Information about Nova Scotia Loans & Grants
Information for students with permanent disabilities
Key points:
- The Student Assistance program offers more flexible limits for students with a permanent disability who might have trouble completing their school program within traditional timelines.
- You have extra time to complete your program with the help of student assistance funding. For most students the maximum number of weeks of assistance (which includes period of interest-free status), is 340. The maximum is 520 weeks for borrowers who are permanently disabled.
- You may qualify for extra funding that is specifically designed to help you pay for exceptional expenses related to your disability, such as transportation, specialized equipment, specialized textbooks, learning support services, and more.
- The Nova Scotia government partners with Post-Secondary Accessibility Services to help you access disability-related resources that can help you succeed at school.
- There are grants specifically for students who have a permanent disability. You are automatically assessed for them when you apply for student assistance. The Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment requires a separate application.
- Even if you don’t think you’ll have enough calculated financial need to qualify for a large amount of student loan funding, consider applying anyway. This could give you access to grant money to help you pay for the equipment and services that can help you succeed.
Who is eligible
The Government of Canada classifies disabilities into 2 types to determine eligibility for grants aimed at students with disabilities.
To be eligible, students must:
- have a Permanent disability, defined by the government as any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment, or a functional limitation, that restricts a person’s ability to perform the daily activities necessary to pursue studies at a post-secondary school level or to participate in the labour force. The disability is expected to remain with the person for their expected life
OR
- have a Persistent or prolonged disability, defined by the government as any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment, or a functional limitation, that restricts a person’s ability to perform the daily activities necessary to pursue studies at a post-secondary school level or to participate in the labour force. The disability has lasted, or is expected to last, for at least 12 months, but is not expected to remain with the person for their expected life.
Additionally, students must:
- be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- be a resident of Nova Scotia (you’re considered a resident if you have a Nova Scotia Health Card)
- attend a post-secondary institution (university, community college or private career college)
For more information on eligibility and how to qualify, see the Nova Scotia provincial webpage.
Nova Scotia Grant for Services and Equipment
This is a Federal and/or Labour Market Agreement Permanent Disability (LMAPD) government grant. Students with permanent disabilities pursuing post-secondary education may be eligible for non-repayable assistance for educational disability related services and/or equipment required to participate in the student’s program of study. This grant requires a separate application called Application for Services and Equipment Grant for Post-Secondary Students with Permanent Disabilities.
Some examples of services and equipment may include:
- Tutor
- Note-taker
- Learning Strategist
- Text to speech or voice dictation software
- Technical aids
Disability Resource Facilitators
If you are attending Universities within Nova Scotia and Nova Scotia Community College, Post-Secondary Disability Services (PSDS) funds these institutions to provide you with a Disability Resource Facilitator (DRF) to assist you with what on-site supports and services are available.
These might include:
- Assisting with grant application for services and equipment
- Tutoring
- Note-taking
- Learning strategist
- Assistive technology
- Orientation to the school
More information about services in Nova Scotia
Last Updated: 2024-07-03