Students Win Expanded Federal Supports for Students with Disabilities
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OTTAWA– The Canadian Federation of Students supports measures announced by Minister of Employment, Workforce Development, and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, to improve the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program (CFSA program) for students with disabilities. The expansion of the program is expected to provide financial support to approximately 40,000 students living with persistent or prolonged disability support each year while improving access to support.

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“Students with disabilities are more than twice as likely to live in poverty compared to their peers,” said Wesam AbdElhamid Mohamed, Deputy Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. “Expanding the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program to include students with persistent or prolonged disabilities is a necessary step towards ensuring students with disabilities have the resources that they need to get the education that they deserve.”

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Improvements to the program come after student advocacy groups—including the Federation—participated in consultations calling on the Minister to improve financial aid programs available to students with disabilities. New measures announced today will improve accessibility to post secondary education by extending disability supports under the CSFA Program to include those living with a persistent or prolonged disability. Additionally, the Government has increased flexibility for accepted documentation when applying for CSFA Program disability supports. 

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The Canadian Federation of Students continues to advocate for high-quality, accessible, and affordable post-secondary education for all. With one in five Canadians over the age of 15 reported as having a disability, improving the affordability and accessibility of post-secondary education needs to continue to be a priority as Canada seeks to meet commitments toward building inclusive communities that leave no one behind.

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MEDIA INQUIRIES
Candice Pinto
Canadian Federation of Students 
c.pinto@cfs-fcee.ca