BSWD Information

Am I Eligible?

To be considered:

• You have self-identified and are verified as having a permanent or persistent or prolonged disability (external link) .
• You have applied for and are eligible for OSAP funding and have at least $1 in calculated need
• You have a disability-related educational cost for services or equipment and require these services or equipment to participate in post-secondary studies
• You must be registered with Academic Accommodation Support (AAS)

All requests for disability-related services or equipment must be assessed by AAS to ensure they meet requirements set out by the Ministry. Contact your Student Accommodation Facilitator to discuss your eligibility for specific items and services.

How Much Funding Might I Receive?

The amount of funding you may receive depends on the costs of the eligible disability-related educational services and equipment you need. If you have a permanent disability or a persistent or prolonged disability you may be considered for funding from the BSWD and the CSG-DSE. 

Each eligible service or equipment request is considered based on your specific disability-related functional limitations. Information provided by your healthcare provider (physician or other regulated health care professional) and from Academic Accommodation Support (AAS) is used to determine what eligible costs may be funded.

You may be provided funding for all or a portion of the costs of the eligible services or equipment requested. Approved funding for eligible items is subject to maximum limits, so it is possible that not all your costs will be covered.

All final decisions regarding funding approval are made solely by the provincial and/or federal funding providers

Non-Eligible Expenses

• Costs that you incur as part of your participation in post-secondary studies, such as textbooks, living expenses, or a computer to access virtual courses or run specific programs/software required for all students in the course 
• Disability-related expenses your would incur regardless of your participation in post-secondary studies, such as hearing aids, which are required for daily life activities

What do I need to know?

• Not all disability-related services and equipment are eligible for funding
• Funds can only be used for items and/or services approved in your BSWD application.
• Every approved item has a fixed purchase amount. If you choose to spend over the allotted amount, it is your financial responsibility to cover the difference.  
• Funds must be used for the purchase indicated.  It cannot be used towards any other purchase or for living expenses.
• Unused BSWD funds must be returned after all purchases are made, and cannot be carried forward to another academic session.
• As funding is not guaranteed we advise against purchasing any services or items in advance of receiving your funds.
• If your academic status and/or course enrollment has changed since you submitted your application, do not deposit/use the funds. Contact your Student Financial Assistance Advisor to determine next steps.

Psychoeducational Assessments:

• The costs of a psychoeducational assessment may be eligible for funding through the BSWD and/or CSG-PDSE. To be considered for reimbursement, your assessment must have taken place no more than 6 months before your study start date
• Some students are required to get a psychoeducational assessment in order to access accommodations or certain services/equipment.
• After completing your assessment, you are required to submit an OSAP  (PDF file) Disability Verification Form (DVF) (external link) . This form MUST be completed by an individual with authority to complete the form. 
• Once completed, scan and upload the DVF in PDF format to your OSAP application so that SFA can confirm your disability status and process your BSWD application.