Frequently Asked Questions

SASS is McDaniel College’s office dedicated to supporting students with learning, psychological, physical, and medical disabilities through accommodations and research-backed programs. 

Students register for academic and housing accommodations once they have been admitted to McDaniel and deposited. At that point, students submit an online registration form and submit documentation of disability to the SASS office. An intake meeting will be scheduled with a SASS staff member to determine appropriate accommodations. Families are welcome to join in this intake meeting that typically occurs during the summer prior to arrival, though students can register with SASS at any point during their time at McDaniel as new diagnoses or temporary conditions may present. For more information, visit the Guide to Registering for Accommodations.

The dedicated SASS mental health counselor will only disclose what you share with them to SASS if you have signed an authorization form. Any individual over the age of 18 may also authorize a medical or mental health provider to share some or all medical information with another individual. 

If you are enrolled in Elevate and sign a FERPA release, academic counselors will connect with your family during mid-terms and for annual check-ins. If you are not in Elevate and sign a FERPA release, SASS may reach out to your family in some circumstances if there is a serious concern.

SASS provides support to students with documented disabilities, including those related to learning, psychological, physical, and medical conditions. Our services commonly assist students who are neurotypical, such as individuals with ASD, ADHD, dyslexia, and Tourette’s, as well as students with learning differences and various mental health diagnoses, including anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. Additionally, SASS offers temporary accommodations for students and student-athletes experiencing concussions or injuries.

Yes, SASS offers temporary accommodations. We often work with students who have sustained injuries from falls, car accidents, etc. The most common instances of temporary accommodations are for concussions and broken arms/hands/fingers, as these impact writing and work completion.

A full neuropsychological or psychoeducational evaluation is preferred. Depending on the individual student, this type of documentation may not be available. In this case, documentation may take the form of a letter from a certified professional. Documentation must be on letterhead with a signature from the certified professional. It must include the diagnosis(es) and the impact of the disability on academic performance. Information about any medications that a student is taking and how they might impact their performance is also beneficial. More information about documentation is available in the Guide to Registering for Accommodations. 

The more recent the documentation, the more accurate the information about current student performance. It is preferable that documentation be less than three years old. 

The IEP or 504 plan may be shared as supplemental information, but we still require the psychoeducational or neuropsychological evaluation that was used to generate the IEP, or a letter from a licensed professional, like a psychiatrist, therapist, or medical practitioner.

If a student registers with our office promptly and provides all documentation, we then review the provided materials and set up an intake meeting. Scheduling intake depends on student and staff availability. We approve accommodations after the intake meeting has been held. 

The process may be longer if a student registers without providing the required documentation and delays sending it, as we are unable to conduct intake until that documentation is provided. 
 

Accommodations may or may not be the same as a student had access to in high school. Some accommodations that were not available in high school may apply in college. High schools may provide both accommodations and modifications of academic requirements. At the college level, modifications of course requirements or formats are not permitted. 

Accommodations are provided at no charge in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. However, fee-based programs are available to provide additional support.

Level of service is elected every semester. During the semester, services can be increased at any time. However, there is a drop date to reduce services, usually within the first week of the semester. 

No, students registered with SASS do not share a campus living space. Residence Life is unaware of SASS registration unless the student discloses the information.

Yes, SASS reviews and approves all housing accommodations and facilitates with the Office of Residence Life.

No, there are no special classes just for students with disabilities. At the college level, all students are held to the same academic standards. Accommodations are put in place to give access to academics and level the playing field for students with disabilities.

We do not offer second language waivers, but in rare cases a student may qualify and apply for a substitution. Students who receive second language substitutions are required to take additional international courses to replace the language courses. More information about this process will be provided during the intake meeting if applicable. 

Math waivers are not available. However, SASS can work with a student and faculty advisor to identify which Quantitative Reasoning courses may be the best fit.

Academic counselors may reach out to professors several times during the semester for students in the Elevate program. Professors will communicate with SASS about students’ standard accommodations, policies and procedures, and if there is a concern. 

Approved accommodations are determined at the intake meeting and are "set" for the student's time at McDaniel. However, if a student feels there is an academic barrier or a new diagnosis presents, they can schedule an Accommodation Review meeting with SASS to discuss possibilities in addressing the barrier and possible accommodations that would give access.

All SASS programs (Step Ahead, Elevate, Skills Sets, SASS Worldwide, and summer/January academic counseling) are currently fee-based to support their comprehensive services. There are limited grants and scholarships for some SASS programs. Besides the fee-based programs, SASS does provide a variety of free resources to ensure every registered student has support during their time in college.

Every student’s situation is different, so it is recommended to consult with the Financial Aid Office directly to inquire about what your package covers. For students in high financial need, we do offer a limited number of scholarships and grants for fee-based programs most semesters. These are highly competitive with limited funding. Qualifying applicants will be contacted during the summer and spring for each upcoming semester.