FAQ

If you require assistance getting around Montréal, you may contact Promotion Intervention en Milieu Ouvert (PIMO). The mission of this organization is to allow people living with a disability on the island of Montreal to have more independence and social participation. PIMO offers an individualized support service for people requiring assistance attending a medical appointment, going to the bank, going to a restaurant or other activities. 

The Rent Supplement Program helps people with disabilities to living in private-sector rental dwellings, dwellings belonging to housing cooperatives or non-profit organizations, to pay a rent similar to that of low-rental housing.” The organizations mandated by the Société d’habitation du Québec to manage this program are housing organisations, rehabilitation centers for people with disabilities, housing cooperatives and non-profit organizations. The Société d’habitation du Québec “pays the difference between the portion payable by the tenant and the rent agreed upon with the landlord.” The amount is calculated according to the by-law respecting the conditions for the leasing of dwellings in low-rental housing.

The Residential Adaptation Assistance Program (RAAP) is a program for people with disabilities who would like to do renovations on their home. These renovations could be for bathrooms, to widen door frames or to install an outdoor access ramp. “This program provides financial assistance to the owners of a dwelling occupied by a person with a disability so that the work to adapt the home may be carried out.” The financial aid can be up to $16 000. You could also benefit from additional financial help of up to $7000 if needed. Municipal partners of the Société d’habitation du Québec determine the eligibility of the request by consulting a report provided by an occupational therapist. 

To be eligible for the Allowance for special needs, you must have a major functional disability or another recognized disability. You must be accepted as a part-time or full-time student in a secondary educational establishment (vocational training or adult education), cégep or university. You must also prove that you would “benefit from various types of support related to your disability (e.g. specialized services, paratransit services, housing allowance, material resources) in order to pursue your studies.” 

A person is said to have a major functional disability if their disability keeps them from easily performing activities of daily living and is restricted in their options to study and work.  

/!\ Please note, only physical disabilities are recognized on the 1015 form (pdf) for the Loans and Bursaries program and the financial allowance for special needs students. Learn more by clicking here:    

https://cdn-contenu.quebec.ca/cdn-contenu/enseignement-superieur/aide-financiere-etudes/loans-bursaries/previous-year/1015-medical-certificat-MFD-2022-2023.pdf 

• Severe hearing impairment 
• Severe visual impairment 
• Mobility, flexibility, and dexterity disabilities 

Other types of disabilities:  

• Chronic illness 
• Pain-related disability 
• Paralysis of one or several limbs 
• Communication disability 
• Speech disability 
• Motor neuron disability 
• Developmental disability 
• Autism spectrum disorder 
• Learning disability 
• Mental health 

•  Fill out the form for Student Financial Assistance which is available on the Québec Ministry of Education website. (Don’t forget to tick off the box for a “Major Functional Disability in section 5 of the form).  

Don’t forget to inform Student Financial Aid of any changes to your course load, address of residence, physical condition and/or if you decide to drop a class.  

You can consult the Guide – Programme d’allocation pour des besoins praticuliers – adultes – 2023-2024 (quebec.ca) (FR only) for information on financial assistance for people with special needs. 

Calendar of important reminders 

June – July: Fill out a new application for student financial aid for the fall semester. Make sure your fall course registration has been completed and that all your classes have been approved.  

September – December: Make sure to get a Guarantee Certificate if this is your first time applying for a student loan or if you are returning to school after taking time off from studying. Make sure that your registration for the winter semester has been completed and that all your classes have been approved.  

January: Log in to your account and fill out the form Confirmation of financial Resources.  

April: If needed, make sure that your registration for the summer semester has been completed and that all your classes avec been approved. 

A guarantee certificate is a personalized document that allows you to receive financial aid. This document is given to you at the beginning of your studies and remains valid throughout. In order to receive this certificate, you must go to the financial aid office of your educational institution. You must then get it approved before the expiration date so that you can receive direct deposits of your student aid into your account. You must do this at one of the following financial institutions: 

• Caisse Desjardins;  
• Bank of Montréal (BMO) 
• Laurentian Bank 
• National bank of Canada (NBC) 
• Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) 

There is a program that covers the cost of a new computer. If you are eligible for student loans and bursaries and you require a desktop or laptop computer in order to pursue your studies, you may be able to receive an extra loan of $2000. Click here to learn more.

• What is it?  

The Programme Réussir (this link will open in a new window) Programme Réussir – ADEL (gouv.qc.ca) is a program that was developed as part of the Governmental Action Plan to fight against Poverty and Social Exclusion.  

• Who is this program for?  

This program is for people with severe limitations when accessing employment. The program allows easier access to vocational training and post-secondary education.  

• What are the advantages of the program?  

The Programme Réussir offers individuals various personal as well as financial benefits.  

These may include:  

• Benefiting from the financial aid of the Social Solidarity Program.  
• Receiving a supplement to loans and bursaries that you receive from the minister of education.  
• Receiving a support allowance. 

According to the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada (IDAC):  

• “Learning Disabilities (LDs) are specific neurological disorders that affect the brain’s ability to store, process, retrieve or communicate information. They are invisible and lifelong”. 
• LDs can show up as a significant difficulty when listening, writing, speaking, using mathematical reasoning, socializing or memorizing. LDs can have varying degrees of severity depending on the person.  
• LDs are NOT to be confused with intellectual disability, autism, deafness, blindness, behavioral disorders or laziness. 

If you need adapted communication or technological equipment during your studies, you can find information on the Adaptech Research Network website.

• You can consult their database which contains a list of affordable software in the Downloads section of the website. 

You can also contact the organization:  

Adaptech Research Network
3040, rue Sherbrooke Ouest
Montréal (Québec) H3Z 1A4
Téléphone : (514) 931-8731, poste 1546
Courriel :  [email protected] 

You may contact the Mira Foundation.

The Mira foundation is the only organization in Québec that trains guide dogs and service dogs.