Students with disabilities may be eligible for funding for each loan period during which they are enrolled in full-time or part-time classes.

The Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities is currently available to students with disabilities for each year of study. It offers:

$2,800 per loan year to help meet your education and living costs
Up to $20,000 per loan year for services and equipment

To apply, students must use their provincial disability grant application form and process. If there are questions regarding the application process, students can book an appointment with one of our access specialists.

How to apply for the Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities: Step-by-step process – click to expand

Students can apply for the disability grant after they’ve registered for classes. The grant application form is the same form as for federal and/or provincial student loans (i.e., Alberta Student Aid, British Columbia Student Aid, & Saskatchewan Student Aid). Students do not have to accept student loans to receive the grant but do have to indicate that they have at least $1.00 of financial need when asked for “total assistance requested.” Make sure to click “Yes” to answer the question about having a permanent disability.
Next, students book a funding appointment with Accessibility Services through Accommodate. If the student is a first-time applicant, they must complete a disability grant application (e.g. Alberta’s Schedule 4 form) with an access specialist. The access specialist will also evaluate the services and supports (e.g. peer tutoring, alternate format, assistive technology, academic aide, etc.) the students may need that can be funded through the grant.

For students from Alberta, Accessibility Services can submit Schedule 4 on their behalf.

Student Aid offices require proof of permanent disability. Supporting documentation must not be more than five years old unless the diagnosis is medical and/or developmental or was completed on the adult scale. Documentation may include the following:
- Disability Verification form: many provinces, including Alberta, issue their own medical form to be completed by a medical professional
- learning assessment (i.e., psychoeducational report)
- detailed medical letter
- proof the student has received provincial and/or federal income assistance (i.e., AISH)
Once approved by the province’s student aid office as a student with a disability (permanent), the student will automatically be approved for the grant only on future applications. Students whose Disability Verification form indicated a prolonged or persistent disability may be required to submit documentation every year. If students wish to receive funding for services, equipment, and/or a reduced course load status, they must submit a new disability grant application for each loan period/academic semester.
Students can check the student aid portal regularly for communications and information about the next steps related to loans and/or grant funding.

After receiving grant funding – click to expand

Any funding designated for on-campus services (e.g., tutoring, alternate format, academic aid, etc.) must be turned over to Financial Services as soon as possible.

An account will be opened in the student's name, from which Accessibility Services can draw as the student uses the service.
Any unused portions of the grant will be returned to the government by Accessibility Services.

Students can follow the steps below to turn over their funds.

Use the college's tuition payment system, PayMyTuition, to turn over grant funding.
Email payfees@lethbridgecollege.ca stating the amount and that the payment was for Accessibility Services.

Students can use funding designated for assistive technology to purchase the necessary technology. This funding is to be used only for assistive technology (e.g., laptop, digital record, overlays, etc.) approved by the provincial loan office. After purchasing technology, students must upload their receipts to the student aid portal. Students must return any unused portions of the services and equipment disability grant monies to the government by the end of their loan period. They must also upload a completed Disability Grant for Services and Equipment Reconciliation Worksheet to the student aid portal.

If students have any further questions or require support with this process, please connect with Accessibility Services at accessibilityservices@lethpolytech.ca