Disability Tax Credit an Asset for Families of Disabled Students
The first days of university life are some of the most exciting and stressful any young person will endure. Many are away from home for the first time in their lives, surrounded by strangers and faced with the stress of having to perform academically as well. It’s confusing, exhausting and exhilarating all at the same time.
For disabled students however, the first days at university can present an entirely unique set of challenges, as chronicled in a new article on The Guardian website.
Zoe Hallam, 24, studied PPE at the University of Oxford in 2011, and has muscular dystrophy. She says: “Going away to university was the first time I had to manage my own care. I had to try a few different sources before I found a support network that really worked for me.
For some disabled students developing a support network can go beyond finding good people to lean on in case of medical emergencies. Such is the case with Hallam:
If you use specific equipment that you need to be mobile, find a local maintenance service, so you don’t find yourself stuck, says Hallam. “When your wheelchair breaks down, as it inevitably will after a few nights out, you’ll need to have someone who can come out and fix it.
In spite of many disabled students’ best efforts however, making the jump to college is a leap too far. As many as ⅔ of disabled college and university students will drop out before completing their degree. As for the reason? Many cite significant barriers that remain for disabled students; from lack of wheelchair accessibility in classrooms to inadequate washroom facilities. While some cite the added expense of servicing their disability such as medications, emergency room visits and the need to call taxis in bad weather.
While statistics are incomplete regarding the total percentage of college and university students who are disabled The Learning Disabilities Association of Canada estimates that just the number of students with learning disabilities alone in Canadian schools could be as high as 10 percent. Universities can’t be expected to bear the cost of ancillary expenses incurred by such a large number of disabled students. Parents and other family members must be able to make significant contributions.
For many families with a disabled member however, healthcare costs are often the deciding factor as to whether their promising, but disabled, child gets to attend university. Barely able to keep up with the avalanche of medical bills many parents would be unable to put aside anything for their child’s education without the aid of programs like the Disability Tax Credit.
Keeping Dreams Alive With the Disability Tax Credit
People with disabilities are only half as likely as the non-disabled to finish their bachelor’s degree. At least some of that disparity, as mentioned earlier, can be attributed directly to financial hardship resulting from medical expenses negatively impacting the ability to pay educational costs.
The Disability Tax Credit, which provides up to $40,000 in annual financial assistance to eligible individuals and their families, can help the disabled meet their healthcare obligations without having to sacrifice their overall quality of life. By helping to lift the burden of excessive medical expenses from the shoulders of the disabled this important program allows them to maintain a level of financial normalcy that can enable them to realize their scholastic dreams as well.
Don’t Give Up Your Dreams: Contact Disability Credit Canada Today
Disability Credit Canada is a leading advocate for disabled Canadians. Our goal is to ensure every individual or family that is beset by excessive medical costs and is eligible for the Disability Tax Credit is able to take advantage of this life saving program. No child should have their dreams cut short because their parents are overwhelmed by healthcare expenses. And no adult wishing to enter university to improve their career possibilities should have to choose between their medical care and school.
Canada is a better, more prosperous place when everyone is able to get the education they want and families are not torn asunder by the scourge of astronomical healthcare costs. Call us today on 1-855-765-4458 and get the assistance you need to keep the college dream alive.