Media

NEADS Accepting Applications for National Student Awards/Holly Bartlett Memorial Award/AMI Robert Pearson Memorial Scholarship/Christine Nieder Memorial Award/ Canada Post Award/ Alliance for the Equality of Blind Canadians – Winnipeg Chapter Memorial Award

Deadline May 31st, 2021 (Ottawa, February 25th, 2021)

The National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS) is now accepting applications for the NEADS National Student Awards Program, the NEADS Holly Bartlett Memorial Award, the NEADS Christine Nieder Memorial Award, the AMI Robert Pearson Memorial Scholarship, Canada Post Award, and Alliance for the Equality of Blind Canadians – Winnipeg Chapter (AEBC) Memorial Award. These awards are offered to encourage full access to post-secondary education for persons with disabilities enrolled in undergraduate, graduate or professional degree programs at recognized Canadian universities, or in certified diploma programs at Canadian colleges. One outstanding applicant who meets the eligibility criteria will be awarded $10,000 from Canada Post. Two outstanding applicants (one English, one French) who meet eligibility criteria will be eligible for $5,000 each available from the AMI Robert Pearson Memorial Scholarship.

A to be determined number of students who meet the criteria of the NEADS Student Awards Program, will be receiving an award in the amount of $3,000 to support the costs of their tuition and student fees. One or more eligible and outstanding applicant(s) will receive the Holly Bartlett and Christine Nieder Memorial Awards, in the amount of $1,000. Finally, one student who meets the eligibility criteria will be awarded $1,000 from AEBC – Winnipeg Chapter. The exact number of scholarships awarded will be subject to the amount of funding received.

"We are very proud of the NEADS Student Awards Program, entering our 14th year of the program with over 110 recipients," said Lauren Gravis, Director of the NEADS Student Awards Program. "These programs are the first of their kind in that they are pan-Canadian and cross-disability, and were created to recognize overall excellence among students with disabilities in all aspects of post-secondary education. Past recipients demonstrate excellence in their academics, extra-curriculars, and self-advocacy efforts in a way that is incredibly transformative for themselves and others. We celebrate the program’s ongoing success, and we look forward to this year's crop of outstanding applicants."

Formerly known as the AMI Scholarship, the award has been renamed the AMI Robert Pearson Memorial Scholarship in honour of the organization’s Accessibility Officer, who passed away in December 2015. Robert Pearson was a long-time employee of AMI and fervent supporter of accessibility in Canada and around the world. “Renaming the AMI Scholarship in Robert’s memory ensures that his hard work lives on and forever reminds us of his commitment to accessibility and creating a more inclusive society,” explains Peter Burke, AMI Vice-President of Marketing and Communications. “The scholarship program was created to further strengthen the organization’s commitment to making accessible media for all Canadians, a role that Robert embraced with great passion and enthusiasm. He was an inspiration to all of us.” Entering its 10th year, the AMI Robert Pearson Memorial Scholarship program offers much needed financial assistance to students with a disability. In 2021, AMI will once again collaborate with the National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS) to administer the program and engage students with disabilities from across the country. Two $5,000 bursaries will be awarded to deserving students with a permanent disability; one from the English community and one from the French.

The Canada Post Student Award supports outstanding scholarship in higher education for persons with disabilities. The award recognizes contributions made to Canadian society through community development and knowledge sharing, and will be given to a student who demonstrates leadership, innovation, respect and integrity in their research, studies and community involvement.

The AEBC - Winnipeg Chapter Memorial Awards are offered to encourage full access to post-secondary education for persons with a visual disability who often have greater barriers to participation in higher education and extra costs because of their disability established to support outstanding scholarship in higher education for persons with disabilities. Each year the award will be dedicated to commemorate past members from the AEBC – Winnipeg Chapter. This year’s award is the Campbell Mackinder Memorial Scholarship.

Apply for all programs through the NEADS website until May 31st, 2021: http://www.neads.ca/en/about/projects/ete2/scholarship/
For more information:

Frank Smith
National Coordinator
National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS)
Rm. 514 Unicentre, Carleton University
Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6
www.neads.ca
https://www.disabilityawards.ca/
http://breakingitdown.neads.ca/
https://www.facebook.com/myNEADS/
https://www.canadahelps.org/dn/344