180 likes | 185 Views
This presentation explores the academic debt load and financial barriers faced by students with disabilities in Canadian postsecondary education. It discusses the methodology, preliminary analyses, and the impact of financial barriers on the educational experience of disabled students. The goal is to understand the relative debt incurred by these students and the financial limitations they face. The presentation also includes feedback from students and recommendations for systemic changes in policy and funding.
E N D
Debt Load & Financial Barriers for Students with Disabilities in Canadian Postsecondary Education Centre for the Study of Students in Postsecondary Education Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (University of Toronto) Presenter: Melissa Bolton (M.A. Candidate OISE/UT)
Partners • National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS) • Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation - Project Funder • Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) - Project Funder • Canadian Association of Disability Service Providers in Post-Secondary Education (CADSPPE)
Presentation Overview • Purpose • Phases of research • Methodology • Preliminary analyses & results
Purpose • To assess the academic/educational debt load and financial barriers of students with disabilities. • The goal is to understand the relative debt incurred by students with disabilities in post secondary education, the financial barriers and the impact their debt has on their educational experience and decisions.
Phases of Research • Phase 1: Interviews with disabled students in Canadian postsecondary education • Phase 2: Interviews with financial aid offices and disability service providers across Canada
Phase 3: Pan Canadian online survey of students with disabilities in colleges and universities in Canadian postsecondary education. • Phase 4: Quantitative analysis of National archival data supported by the Data Liberation Initiative (Statistics Canada)
Phase 1:Interviews with disabled students in Canadian postsecondary education
Enrollment Status Access To Resources Field of Study Financial Supports Aspirations Post Graduation Survey Level of Debt Incurred Employment Status Type of Disability Housing Situation Expenditures Telephone Interview
Methodology • Preliminary Analysis • Grounded theory- ‘constant comparison’ Corbin, J., & Strauss, A. (1990). Grounded theory research: Procedures, canons, and evaluative criteria. Qualitative Sociology, 13.
Financial barriers encountered during studies • Qualifying for external funding (for example: OSAP qualifications). • Limited number of bursaries, grants or awards for Students with disabilities
What individuals or organizations were involved in assisting students? • Financial aid officers • Disability services • Provincial disability support programs (eg. ODSP) • Family members • Community centers and religious groups
Impact of Financial Barriers on the Student Experience:‘How did financial barriers facilitate or hinder postsecondary educational experience?’ • Hindrance • Stressor • Limitation on social engagement
Educational & Employment Aspirations after Graduation • Jobs related to field of study • Educational attainment • Helping professions
Feedback from Students with Disabilities • Systemic Changes in Policy and Funding • Greater access to resources • Having a voice/advocating for change
For more information, please contact the ‘Centre for the Study of Students in Postsecondary Education’ http://css.oise.utoronto.ca/index.html
References • Corbin, J., & Strauss, A. (1990). Grounded theory research: Procedures, canons, and evaluative criteria. Qualitative Sociology, 13. • Statistics Canada. Participation and Activity Limitation Survey (2001). CANSIM (database). Using CHASS (distributor). Version updated May 31, 2005. http://dc1.chass.utoronto.ca/ (accessed September 1, 2008).