Financial Assistance Program
Frequently Asked Questions
In order to be eligible for a SMILE scholarship, you must be living in Canada.
As long as the individual is living in Canada, they are eligible to apply for the scholarship regardless of citizenship status. This includes but is not limited to being a citizen, a permanent resident, an immigrant, a work/study permit, a family sponsorship, an electronic travel authorization (eTA), a visitor visa, refugees, and verification of status (VOS) or request. We also welcome applications from new immigrants and refugees seeking asylum.
Yes, the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the individual must disclose financial information for the current tax year where applicable (i.e. most recent NOA).
The types of financial information that must be disclosed include:a) Total Family Income.
b) Expenses (housing, groceries, bills, therapy, etc).
c) Any other type of funding received (SSAH, ACSD, OAP).
Yes, the individual must be registered with SMILE. This requires the individual to have a needs assessment on file with SMILE.To schedule an assessment, please EMAIL our case workers will be in touch with you within 5 to 7 business days
The following items are eligible to be covered:Therapeutic Activities This includes speech and language therapy, behavioural therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, ABA therapy, etc.Aquatic therapy, music therapy Counselling and or mental health servicesRespite ServicesParent CoachingAssistive technology and adaptive equipmentWheelchairs, walkers, bath seats, beds, etc.Hearing aidsSensory ToolsThis includes but is not limited to a weighted blanket, mini trampoline, theraputty, etc
SMILE is required to keep all financial records for up to 7 years in case of an audit by the Government of Canada for Grants.
You must exhaust all previous scholarship funds in order to apply for the new and current Scholarship round. However, if you have any extenuating circumstances you would like to discuss, please email
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For any other questions or concerns, please direct them to: servicenavigator@smilecan.orgFor questions in English/Arabic, please direct them to: Raian.Othman@smilecan.org
Summer 2024 Scholarships are now closed. Please stay tuned for more information.
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