Each article in this series will put the spotlight on each Canadian province or territory’s financial assistance available for post-secondary students with disabilities. This article will focus on the territory of Yukon.

Out of the three Canadian territories, Yukon is the only one where students may apply for and access federal student funding. Nunavut and the Northwest Territories are like Quebec in that they all manage and administer their own student financial aid organization. All eligible students in Yukon may access the Canada Student Loan and Grant Program.

For students with disabilities in Yukon, access to the Canada Student Loan and Grant Program means they can also apply for the following two grants:

1. Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities

This Grant is available to full-time or part-time students who have been assessed to need at least $1. Documentation of disability must be provided; examples include a medical certificate, a psycho-educational assessment, or documentation of having previously received similar governmental funding. Students may receive up to $2,000 per school year.

2. Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Permanent Disabilities

This Grant will help students with disabilities cover education-related services and equipment necessary in their pursuit of education and training. Examples include specialized tutors, note takers, Braille products, and voice recognition software. The eligibility criteria here is the same as the Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities. This Grant does have one additional criterion: you must provide written documentation of the specific equipment or services required from a person who is qualified to make such a decision as well as the associated costs. Students may receive up to $8,000 per school year. Once you have been approved, make sure you keep all your receipts—you will be required to provide them at the end of the year.

The Yukon Department of Education is responsible for managing student financial assistance. You may either apply online or via a paper application. This general application must be accompanied by a separate application form specifically applying for the two grants named above. These applications go to the Yukon Department of Education, not the Government of Canada.

Your next question may be when you need to submit everything. The earlier you submit your application, the better. Processing a grant can take as long as two months, so plan your application timeline accordingly.

The last thing I want to leave you with is a reminder that the Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities and the Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Permanent Disabilities are specifically for you, for students with disabilities—but general student financial assistance is also available. This includes the Yukon Grant, designated for full-time students and amounts to almost $5,000 for a standard 8-month school year. Good news is that the general application you submit to the Yukon Department of Education covers this along with the Canada Student Grants.

References:

1. http://www.education.gov.yk.ca/student-funding.html
2. http://www.disabilityawards.ca/gov.php?lang=EN&ID=YK
3. http://www.education.gov.yk.ca/loans.html
4. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/education/grants/disabilities.html
5. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/education/grants/disabilities-service-equipment.html
6. http://www.education.gov.yk.ca/student-funding-application.html
7. http://www.education.gov.yk.ca/loans-faq.html
8. http://www.education.gov.yk.ca/loans-faq.html