Changes are coming to the financial aid policy
The journey for change and accessibility at the University of Toronto is not always easy or linear. However, some changes are finally on the horizon after the Disabled Law Students’ Association (DLSA) worked closely with the Financial Aid Committee and the Students’ Law Society (SLS) this year.
At the beginning of the fall term, Caitlin Salvino (1L), a DLSA member who is passionate about supporting students living with disabilities, sparked the initial conversation with Assistant Dean, JD Program Alexis Archbold. This conversation centered on the Faculty of Law’s Financial Aid Policy and its existing barriers for students with disabilities. Subsequently, a disability perspective on policy was added to the Financial Aid Committee agenda.
In response to this addition, the SLS ran a survey and consultation to collect data for the policy reform during the winter semester. On February 10, a general consultation with the Financial Aid Committee was held, where Salvino, speaking on behalf of DLSA, shared its main submission. Students also had the opportunity to share their general concerns. On February 15, Salvino spoke to the whole Financial Aid Committee to present the DLSA recommendations and to answer questions.
Important highlights from the DLSA submission included recommendations addressing changes to the student health plan requirement, submission of receipts for allowable expenses, and how calculations for allowable expenses for continuous medications are made.
Most importantly, the DLSA pushed for a financial aid policy which respects the privacy rights of students with disabilities. In particular, they advocated for more clarity in the policies regarding who is eligible to access sensitive information, where the information would be stored, and what information would be shared. Without clear guidance on how sensitive information is handled, the DLSA contends that many students would be deterred from disclosing their medical information and therefore not receive the appropriate financial aid.
In addition to the focus on clarity and prioritizing privacy, the DLSA suggested that special accounts such as Registered Disability Savings Plans be exempted from the financial aid calculations due to their use as safety nets rather than easily accessible assets. Finally, the DLSA suggested that the Financial Aid Policy adopt a more transparent outline of how medical expenses are incorporated into the calculation. While there is merit to evaluating high-cost medical expenses on a case-by-case basis, students with disabilities would benefit more from a clearer framework in determining their overall expected financial aid before they decide to submit a financial aid application.
On March 25, a meeting was held between the DLSA and Financial Aid Committee regarding possible changes to the Financial Aid Policy. The Financial Aid Committee announced that, based on the feedback they received from students with disabilities, there will be amendments to the policy, additional clarifying information added into the financial aid booklet, and a separate FAQ page created for students with disabilities. The particulars of what is being changed will be announced later this year. For now, students can celebrate that a change for the better is being made at U of T Law, perhaps giving hope to others who also wish to enact change at the institution.
