Post Secondary School and Rheumatic Disease
Attending post- secondary education is an exciting time in one’s life as you will take on more responsibilities, become more independent and learn to manage your rheumatic disease as a young adult. Before your first day of school, it is important to learn more about the resources and supports available to you in order to make a smooth transition to life on campus! We’ve put together resources, ways to get involved and scholarship opportunities specifically all for youth living with rheumatic disease below for your reference.
Transition from high school to post secondary
One of the biggest changes from high school to post-secondary school is taking responsibility for your own education and accommodations. Universities and colleges across Canada have accessibility services that offer accommodations to students with chronic conditions to support your specific needs and ensure you succeed. It is important that you connect with accessibility services department at your school as soon as possible (even if you don’t think you’ll need it right now) to make sure accommodations can be in place when flares occur. Depending on your needs, this may allow for more flexibility when writing exams, accessing notetaker services, navigating unexpected absences and upcoming deadlines when symptoms are flaring.
Along with transitioning from secondary to college/university, during this time in your life you may also be in the process of transitioning from pediatric to adult rheumatology care. To learn more about clinic transition, please click here.
It is important to remember that each individual’s experience at college/university will differ and so will the path to get the accommodations necessary to you. Working with your care team and the Accessibility Services department at your school will help ease the transition to a new campus and course load. Below, we’ve listed some common considerations and tasks that may help students with rheumatic disease:
Considerations:
- A balanced class schedule and manageable course load
- Necessary classroom and exam accommodations
- Distance between classes, residence and parking lots/transit services, as well as access to elevators
- Proximity to a clinic from your residence
Additional considerations when moving to a new city for post secondary education:
- Familiarize yourself with a new clinic or meet virtually with your current rheumatologist
- Transfer medications to a new pharmacy and create a routine
- Ensure your dorm room and residency building is suitable for your needs (ie. room on the first floor, close proximity to facilities, etc.)
To make your transition from high school to post secondary, C+F Youth Leader, Kayla Caddy, created a University Transition Checklist to help you prepare for the changes in advance!
get involved
Volunteer Credit & Opportunities
Are you look to gain volunteer hours? Cassie + Friends offers various volunteer roles throughout the year in fields such as mentorship, event planning (in-person and virtual), run/walk participant recruitment, social media assistance, website maintenance and general administrative tasks. If you’re interested in learning more about getting involved, click here!
After completion, Cassie + Friends is able to provide letters of volunteer hour credit or reference letters towards post-secondary education applications.
Rheumours
Rheumours is a student group at the University of Alberta partnered with Cassie + Friends that aims to provide a safe space for community conversations about rheumatic diseases and address common misconceptions. Rheumours have plans for some amazing fundraising events, with proceeds going to Cassie + Friends to help support those living with rheumatic diseases! Rheumours does not discriminate and we believe everyone deserves to be heard. Find @rheumours on Instagram!
Rheumours was co-founded by U of A students, Nishat Nawsheen and Manahil Shariff. Manahil was diagnosed with JIA at age 15 (learn more about her rheumatic disease journey, here), and has since become passionate about raising awareness for juvenile arthritis.
Scholarship Opportunities
The Dr. Bonnie Cameron Post-Secondary Scholarship program is in its fourth year and hopes to assist in allowing students living with arthritis to achieve their educational goals. It is presented by Runanthropic.org because of the inspiring work and dedication of Dr. Cameron and the entire Rheumatology staff at SickKids Hospital. The scholarship award is $2,500. Applicants must be a legal and permanent resident of Canada who is diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis by a physician.
Learn more and apply here.
The annual scholarship winner will be awarded $1,000 towards their tuition to an accredited Canadian post-secondary institution.
The scholarship will be awarded to a Canadian high school student with a documented disability who is pursuing post-secondary education in the field of study in health care, criminal justice or community & social services at an accredited Canadian institution for the upcoming academic year.
Learn more and apply here.
The scholarship program is open to Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada with a permanent disability who are currently registered in and returning to a full-time program of study at an accredited Canadian post-secondary college or university.
Learn more and apply here.
The Kevin Collins Abilities Scholarship is presented to a post-secondary student with a disability. Eligible applicants must have at minimum one full semester left in their post-secondary education.
Learn more and apply here.
The District/Authority scholarship is awarded to 5,500 high school graduates who have demonstrated excellence in their chosen area.
Learn more and apply here.
Tips from a previous applicant:
- The application is not too lengthy and they give out a good number of scholarships.
- Get good reference letters by providing specific details to your referee on your involvement in the activity
- Make sure that your portfolio is organized and succinct (curate it – don’t just dump it in a folder and press send).
- There are so many options for this award! Pick something that you are passionate about, not just what you think looks the best.
- Thoroughly explain your activity/service/event. If you organized a Cassie + Friends walk at your school, don’t just say “I organized a walk for Juvenile Arthritis Awareness at my school.” Make your role, activity, and reason behind it clearer. An example is, “I planned, coordinated, and lead a 2km school wide walk (300 students) around our neighborhood to raise awareness and funds for Juvenile Arthritis research and support for children and youth. Juvenile Arthritis is an auto immune disease that attacks the joints and tendons causing inflammation, stiffness, and pain…”. Then you might go on to provide some more information about JIA and the impact that your event had!
