Anonymous wrote:DC has an accommodation for this. He has language disorder and taking a foreign language is something that would be very difficult. The Speech therapist that he sees wrote a letter and the school waived it.

Anonymous wrote:This won’t help you, OP, and I really hope you get the waiver, but for my kid we purposely researched programs that did not require FL. He’s a senior now and headed off in the fall.

I didn’t have a disability but struggled myself with FL back in HS and did the same back when I went to college. There was no way I ever wanted to take another language again when I didn’t need to.

For others, I’d avoid if you can’t guarantee you are getting the waiver before applying.

Anonymous wrote:I came on here to suggest Latin but I see someone already has. No speech (or minimal speech) component. My DS’s high school spec ed counselor recommended this but the college he’s primary looking at lean heavily into ASL.

For him, Latin wouldn’t be super helpful because he has dyslexia but I can see it being helpful for others.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure if this should be posted here or on the college forum. DS is a senior and has made his college decision. He has a history of childhood apraxia though nobody would know it to hear him speak. He had many years of intensive high quality therapy. The issue is that he will struggle with a foreign language and his college requires it. Has anybody had success getting a foreign language requirement waived? I’m referring to taking the credit in college not having taken it in HS for admission. In MS and HS the IEP team discouraged a foreign language and he was able to take ASL. The college doesn’t offer ASL which would be a really great option. Finding someone to corroborate his diagnosis as a YA is a challenge since his speech sounds normal, though I have stacks of documentation from his younger days. This is a very small LAC that’s known to be supportive so I’m hoping I’m worrying for nothing but I’d love any wisdom or advice.

My child has apraxia as well. I was very worried about foreign language. His high school does not offer ASL. He took Spanish. He is doing fine with a B. I will say that the first year is mostly memorizing vocabulary. Conjugating the verb is hard but we figured out some methods that work for him. I hope he can get through the second year which I’m sure will be harder.

Anonymous wrote:Can he take something like Latin that doesn't involve speaking? Or see if he can take ASL at a community college in the summer?

Colleges aren't required to modify graduation requirements, but some do, so all you can do is ask. You may need a medical provider to explain why he *now* can't take a language, despite his improvement in speaking.

Anonymous wrote:You are going to need to be at a school that has a policy of offering a language waiver, as well as updated testing. I am baffled why this wasn't a priority in your college search.

For a kid with apraxia of speech, Latin is a common choice as there is no spoken component.

Anonymous wrote:Does he have a psychiatrist or psychologist who can write a letter? My son’s offered if I recall correctly when he was struggling with FL. We didn’t use it but she seemed confident the school would accept it.

Anonymous wrote:My dyslexic son was waived out of foreign language in high school, but his college requires it. So he is going to take the minimum requirement in the easiest language/professor combo available.

I think at this point, having done all the things they need to do to persevere and get to college, passing Spanish 1 isn’t going to be the hardest thing. My son may get a C. That’s okay. And perhaps he’ll find he needs to take Spanish 1 again to pass. That’s okay too. I had to do that with calculus in college.

Have faith in your kid that he’ll figure it out. He doesn’t need to fulfill his FL requirement his first or even second year. He may not have to do it at his college, even - he may be able to do it over the summer while he focuses on nothing else.

So sure, try for the exemption. But if he doesn’t get it he’ll find a way to meet the requirement. He’s got this.

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure if this should be posted here or on the college forum. DS is a senior and has made his college decision. He has a history of childhood apraxia though nobody would know it to hear him speak. He had many years of intensive high quality therapy. The issue is that he will struggle with a foreign language and his college requires it. Has anybody had success getting a foreign language requirement waived? I’m referring to taking the credit in college not having taken it in HS for admission. In MS and HS the IEP team discouraged a foreign language and he was able to take ASL. The college doesn’t offer ASL which would be a really great option. Finding someone to corroborate his diagnosis as a YA is a challenge since his speech sounds normal, though I have stacks of documentation from his younger days. This is a very small LAC that’s known to be supportive so I’m hoping I’m worrying for nothing but I’d love any wisdom or advice.