Alberta Student Aid Grants for Students with Disabilities

Overview of Disability Grants

Post-secondary students with disabilities in Alberta can access a range of grants and supports through Alberta Student Aid and the Government of Canada. These funds are designed to help cover both the general costs of education and disability-related exceptional costs like assistive services or equipment.

Alberta Student Aid recognizes two disability categories for student aid purposes: Permanent Disability (PD) and Persistent or Prolonged Disability (PPD). Understanding which category applies to you is the first step to accessing these grants.

Sources: Alberta Student Aid

Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities

The Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities provides $2,800 per loan year to students who have been approved as having a disability (either PD or PPD). This grant helps meet education and living costs and is available once per loan year, as long as the student meets the eligibility criteria.

The grant is available to full-time and part-time students, provided they meet eligibility requirements.

Sources: Alberta Student Aid

Alberta Grants and Supports

In addition to the federal grant, the Alberta Grant for Students with Disabilities provides up to $3,000 per loan year for documented disability-related exceptional education-related costs, such as assistive services or equipment.

The Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment – Students with Disabilities (CSG-DSE) offers up to $20,000 per loan year for exceptional education-related costs like specialized equipment, assistive technology, or services. This federal grant is separate from the basic Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities.

Assessment costs for disability verification may also be eligible for reimbursement, up to $3,500 per loan year under the CSG-DSE, or up to $3,000 under the Alberta Grant for Students with Disabilities for students not eligible for the CSG-DSE.

Sources: Alberta Student Aid

Eligibility Criteria

To access disability grants, you must be enrolled in a post-secondary program and have a documented disability that meets the definitions of Permanent Disability (PD) or Persistent or Prolonged Disability (PPD).

A Permanent Disability is any impairment (physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication, or sensory) that restricts the ability to pursue studies or participate in the labour force and is expected to remain for the person's lifetime.

A Persistent or Prolonged Disability is any impairment that restricts the ability to pursue studies or participate in the labour force and has lasted, or is expected to last, for at least 12 months but is not expected to remain for the person's lifetime.

Students must complete a Schedule 4 form as part of their student aid application to apply for disability grants. The Schedule 4 is not part of the online application; it must be submitted separately after completing the application.

Sources: Alberta Student Aid

How to Apply

The application process involves several steps: first, complete your student aid application through Alberta Student Aid. Then, obtain and complete the Schedule 4 form, which is used to certify your disability status and request disability-related grants.

If you are attending a public post-secondary institution in Alberta, you must have your Schedule 4 reviewed and signed by an Accessibility Advisor or Accessibility Counsellor at your school. If you are attending a private career college or an institution outside Alberta, you should work with Accessibility/Disability Supports, an Advisor, or School Official to submit your application, Schedule 4, and documentation of your disability.

It is important to note that students must pay for disability assessment or documentation upfront and are eligible for reimbursement once the disability is confirmed.

Sources: Alberta Student Aid

Required Documentation

Documentation is a key part of the disability grant application. The required medical documentation for a Schedule 4 may include a Disability Verification form completed by a medical professional, a Learning Assessment, or other documentation that identifies your disability and its impact on your studies.

Assessment costs are only eligible if they occur within the period from six months prior to the study period start date until the end of the study period. This means you should plan your assessments carefully to ensure they fall within this window.

Once your disability is confirmed, you may be eligible for reimbursement of these costs, subject to the grant limits.

Sources: Alberta Student Aid

Additional Funding Options

Beyond the grants described above, students with disabilities may also be eligible for supports such as the reduced course load provision. Students with an active Schedule 4 are automatically eligible to study at a reduced course load (40-59%) while still receiving full-time student aid. This can help accommodate disability-related needs while maintaining full-time status for funding purposes.

Part-time students may also be eligible for disability funding. The Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities is a fixed amount, and the services and equipment grant maximum is the same regardless of enrolment status, but eligibility and calculation details may vary.

Sources: Alberta Student Aid