanding participant in the community

    Value and number available

    • NEADS National Student Awards (6, $3,000 each)
    • NEADS Holly Bartlett Memorial Award (1, $1,000)

    Selection Process

    Once your application has been submitted, it will be reviewed for completeness and adherence to the above guidelines. Assuming all guidelines are met, selection committees review applications based on the selection criteria described above.

    Due to the volume of applications received, only those selected to receive an award will be contacted. Recipients will be contacted by August 1.

    Apply to: NEADS National Student Awards Program
    National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS)
    Rm. 426 Unicentre, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6
    By e-mail: etes@neads.ca

    Deadline: April 15

    Click here to Apply Online

  • Scholarships and Bursaries for Students with Disabilities

    Scholarships and Bursaries for Students with Disabilities

    You’ve got big academic dreams – they’ve got the funds!

    Scholarships are “free money” given to a student for their college education—unlike loans, this money does not have to be paid back. Many private scholarships are available that grant money to students based on their particular strengths, interests, disabilities and other characteristics or qualities. Finding this money can be the hard part, but we’re here to help. The following is a select list of scholarships particularly for students with learning disabilities.

    Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities Youth Achievement Award

    A $1,000 award for a student with LD and/or ADHD who has demonstrated initiative, talent, and determination resulting in a notable accomplishment in any field–including art, music, science, math, athletics or community service.

    The Marion Huber Learning Through Listening Award

    Three $6,000 and three $2,000 awards available to high school seniors with LD who demonstrate leadership skills, scholarship and a high level of service to others; must be a member of Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D).

    The Hal Hazelett Scholarship

    Two $1,000 scholarships for students with LD, one of which is designated for a student pursuing an education and/or a math degree. One ADD/ADHD scholarship will also be awarded.

    Incight Go Getter Scholarship

    A renewable $750 award available to high school students with physical, learning, cognitive, hearing, or vision disabilities.

    LD Resources Foundation

    Awards of assistive technology tools (ex. Kurzweil products, Dragon Naturally Speaking and MacSpeech Dictate, Franklin Dictionary) are available to college students diagnosed with LD and/or ADHD. Students must be enrolled at a college/university with the intention of pursuing an undergraduate degree.

  • Grants for Students with Disabilities

    Grants for Students with Disabilities

    Am I eligible?
    You are eligible if you:
    – apply and qualify for a Canada Student Loan;
    – are enrolled in a full-time or part-time program (minimum 32 weeks) at a designated post-secondary institution;
    – meet the criteria for students with permanent disabilities; and
    – include one of the following with your loan application as proof of your disability: a medical certificate, a psycho-educational assessment, or documentation proving receipt of federal or provincial disability assistance.

    What’s available?
    $2,000 per academic year (August 1 to July 31).
    This grant is available for each year of post-secondary studies, provided you continue to meet the eligibility criteria. This includes post-secondary studies beyond the undergraduate level. Grant money is issued by your province or territory of permanent residence at the beginning and in the middle of the school year.

    Since grant amounts are fixed, the amount you receive may exceed your assessed need.
    Example: If you qualify for the grant and you have an assessed need of $1,400, you will receive a $2,000 grant. In this case, the grant would cover your assessed need, so you would not need a student loan.

    How do I apply?
    The application process for this grant differs in each jurisdiction. To make sure you meet all the application requirements, contact your province or territory’s student financial assistance office.

  • Learning Disabilities and Work

    Learning Disabilities and Work

    We most often think of learning disabilities that impact a student in school, however, LDs are lifelong and don’t magically disappear once a student has graduated and entered the workforce. The National Center for Learning Disabilities lists five areas where people with LDs may experience difficulties:

    Inefficiency – this could be working at a slower pace than coworkers, having organizational challenges or needing additional time to complete tasks

    High error rate – this could be errors resulting from poor reading or math skills or could be because someone takes longer to process information and react to situations.

    Problems with sequencing – this could cause problems with completing tasks requiring multiple steps or following directions

    Time management – this could be poor planning, tardiness or having problems with meeting deadlines

    Social skills – this could be problems with interactions between coworkers, customers or vendors or in verbalizing the impact of a LD to the employer to receive needed accommodations/modifications

    The following list of examples is to provide ideas only. Please adapt to your specific situation:

    • Written instruction cards, laminated to help with performing multi-step job duties
    • Adjusting the font or background color on the computer screen to help people with dyslexia
    • Receiving company communications in written form, such as via email or memos. Written communication can be provided either before a company meeting to provide the person time to process information or after the meeting to allow the person to have a written copy of what was discussed.
    • Use of spell-check software or having a coworker edit written work.
    • Use of assistive technology, such as software that translates the spoken word into the written word
    • Using a tape recorder during company meetings or when given instruction.

    Again, these are ideas to help people with learning disabilities think about what may help them perform their job duties. By thinking about how you learn, how you work and problems you have had in the past, you will be able to determine what accommodations or modifications you may need in your job.

