Accessibilty Services offers a wide range of supports available to polytechnic students with disabilities. Infographic by Sydnee Doiron.

Accommodation is important for students in post-secondary education because it ensures fair access to learning, academic success, and support for diverse needs. It is important to recognize that Accessibility Services strictly works with students and staff with disabilities regularly

Accessibility Services supports a wide range of disabilities, including invisible, physical and mental. Whether that be help with assignments, educational funding, and even referring students to other departments within the Polytechnic. Their primary response is to ensure everything is accessible for students and helps connect them to necessary funding. 

As new or continuing students navigate to the spring semester, accessible learning is becoming more popular. A new semester can be challenging because students have to adjust to new courses and an increased workload, but not having financial barriers can help. Students with disabilities face additional costs related to their needs, which include assisted learning, devices, and even transportation. 

According to the Government of Alberta on the Alberta student aid website, “If you are approved as a student with a disability, you may receive a grant of $2,800 per loan year.” This grant is called the Alberta Student Aid Schedule 4 and has the possibility of helping with education and living costs, while also being considered yearly for this bursary. 

Applying for financial aid can support students with disabilities, making education more accessible. Accessibility services can assist students in applying for this funding. They help identify available grants, provide students with guidance, and help students apply. 

Cynthina Halligan, Access Specialist within Accessibility Services, says that the number of students who don’t know about these grants is surprising.“I have to either tell students about the grants or remind them that they are there,” says Halligan. Halligan also adds that she and her department are there to help in any way possible. 

Those who have disabilities struggle with many academic challenges, and these grants can help ease financial stress. 

Mason Harder, second year business accounting student, says filling out the application was challenging at first. 

“I wasn’t sure what I was doing at first but when I reached out to the Accessibility Services department, they were more than happy to help me with the application.” 

Harder says there are many different sections you must fill out to submit. “You need a Disability Verification Form from a medical professional stating that your disability exists then their signature and the list goes on, so it’s very confusing at first.” There are also more grants for people who have disabilities. This includes the Canada Disability Savings Grant, which is given by the Government of Canada. Halligan also brings up the grant can really benefit a student with a disability. She says there is a technology grant for students with severe disabilities. 

Students can use this towards a new laptop, printer, or recording device for classes. According to Alberta Student Aid, the Disability Grant for Services and Equipment must be used strictly for equipment use only. If students have unused funds, the Alberta Government requires them to be returned. 

The government monitors this by having the students keep their receipts so the government can track how much money the student has spent. If you need assistance with funding, are a student with a disability, and are interested in grants, please contact Accessibility Services for more information.