myLEARNING

OSAP requires that a Disability Verification Form be completed and uploaded into the OSAP student profile in order for Student Financial Services to confirm permanent or temporary disability. Disability verification with OSAP may allow students to access awards, scholarships, grants, and bursaries. Students are also required to provide Accessibility @ Conestoga a copy of the completed DVF or other relevant medical documentation so that academic accommodations can be put into place as needed.

Please note: If you have checked the disability box on the OSAP website, but have not completed and uploaded the Disability Verification Form, it may delay your OSAP funding until disability verification is confirmed by Student Financial Services. You may send a request to Student Financial Services to uncheck the box until you have the documents in place. Using the same email address you used in your OSAP application, send an email to financialaid@conestogac.on.ca with your name and student ID number, requesting to remove your disability status. Your status will be adjusted once the completed DVF form is uploaded onto your OSAP student profile and disability is confirmed by Student Financial Services.

Who can verify a permanent disability?

Documentation to confirm a permanent disability may be provided by a qualified healthcare practitioner who has training and experience with the area of diagnosis. Examples of qualified practitioners include:

• Audiologists
• Chiropractors
• Occupational Therapists
• Optometrists
• Ophthalmologists
• Physicians
• Physiotherapists
• Psychiatrists
• Psychologists
• Speech-Language Pathologists
• Nurse Practitioner

• OSAP Disability Verification Form
• Conestoga's Health Certificate Form (pdf)
• Medical Letter (including: name, title, professional credentials, licensure/certification information of assessing professional that indicates the student’s limitations or needs in the academic setting)
• Psycho-educational Assessment Report (Please note that this may allow for academic accommodations however an assessment completed when the student was at least 18 years of age or within the past four years may be required to access funding for equipment and/or services).
• Individualized Education Plan that references a physical or mental health condition. (Please note your IEP may provide valuable information to help us understand what support was available in high school, however, additional documentation may be required depending on the accommodation request).

Examples of disability types covered in this area: ASD, ADHD, physical needs, mental health, visual or hearing impairment, injuries, concussions and medical conditions.

Options of supporting documentation include:

• OSAP Disability Verification Form
• Psycho-educational Assessment Report (Please note that this may allow for academic accommodations however an assessment completed when the student was at least 18 years of age or within the past four years may be required to access funding for equipment and/or services).
• Individualized Education Plan
  (Please note your IEP may provide valuable information to help us understand what support was available in high school, however, additional documentation may be required depending on the accommodation request).

If your accommodation request exceeds what your documentation can support, your Accessibility Advisor can direct you to the appropriate source in order to obtain additional documentation and support.

In the case that an updated psycho-educational assessment is needed, the Accessibility Advisor will check to see if you are eligible for funding for reassessment. If eligible, you will be referred to a psychologist or psychological associate to obtain this documentation.

• If you suspect you have a learning disability, please call to make an appointment with a Learning Skills Advisor at ext. 3232 and request to have a learning disability screener done at your campus.
• If mental health concerns are impacting your academic performance please call Counselling at ext. 3360 to make an appointment
• If you are unsure if you qualify for academic accommodations, please call ext. 3232 to book a pre-admission appointment with an Accessibility Advisor