Wmu not accepting asl as foreign language, please help!

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RachelleDamico

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Hi, My name is Rachelle and I'm a student at WMU in Kalamazoo Michigan. I'm currently trying to get Western to accept ASL under their Foreign Language Program. It's currently under Speech Pathology and Audiology, where the website describes being deaf as something that needs to be "cured." Please take a second to sign this petition. If anyone has any questions, concerns, advice, or help it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Petition URL:
We believe WMU should accept ASL for Foreign Language Credits
 
Won't a petition be more significant if it was done by the locals?
 
not necessarily. I do have a written petition going in my area that's doing well. But an online one could also help. Every little bit counts.
 
I don't think ASL is not a part of Foreign Language as it is a common sign language for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Hearing people can learn ASL but for a foreign language, no. That is Absurd. :roll:
 
Personally - I would contact other Universities, Colleges, High schools both in state and out of state etc that have already recognized ASL as fulfilling the requirements of a "foreign language".
I would explain that you are trying to have ASL accepted at an educational institution that currently doesn't accept ASL as a suitable "foreign language and ask if they would be willing to provide you and WMU with an official letter saying that as of "X" year they have accepted ASL as meeting their foreign Language requirements along with some comments regarding why they have done so etc.

This will have MUCH more "weight" than a petition.


I do know that in both Canada and the USA there are already MANY educational institutions that recognize ASL as suitable to fulfil the "foreign language" (even though ASL is technically not "foreign" - it's accepted as "foreign" in the same way BOTH English, and French are accepted as "foreign languages" even though both are legally Canada's national & official languages ... basically "foreign language" ends up really meaning " a recognized language other than the mother tongue of the country one lives in"

Good luck - I think if you are able to get written support from other educational institutions and school boards etc you'll have an EXCELLENT chance of having ASL approved !!
 
For sure it is a foreign language and it has counted towards my degree to meet the foreign language requirements.

I would find several universities about the same size with ASL as a foreign language and show the department heads or deans that WMU needs to get with the times.
 
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