  • Support Services Available at Post-Secondary

    Support Services Available at Post-Secondary

    Each post-secondary school will have a range of services to support students with disabilities and the wider student population. These services provide an excellent source of support for students (and are often underused). Students are highly encouraged to take advantage of these resources, and a description of services that may be provided at post-secondary school is given below.

    ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATIONS
    Disability Advisors at each school review the documentation of students with disabilities and determine which accommodations each student needs. Types of accommodations may include:

    • Extended time on exams
    • No more than one exam per day
    • Access to a computer or spell check on exams
    • Note-taker in class
    • Sign language interpreter
    • Alternate format material (ex. Braille)

    It is important to remember that the laws that regulate accommodations at college and university are different than those for high school. Many post-secondary institutions require more specific and comprehensive documentation to show proof of a disability than is required in high school (especially for ADHD and learning disabilities). Incoming students will not automatically receive the same accommodations at college or university that they received at high school. To discuss available accommodations, students should contact their post-secondary school directly.

  • High School Transition: Funding and Scholarship Programs

    High School Transition: Funding and Scholarship Programs

    A primary consideration for any student interested in pursuing postsecondary education is paying the costs involved. Tuition in many provinces and territories increases on an annual basis. Add to that the costs associated with books and other school supplies, transportation to-and-from campus, and housing expenses for those who live away from home, and the financial commitment associated with higher education can be intimidating.

    While some students are fortunate to have enough money saved up for an education, and others have family members who are willing to cover the cost, many do not have these resources. This section provides information on the student loan and grant programs available from the federal government. It also describes some of the major scholarships for students with disabilities, available from various sources.

    Much of the following information has been adapted from the NEADS guide, National Directory of Financial Assistance Programs for Post-Secondary Students with Disabilities, which can be found on the association’s Web site, www.neads.ca in the NEADS Online Resource Centre. Funding program information was reviewed and updated during the development of this guide. Finally, it should be noted that many other scholarships can be found on the Internet and from your college or university’s financial aid office.

    Visit the NEADS website for full information.

  • Campus Disability Services

    Campus Disability Services

    If you’re a student with a disability looking at your post-secondary options, we’ve provided a handy link to the NEADS website where you can access information about campus disability services all across Canada.

    NEADS EdLink is the most comprehensive Canadian directory of college and university disability service providers and links to service centre websites, with listings from coast to coast. Each entry provides current contact information for service providers at Canadian post-secondary institutions. The links to disability centre websites allow access to detailed information on accommodations, physical access, services and supports.

    Access the Campus Disability Services search engine via NEADS on their website.

  • Scholarships and Bursaries for Students with Disabilities

    Scholarships and Bursaries for Students with Disabilities

    You’ve got big academic dreams – they’ve got the funds!

    Scholarships are “free money” given to a student for their college education—unlike loans, this money does not have to be paid back. Many private scholarships are available that grant money to students based on their particular strengths, interests, disabilities and other characteristics or qualities. Finding this money can be the hard part, but we’re here to help. The following is a select list of scholarships particularly for students with learning disabilities.

    Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities Youth Achievement Award

    A $1,000 award for a student with LD and/or ADHD who has demonstrated initiative, talent, and determination resulting in a notable accomplishment in any field–including art, music, science, math, athletics or community service.

    The Marion Huber Learning Through Listening Award

    Three $6,000 and three $2,000 awards available to high school seniors with LD who demonstrate leadership skills, scholarship and a high level of service to others; must be a member of Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D).

    The Hal Hazelett Scholarship

    Two $1,000 scholarships for students with LD, one of which is designated for a student pursuing an education and/or a math degree. One ADD/ADHD scholarship will also be awarded.

    Incight Go Getter Scholarship

    A renewable $750 award available to high school students with physical, learning, cognitive, hearing, or vision disabilities.

    LD Resources Foundation

    Awards of assistive technology tools (ex. Kurzweil products, Dragon Naturally Speaking and MacSpeech Dictate, Franklin Dictionary) are available to college students diagnosed with LD and/or ADHD. Students must be enrolled at a college/university with the intention of pursuing an undergraduate degree.

  • Myths & Facts about Learning Disabilities

    Myths & Facts about Learning Disabilities

    1. Myth: People with LDs cannot learn.
    Fact:

    • People with LDs are smart and can learn.
    • LDs mean learning in different ways.

    2. Myth: People with LDs are just lazy.
    Fact:

    • People with LDs often have to work harder, but the results may not show their efforts.
    • Some people with LDs may become discouraged because they have struggled so hard, and they may appear unmotivated or lazy.

    3. Myth: Accommodations give an unfair advantage.
    Fact:

    • Fair is not always equal.
    • Accommodations allow people with LDs to work to their level of their ability and not their disability.

    4. Myth:All LDs are outgrown by adulthood.
    Fact:

    • LDs tend to be noticed most often in school, but can affect all areas of life.
    • Often by adulthood, people have found ways to use their strengths to compensate for their LDs. Many adults seek work environments that are a good fit.

    5. Myth: LDs are all the same.
    Fact:

    • LDs are complicated and vary from person to person.
    • LDs come in many forms and affect everyone differently.
    • The impact of LDs may change in different settings depending on the demands of the situation.