OSAP web site: osap.gov.on.ca/eng/not_secure/bswd.htm. The Bursary for
Students with Disabilities (BSWD) is a component of OSAP. Students who meet
the.
Bursary for Students with Disabilities OSAP web site: osap.gov.on.ca/eng/not_secure/bswd.htm The Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD) is a component of OSAP. Students who meet the criteria are eligible for up to $10 000 ($8000 through the Canada Study Grant (CSG) for students with permanent disabilities, and $2000 through the BSWD program (CSLP and OSAP repectively). The BSWD is non-repayable and taxable as per Revenue Canada policy, and supplements any OSAP loan or bursary assistance that students may receive. The main program objective is to help students with financial need to meet their disability-related educational costs without having to incur additional debt. It is hoped that this will increase the participation rate of students with disabilities in post secondary education. Note: As of August 1st 2003, students who do not meet the usual OSAP eligibility requirements but who have calculated financial need when disability-related support costs are included as education -related cots, may receive up to $10 000 per academic year ($8000 CSG, $2000 BSWD)
Deadline Dates If a student's OSAP application is received at the financial aid office or at the ministry less than 90 days before the end of the student's study period, the student is not eligible to receive an OSAP loan or BSWD assistance for that study period. If a student's OSAP application is received prior to 90 days before the end of the student's study period, the student can receive BSWD assistance for expenses incurred throughout the study period, providing BSWD funds are available in the institution's budget.
Financial Need To be eligible for the federal and/or provincial component of the BSWD, a student must have applied and qualified for: • A Canada Student Loan, and/or • An Ontario Student Loan, or • A Part-time Canada Student Loan, or • A Canada Study Grant for High-Need Part-time Students • An Ontario Special Bursary.
Educational Expenses The following is a list of disability-related educational expenses that may be funded from both the federal and provincial components of the BSWD: • Tutoring, readers, and/or note takers • Specialized transportation to and from the institution (for those students with a physical disability affecting mobility) • Technical aids and equipment, such as: Brailler, talking calculator, tape recorders, vision/hearing/learning aids • Alternative formats such as large print, braille and audio cassette reading materials • Computer/hardware/software/specialized needs accessories, such as personal computers, computer software, scanners and/or special needs accessories for computers The following is a list of disability-related educational expenses that may be funded only from the provincial component of the BSWD: • Counseling • Therapy • Learning disability assessments
