UOIT students now eligible for TD Scholarship in Rehabilitation-Related Research for People with Disabilities

The TD Grant in Medical Excellence: A Scholarship in Rehabilitation-Related Research for People with Disabilities has expanded its eligibility to the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT). The scholarship program is now offered to students at seven Ontario universities.

"On UOIT and our students, I'd like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Toronto Rehab for including our students in their scholarship application process," says Victoria Choy, registrar, UOIT. "This generous funding opportunity will help make education even more accessible for our students and allow the successful recipients to engage in innovative research projects designed to positively affect the lives of people with disabilities."

Designed to encourage people with disabilities to pursue careers in rehabilitation science, the scholarship aims to tap into their special knowledge, personal experiences, and passion to make a difference in the lives of other people with disabilities. Graduate students enrolled in programs as diverse as health sciences, computer science, engineering, and criminology may apply.

Only one in 10 working-age adults living with a disability has a university degree, compared to one in five without a disability. And, even fewer adults with disabilities go on to complete a graduate degree. That is what inspired TD Bank Group to fund the scholarship program. To date TD’s support of the program totals $750,000.

 “UOIT offers an excellent collection of rehab-related programs to their students and we are delighted to have the university as our newest partner,“ says Dr. Geoff Fernie, Institute Director of Research, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, who developed the idea for the scholarship. “The contributions the students make from different science and technology disciplines, coupled with their personal experiences, enrich our own research at Toronto Rehab – UHN and impact how we think about disability-related challenges and their solutions. “

Believed to be the first-of-its-kind in Canada, this scholarship program has benefited 12 students since its inception in 2006. The program is administered by Toronto Rehabilitation Institute (Toronto Rehab) and was created by Toronto Rehab and the Toronto Rehab Foundation.

UOIT students will be eligible to apply for the TD scholarship due May 1, 2013.  Students who are interested in the scholarship are invited on November 15, 2012 to tour Toronto Rehab’s new, state-of-the-art iDAPT research labs and meet scientists with disabilities who will share their own graduate experiences.