CNSA-CAD Award for Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard of Hearing Nursing Students

The Canadian Association of the Deaf - Association des Sourds du Canada (CAD-ASC) is pleased to announce a new collaboration that will exist between CAD-ASC and the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association - L’Association des étudiant(e)s infirmier(ère)s du Canada (CNSA-AEIC): the national voice of Canadian nursing students.  

The mandate of the CNSA-AEIC is to promote excellence in nursing education and support nursing students across Canada. For over 40 years, the CNSA-AEIC has represented the interests of nursing students on federal, provincial, and international levels. The CNSA-AEIC is dedicated to promoting the profession of nursing through political, legal and research-based initiatives.

CAD-ASC is a national information, research and community action organization of Deaf people in Canada. Since its founding in 1940, CAD-ASC’s mandate is to protect and promote the needs, rights, and concerns of Deaf people who use American Sign Language (ASL) and langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) in Canada. 

Accessibility and awareness are shared values of CAD-ASC and CNSA-AEIC, with the common goal to foster a more positive experience for Deaf nursing students in Canada.

This partnership has led us to create an award to encourage Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard Hearing people to enroll in nursing school and break down financial barriers to higher education. The creation of this award is only the beginning of a better, more accessible future. 

Application Process

This award, which is $2000, is open to nursing students identified as Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing, and currently enrolled in an RPN, LPN or RN program in Canada. For the award application, you must submit a video in ASL or LSQ for no more than two minutes in duration and/or a 500-word essay detailing your experiences as a Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing nursing student.

We will also require proof to ensure that this opportunity is reserved solely for individuals who identify as deaf, deaf-blind or hard of hearing. This proof may include documented membership in a deaf association, audiogram, or evidence of being enrolled in Deaf school during elementary/high school.

Proposed Submission date: December 15th, 2021, 23h59 EST

Please email your video and/or script, along with proof of identity as Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing, to:

CNSA-AEIC: Emma Hill, President: president@cnsa.ca; Amy Rowe, Awards Committee member: amy.rowe@queensu.ca

CAD-ASC: Wissam Constantin, Vice President of Governance and Membership: wissam@cad.ca; Jim Roots, Executive Director: jroots@cad.ca