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Tag: disability

  • Offices for Students with Disabilities

    Offices for Students with Disabilities

    Educational institutions have a legal obligation to provide reasonable accommodations that promote equity for people who have disabilities. To adhere to their legal obligation, provincial/territorial governments provide publicly funded colleges and universities with operating funds to set up special services for students with disabilities.

    Note:
    For the purpose of this guide, we will refer to the disability services centres as the “Office for Students with Disabilities” or OSD. The name and location of the centre at each college or university can be found on the school’s website.

    WHAT KIND OF SERVICE DOES THE OSD PROVIDE?
    Staff at Offices for Students with Disabilities assist students in a variety of ways. Given that each student’s needs are unique, services and accommodations are established on an individual basis and based on the documentation of the student’s disability. A complete list of services and required documentation will either be available on the website of each post-secondary institution or by contacting them directly.

    WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE OSD?
    – Assess requests for accommodations, on the basis of each student’s submitted documentation
    – Recommend and provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or support services for students with disabilities
    – Provide information regarding policies, procedures, rights and responsibilities to students with disabilities in accessible formats upon request
    – Assist students in communicating with faculty (when needed) about their disability and required accommodations
    – Maintain confidentiality of all information pertaining to a student’s disability
    WHAT IS THE REGISTRATION PROCESS AT THE OSD?
    – When possible, contact the OSD before classes start to make a face-to-face appointment
    – Submit all required documentation to the OSD prior to the appointment (according to the school’s policies)
    – Attend the appointment to create an accommodation plan based on the submitted documentation
    WHAT DOCUMENTS WILL THE OSD REQUIRE?
    Each institution will have its own policies and procedures regarding the required documentation to show proof of a disability. Staff at the OSD can assist students in obtaining up-to-date documentation or assessments as needed. Be sure to check with the OSD at each institution to determine specifically what documentation requirements that they have.

    Some common requirements are:

    – Learning disabilities: a recent psychoeducational assessment (conducted within the last 3-5 years)
    – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): a diagnosis by a psychologist, psychiatrist, or physician with appropriate training in neuropsychological disorders
    – Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): a medical form or letter from a qualified specialist or a psycho-educational assessment
    – Physical and medical disabilities, and mental health disorders: a medical form or letter from a qualified specialist indicating the student’s diagnosis, limitations, and recommendations for academic accommodations
    – Deaf or hard-of-hearing: an audiologist report
    – Blind or low vision: CNIB registration number

  • Disabled Students’ Leadership On-Campus

    Disabled Students’ Leadership On-Campus

    Student leadership and disabled student groups are important on post-secondary campuses if positive change is to occur. Just as a student council is a vital tool for bringing the needs and concerns of all students to a post-secondary school’s administration, a disabled students’ group can serve to address the needs of a school’s disabled population. Such groups can allow students to network with their peers and to share ideas, offer counseling and information services, and often house a resource library on disability-related information.

    Many Canadian colleges and universities have groups or access committees for students with disabilities. Each offers unique programs, services and features that make it an important part of a school’s structure. The following profiles, taken from NEADS’ CampusNet Web site, identify four groups as exemplary models of student leadership in our community.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Working With Disabilities

    Working With Disabilities

    Approximately 4.2 million Canadians have disabilities, while 13% of those are working aged adults. Persons with disability are not so uncommon in the workplace. Not all disabilities are evident; someone may be hearing impaired and you will not be able to tell. Other may have trouble with their vision, movement or comprehension.

    No one but you and your doctor can tell you you are unable to do a job. Employers are often unaware that they can not express any doubt of your ability to fill a position or complete a task – to do so is considered discrimination. You know your strengths and weaknesses and it is up to you to communicate any weaknesses you may have if you need help. I, for example, have dyslexia and though many do not consider this to be a disability, it certainly can be difficult to deal with in the workplace. It causes me stress and I make mistakes that others wouldn’t make, such as superimposing numbers. Even something like this is important to inform your employer and co-workers about – creating an open dialogue is vital to both your success and the success of the company you work for.

    Do not tolerate any abuse or harassment from co-workers, your employer or even clients. Do not let anyone address you in any way you find insulting. Correct them to be sure it doesn’t happen again. If you are physically disabled, your employer is responsible to make any changes to the working environment in order to allow you to work safely. Make sure you know your rights.

    It is important not to treat a disabled co-worker any different from how you treat anyone else. Chances are they are not new to their disability and have mastered other ways of doing things that many even be more efficient than your own. It is likely a disabled person will tell you if they can’t do something or if they need help. Imagine how insulted you would be if someone insisted on helping you with something you could very well do on your own. Allow them to let you know their abilities and limitations.

    People with disabilities deserve to be treated with the same respect and given the same opportunities as those who do not have disabilities. Together we can make all Canadian workplaces a friendly environment for everyone!