Philosophy of the ASC
The goal of the Academic Skills Center (ASC) is to facilitate the academic success of students with disabilities. Our goal is the same as your goal - we all want you to be academically successful at McDaniel College. This requires us to use an individualized approach with each student. Some first year students will "hit the ground running" while others will need more support. Our job is to provide you with as much support as is reasonable and possible- especially during your first year here.
Our hope for all students with disabilities is that, over time, they will develop both the compensation skills needed to succeed in academics and the self-advocacy skills needed to negotiate for their own accommodations. Eventually, you, the student, will be in the job market. At that time you will have to advocate for yourself. You will have to learn to negotiate for the accommodations that you will be needing in the workplace. We want you to practice these skills now. As you move through your first year at Western Maryland College, you may rely on our support services a lot. It is our goal, though, that you depend on us less and less as time goes on. It will be imperative for your future success that you become independent and learn how to advocate for yourself.