Foreign Language Waiver?

[FairProspects]

We just re-did older ds' full neuropsych report. No real big surprises, other than some issues resolved (fine motor delay) and others were clarified (processing speed is its own learning disability now). My bigger question is regarding his overall profile. Ds received a HUGE foreign language waiver for all foreign language at both the high school and college level. Has anyone used this accommodation? How did it affect entrance to college? We used a Seattle area neuropsych who said he himself had a foreign language waiver and he never took foreign language at all. How would that kind of waiver even be submitted on college applications?

[Heathermomster]

You should probably speak to the uni’s DSS office. My son will be applying for those waivers soon.  He receives academic scholarship, and the uni admitted him with ACT scores and a completed high school transcript.  DS submitted his np report and was told to make the request through his selected college’s dept head.  We were told it would not be a problem with the appropriate testing documentation.

Edited June 12, 2019 by Heathermomster

[8filltheheart]

2 hours ago, FairProspects said:

We just re-did older ds' full neuropsych report. No real big surprises, other than some issues resolved (fine motor delay) and others were clarified (processing speed is its own learning disability now). My bigger question is regarding his overall profile. Ds received a HUGE foreign language waiver for all foreign language at both the high school and college level. Has anyone used this accommodation? How did it affect entrance to college? We used a Seattle area neuropsych who said he himself had a foreign language waiver and he never took foreign language at all. How would that kind of waiver even be submitted on college applications?

It is really going to depend.  Colleges are not required to alter degree requirements and some refuse to. Accommodations beyond the legal requirements are completely at their discretion.  So, in essence, a foreign language waiver at those schools will not make any difference at all.  You are going to need to ask every college individually if they will allow any foreign language requirements to be waived.

If you haven't investigated the legal limits required by 504s, then you might want to start with this link's breakdown. 504 legally required college accommodations

2 key pts are

Quote

 No fundamental alterations of programs and curricula are required.

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No reduced assignments, extended time on assignments is usually at the discretion of the professor, no grading changes, no test format changes other than providing equal access, no extra attempts at tests; in other words, accommodations must be reasonable and must not compromise the rigor and/or academic integrity of the class

 

[FairProspects]

3 hours ago, 8FillTheHeart said:

It is really going to depend.  Colleges are not required to alter degree requirements and some refuse to. Accommodations beyond the legal requirements are completely at their discretion.  So, in essence, a foreign language waiver at those schools will not make any difference at all.  You are going to need to ask every college individually if they will allow any foreign language requirements to be waived.

If you haven't investigated the legal limits required by 504s, then you might want to start with this link's breakdown. 504 legally required college accommodation

 

Ok, thanks. This is helpful. My ds is not set on any certain college yet, but I will do some investigating on which colleges might be more learning disability friendly towards accommodations and/or waivers.

[Heathermomster]

Okay....DS spoke with the department head at his uni last week and requested a foreign language substitution.  DS discovered that to earn a BA in history at his uni, he must take two semesters of a language.  To earn a BS in history, foreign language is not required; therefore, son’s foreign language hurdle is gone.  It seems son’s biggest hurdle now is to do the work and complete his assignments, which will be challenging enough for a dyslexic/dysgraphic taking a humanities course load.  I’ve never heard of a BS degree in history.  Who knew?  So the moral of the story is to speak directly with any potential university dept head.  The DSS had insinuated the answer was yes but was very vague on specifics.  

Edited November 10, 2019 by Heathermomster

[PeterPan]

4 minutes ago, Heathermomster said:

 I’ve never heard of a BS degree in history.  

That's what dd ran into, that the program she likes is a BA. Some universities offer it as a BS, but hers doesn't, sigh. But at least it worked out for your ds!