- You might also give some examples of things you did in the planning and coordinating stages
- The people reading your application may have never heard of JIA, and they certainly will not know how much time/work you put into the initiative unless you tell them!
To be considered for the Award, applicants must meet be:
- In good academic standing.
- Canadian citizens or landed immigrants.
- Students graduating from secondary (high) school or students completing their first year of CÉGEP or students who have completed secondary (high) school
- Involved in voluntary humanitarian activities (for which they have not been compensated).
- Planning to or are already studying towards their first university degree or diploma at a Canadian post-secondary institution, or entering their 2nd year of CÉGEP in the upcoming academic year.
Learn more and apply here.
Tips from a previous applicant:
- This scholarship is named after Terry Fox. Researching Terry Fox and discussing any similar world views/interests could be an interesting way to make your application stand out.
CSLA is pleased to offer up to eleven $500.00 annual student awards to exemplary student leaders from across Canada. The aim of these awards is to recognize outstanding achievement and contribution to student leadership in secondary schools and communities across Canada. These awards are the highest recognition CSLA gives to student leaders in Canada.
Learn more and apply here.
The Lisa Huus Memorial Bursary Fund was established in 1988 by Lisa’s family and has been supported by personal donations in memory of Lisa and by fundraising activities undertaken by the Huus family and the bursary committee.
An applicant must:
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- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Be enrolled in an accredited college or university in British Columbia or Alberta.
- Be a person with significant physical disabilities or ongoing health challenges
Learn more and apply here.
Lupus Canada offers six (6) one time scholarships of $2000 to students diagnosed with lupus entering or currently enrolled in post-secondary education.
Click here for information on eligibility and to apply.
UCB Canada Inc., a global biopharmaceutical company committed to developing innovative treatments for inflammatory arthritis diseases, such as: rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis. UCB Canada Inc. is dedicated to creating unique programs and tools to aid patients in reaching above and beyond the boundaries of their disease and fulfilling their educational ambitions.
Learn more and apply here.
The selection of a Loran Scholar is unique in its attention to a young person’s character. We believe that integrity, courage, grit and personal autonomy are better indicators of overall potential than standard academic measures. To discover these traits, we administer the most comprehensive and thorough scholarship selection process in Canada. Tenable at 25 partner universities, the Loran Award is valued at $100,000 over four years, including mentorship, funding for summer internships and participation in an extensive network of past and present scholars.
Learn more and apply here.
What are the TD Scholarships for Community Leadership?
Since 1995, TD has awarded millions in scholarships to recognize students who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to community leadership. TD Scholarships for Community Leadership recipients receive up to $70,000 for tuition and living expenses as well as opportunities for paid summer employment, peer networking and mentorship. Supporting young community leaders is one way TD is helping build a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow.
Learn more and apply here.
Tips from a previous applicant:
-This is an award of great value and I encourage all with community leadership experience to apply. Do note, however, that if your initiative has not had a visibly high impact, it is unlikely you will receive the award. I say this to help with prioritizing what scholarships to spend the most time on writing.
– Specificity matters. 100 people may have put on a bake sale for a cause. Why does yours matter the most? What was its impact? Why is the cause so important?
– Be succinct in your writing and exclude flowery words. This scholarship application has a small word count.
– Even though this scholarship is looking for visible change don’t forget that their are many ways to be a community leader. Maybe you sat and listened when someone was sad even though you were in a big rush?
Seemingly small acts of community leadership can often have the greatest underlying impact, and certainly should not be forgotten when writing this scholarship application.
Take a Pain Check is offering 2 scholarships worth $2,500 to full-time students pursuing greater learning at Canadian universities or colleges, and those enrolled in trade school educational programs. They are seeking individuals who have or will triumph over adversity despite the limitations of living with a disability.
The scholarship will be awarded to students who are:
- Canadian Residents or Permanent Citizens
- Diagnosed with a Rheumatic Condition
- Full-Time Undergraduate or Graduate Students in a Canadian University/College; STEM Preference
- Academic Excellence
- Making a Difference in the Community
Learn more and apply here.
The Beedie Luminaries Scholarship is for students with potential who are facing financial adversity. Students who are smart, but constrained by circumstance. Students who are resilient and gritty. Students who are ready to make a positive change in their lives.
Learn more and apply here.
Moving On: Higher Education Information from SickKids Staff
Find tips for further education, examples of accommodations and how to access them, and information on transitioning from high school to post-secondary education.
On-Campus Accessibility Services Directory from NEADS
A directory of accessibility services at colleges and universities across Canada. Learn who to contact and what accommodations are available to you at your school.
Teens Taking Charge:
Managing JIA Online Program provides teens with information on different types of JIA, managing symptoms, and coping with JIA management now and in the future.
5 Tips for Post- Secondary Success from the Arthritis Society:
Managing JIA Online Program provides teens with information on different types of JIA, managing symptoms, and coping with JIA management now and in the future.
