student in blue shirt sits at a desk smiling at a woman with blonde hair who has her back to the camera

Student Accessibility Services at McDaniel

McDaniel ranks among the best disability-friendly colleges and universities. Our inclusive, research-backed programs offered through the office of Student Accessibility and Support Services (SASS) are nationally recognized for helping students with disabilities thrive in college academics.  

Undergraduate Admissions Visit McDaniel!

Realize Your Potential with SASS

Welcome to an accessible community where students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of the educational environment.

As the director of SASS since 2014, and a member of the staff since 2011, I’ve witnessed firsthand how our students become self-advocates, scholars, and young professionals, with lasting memories of their home on the Hill. 

With resource partnerships across campus and a welcoming community, we’ll help you find your unique pathway — starting the summer before your first year. Our fee-based programs are carefully designed to help students at every stage of college: from Step Ahead, to Elevate and the Skills Sets, to short-term study abroad with SASS Worldwide. 

I would love to hear from you about what you’re looking for in college support programs, so we can discuss how SASS can help. Don’t hesitate to reach out, visit campus, and learn more. 

Melanie Conley ’91, M.S. ’06  
Director of Student Accessibility and Support Services 

Email SASS: sass@mcdaniel.edu

Helping Students With Disabilities Thrive in College Academics

Our Mission

The mission of the Student Accessibility & Support Services office is to assist in creating an accessible college community where students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of the educational environment. We cooperate through partnerships with students, faculty, and staff to promote students’ independence, self-advocacy, and full academic potential. Our department works within the McDaniel community to enhance educational outcomes for our students and promote the recognition of students’ capabilities.

Guide to Registering for Accommodations 

SASS works with each student on a case-by-case basis to determine and implement appropriate accommodations based on individual needs and documentation. To request academic or housing accommodations at McDaniel College, please complete the registration form and provide required documentation before the designated deadlines.

Elevate: Fee-Based Services to Enhance Support

`Elevate Your Academic Experience`

Elevate, our fee-based program, goes above and beyond standard accommodations to provide additional support for students with documented disabilities.

From Tier 1 to Tier 3, Elevate grows with you. This all-inclusive program is designed around the academic journey our students experience: from needing more support in their first year of college to developing greater independence as sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

Tier 1 has just 40 spots for first-year and transfer students due to the comprehensive nature of the program. To secure your spot, please follow all deadlines to register with SASS and apply for Elevate.

Want to Learn More About Elevate?

Get more info about the Elevate Program

Graduate assistant working with student.

Level Up Your Skills Elevate Skill Sets

Elevate Skill Sets help you level up your skills and thrive in three key areas for success in school and in life.

Elevate Connections: Social and Communication Skills
Elevate Studies: Enhanced Academic Support Skills
Elevate Habits: Executive Functioning Skills

Learn more about the Elevate Skill Sets

~ 30%

of McDaniel undergraduate students are registered with SASS and use accommodations.

100+

students participate in Elevate, our nationally recognized paid services program.

900

accommodated tests provided each year.

15%

increase in students seeking disability support in Maryland between 2019-23.

Academic Counseling

SASS academic counselors are master’s-level professionals who work with students on a case-by-case basis. Many of them also happen to be alums of McDaniel’s undergraduate and graduate programs, so they understand the student experience here on the Hill.

Meet your academic counselors

Licensed Mental Health Counselor

All students registered with SASS benefit from access to a licensed mental health counselor who is embedded within SASS. This counselor provides on-the-ground support exclusively for students registered with SASS, while still being a member of the Wellness Center staff.

Wellness Extended Support Program

To more fully support the mental health needs of our students, the Wellness Center created the Wellness Extended Support Program (WESP) to provide long-term individual therapy and clinical case management services right here on campus.

Learn more about WESP

Collaborative Campus Partnerships

Our collaborative campus partnerships include the Wellness Center, Residence Life, the STEM Center, and the Writing Center.

Academic Support Resources

Support in Every Season : Academic Counseling for January and Summer Terms 

Students enrolled in January or summer term courses can register for individual meetings with an academic counselor, starting the week classes begin. 

January Term

The January Term session includes two 30-minute academic counseling sessions per week for three weeks. 
January Fee: $420 

Summer Session

The summer session includes two 30-minute virtual academic counseling sessions per week for six weeks. 
Summer Fee: $730 

Drop-in and Scheduled Appointments Mental Health Counseling Embedded in SASS  Individual and Group Sessions Available

The SASS mental health counselor specializes in supporting students with neurodivergence and disabilities. They can also act as a liaison between the Wellness Center and SASS for students who consent to integrated services. 

Group Social Skills Development

In addition to drop-in and scheduled appointments, the counselor leads multiple structured group sessions that focus on subjects like healthy relationships and social skills development, covering topics like:

Importance of social skills 
Self-articulation and expression 
Active listening 
Gaining perspective 
Setting boundaries 
Collaboration 
Conflict resolution 
Self-advocacy

Having a mental health counselor who is only available to students in the SASS program allows for more personalized support to suit the individual needs of each of our unique students.

Melanie Conley, director of Student Accessibility and Support Services

An academic counselor working with a student on an assignment.

Wellness Extended Support Program

Students enrolled in Tier 1 of Elevate through SASS have priority registration for WESP, with up to 10 spots available. With authorization, the Wellness Center will collaborate with the SASS Office.  

Learn more about the Wellness Extended Support Program

Important Deadlines

Jan. 16: Elevate application opens
March 1: Registration form opens for first-year and transfer students to register for accommodations
March 1: Elevate application due
March 1 - April 15: Elevate interviews scheduled
March 13: Accommodation requests for housing and academics are due (current students only)
May 1: Deposit deadline for students enrolling at McDaniel
May 1: Step Ahead application opens
May 1: WESP application opens (applications accepted on a rolling basis)
June 1: Accommodation requests for housing and academics are due (new students only)

Services Not Provided 

Comprehensive diagnostic evaluation for determining disabilities 
Special classes for students with disabilities 
A reduced standard for academic performance 
Exemption from graduation requirements (some substitutions are available with supportive documentation and on a case-by-case basis) 
Life coaching 
Medication management

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to our most frequently asked questions below. Additional FAQs can be found on the SASS FAQ webpage.

SASS offers temporary and long-term academic accommodations, housing accomodations, academic counseling, mental health support, and fee-based programs like Elevate, Skill Sets, Step Ahead, and SASS Worldwide.

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.

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.

Nearly 30% of McDaniel undergraduate students are registered with SASS and use accommodations.

Yes, a licensed mental health counselor is embedded in SASS and provides individual and group therapy support. All McDaniel students also benefit from access to free counseling in the Wellness Center, which also offers a fee-based program called the Wellness Extended Support Program (WESP). Students in Elevate Tier 1 have priority registration for WESP.

Connect With Us

Student Accessibility & Support Services Email SASS

Phone: 410-857-2504

Location

The Learning Commons @ Hoover Library

Student Accessibility Services at McDaniel

Realize Your Potential with SASS

Welcome to an accessible community where students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of the educational environment.