FUNDING
Alberta Student Aid recommends applying two months before the start of your school year. It is best to apply by early July if you start school in September. You can apply at any time of the year, but there are deadlines to consider - at least 30 days before the application's session end date, if you have applied for one semester only. If you have applied for funding for the full academic year, the deadline to request additional funding for assistive services is 90 days before the end of the academic year.
Please contact the Scholarships and Student Finance office. They are the best resource for scholarships and grants. Our office can assist with the Permanent Disability Grants through Alberta Student Aid (or other provinces).
You don’t need to take out a student loan in order to receive the permanent disability grants. You just need to be eligible to receive loans in order to be eligible for grants. If you do receive a loan you do not wish to keep, you can return it immediately. When applying on the Alberta Student Aid website, after you have submitted your application, a field will appear asking you for the “Total Amount of Assistance Requested” you can indicate $1 (this will still allow you to achieve eligibility without receiving a loan). Ask our Accounts Coordinator for more information.
If you require specialized supports such as additional technology, alternate format textbooks, tutoring, etc., then yes. If you are only interested in the $2,800 Permanent Disability Grant, and you received it before, you will automatically be reassessed for this grant each new loan year that you apply for loans. Be sure to indicate a “permanent disability” on your Alberta Student Aid application.
If you are only interested in receiving the Permanent Disability grant for $2,800 and you HAVE NOT received it before, you will need to complete the Schedule 4 and submit the appropriate documentation to the ALC.
If you HAVE received the grant before, then you will not need to complete a new Schedule 4. If you have previously received this grant then you will automatically be reassessed for this grant each new loan year, so long as you apply for loans. You will still have to indicate “permanent disability” on your Alberta Student Aid application.
Once Schedule 4 applications are received by Alberta Student Aid, it can take 4 to 6 weeks to be processed. If they have any questions or concerns about the application, this can delay it further.
There is a 4-6 week processing timeframe from grant application to approval. You are encouraged to contact the Accessible Learning Centre to initiate the grant application process no less than 4 weeks before the start of the semester. Services are activated according to grant approval dates.
Student Aid will notify you via email once you have been approved for funding. In order to receive your funding, you will need to complete the 'Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement' (MSFAA). You must always complete and return both MSFAA agreements (Alberta MSFAA + Canada MSFAA) even if you only receive one type of loan, and always provide banking information for both agreements. Once complete your funding will be direct deposited to your bank account. Information on how to complete the MSFAA will be emailed to you by Student Aid.
Once you have been approved for the Services & Equipment grant, we will invoice you for the amount you have been awarded. Our Accounts Coordinator will email you a copy of the invoice along with payment instructions.
The funds will then be put in trust for you, and we will pay for your services from your trust account. Any excess funds will be sent back to the government and the services and technology that was paid for by our department will be reported to the government. Depending on the technology you have been approved for, we might let you self-manage that portion - you will be notified of this via email.
Please make sure you keep your receipts!
You will need to provide receipts to Alberta Student Aid at the end of your current study period, along with this completed Alberta Student Aid Reconciliation Worksheet. If you fail to submit receipts and/or do not return any unused funds in full to Alberta Student Aid, you will have a grant 'overpayment'. This will reduce your future eligibility for this grant until the amount has been repaid.
Contact the Accessible Learning Centre and we can discuss options with you.
All student cases are considered individually. In the circumstance that grant funding does not cover the cost of the approved accommodation service(s) required, the University will assume responsibility for the remaining balance. International students must work with the Accessible Learning Centre to determine funds available to cover the costs of approved accommodation services.
Failure to apply for the permanent disability grants can result in either:
- Delay in the support services being provided (must wait until grant approval is obtained in order to provide services)
- Cancellation of certain services pending payment by the student for the amount of the missing funding or;
- Continuation of services with outstanding fees invoiced to the student account and payable to Financial Services according to payment deadlines and conditions