Ashamed that I'm taking the IEP....?

Question

I am absolutely mortified. My school decided that I had to take an IEP, and I don't understand why. I have had perfect grades until now, and I recently was hospitalized because of my depression... I KNOW that I don't need the IEP. I am not disabled, and I do not have any trouble with my social skills, or need help with my education...

I have goals, dreams, etc... I'm not disabled!

I don't want to do this...

Has anyone else ever taken the IEP? What's it like?

Answer 1

my 14 yr old son is in IEP, he also was hospitalized recently, but his was for ADHD. So IEP's are developed and planned with your teachers and your parents. The school couldnt decide this without your parents permission. However, this IEP will get you back on track for the school taht you missed while you were in hospital. Just sit back and relax, the IEP is much easier than the BIG classes.  It allows you to stay focused on your work so you won't be distracted by what goes on in the classroom. My sister also teaches IEP classes so just take the IEP, do your work, and you just have to prove you can make good grades and when your next review comes up they will remove you from the IEP. Good luck!

Answer 2

The school does not make the decision...it must be agreed upon by parents and staff after testing has been completed to determine if the student qualifies.  If you were hospitalized for depression, I would assume they are looking at an emotional disablity.  There will be a meeting to discuss if your qualify and if you would benefit from a special education placement.  If so, an IEP will be written.  An IEP basically documents what your strengths and challenges are along with the accommodations that need to be made in order for you to be successful.  There are probably a lot more kids than you realize at your shool with IEPs.

Answer 3

IEPs aren't meant to be temporary-they are in force for 1 year-it is rare that a studnet is taken off the IEP or declassified-an educational disability determination is in force for 3 years at a time.

If you have a temporary disability or special health need you may have a 504 plan-which will give you some modifications with the general education class such as extended time on assignments if you are going throguh a bad period with your depression-or a support plan if you should feel overwelmed during the day---once you are 14 you are considered to be a member of the IEP team and should be included in the meetings and decision making processes.

Ask your parents if they considered a 504 plan instead-your school should have a 504 coordinator.

Answer 4

Is there any stuff that you are having problems with because of your depression. The other people are right it's something that is meant to be agreed on by parents, the school and any relevant proffessionals. then they all meet to discuss it and they make up goals and strategies to get to those goals. (not sure where you live, but in Victoria, Australia there's actually a space for the student themselves to be involved in this process on the paperwork).

Your IEP may just be to give you some motivation goals, or so that you can do some stuff with a psycholigist/psychiatrist while at school.

Answer 5

Ok when I was in high skool also had an IEP its nothing bad its jus that u probly u need help in some area's so they decided to help u!! the perks are u can have extra time on tests and u can go to an alternative test sight!! and make sure u ask them abt taking a learning support test before u graduate cause i am in mi first yr of college and mi high skool scewed me over by not giving me the "TEST" and now i gotta go to some shrink to take it for $100 so the learning edu specialist can identify i have a learning disibility!! But dont worry its not that u r disabled!!! hope this helps!!

Answer 6

Don't be upset. Be happy that you have an Individualized Education Plan.  You don't actually take it like a class--it's best described like a series of personalized strategy sessions.

This is going to open up some really cool and unique experiences which other kids your age will be really jealous of. It will help you enhance your dreams and goals, particularly when you yourself are and remain a proactive participant in the IEP.

Under federal law you in addition to your parents, must legally be involved in directing your own education to a greater extent than your peers who are not recieving any type of 'special services'.

And because of this, you get a neat inside look how public policy is made (or not) in the process! Most public school students never ever get to direct their own education at all.

So this is a really empowering experience which we should take advantage of---and feel really good about. Trust me, the information we learn from this can be useful in other areas of your education and life.  

I was the first special education student to enroll in AP American Government (because my disability did not affect reading and writing skills). And all of those years of having attended my special education planning meetings really paid off. I did not find those supposedly advanced government bureacracy concepts difficult to understand and learn at all.

Then, filling out financial aid forms for college was a breeze. Later on, so were my income tax forms. This was because I had become used to all of the 'government' lingo I had previously come across in my IEP meetings. I knew how to read government jargon!

This was yes, because I had personally lived through so many American government concepts and theories already!

Answer 7

I am the mom of two special needs children, one with ADHD the other w/ high functioning autism and I've never heard of somebody being forced to take an IEP.  Most people have to work to get one. In any event, IEP's are made up of committees and your parents are part of that committee.  The only way you can even qualify for one is if you have a documental disability-  you'll need to check to see if  depression qualifies as a disability.  If it does it must be OHI (other health impaired).

What does the IEP do for you ?  Does it get you any special assistance?

Relax- lots and lots of kids with disabilities go to college and fulfill their hopes and dreams.  You keep dreaming !

Hope this helps you.

Answer 8

Always take anything the school offers you in relation to the IEP.

Some schools don't like to offer anyone, anything.

Answer 9

Depression can count as a disability (either Other Health Impairment or Emotional Disturbance- depending on how much you are impacted at school).  If you were recently hospitalized, it means you may miss school on occasion due to your feelings, and an IEP will guarantee your school will provide you with make-up instruction so your grades don't fall.  It can also allow the school to modify your work to reduce frustrations for you (hopefully decreasing feelings of being overwhelmed, etc.)  You can also get more time on tests if you have test anxiety.  It's quite possible you may not even notice anything.  Some IEPs are really for consults only, where teachers will talk to your teachers and help them better educate you.  Ask to look at your IEP and see what it says for yourself.  Your parents had to agree.

Answer 10

An IEP is an individualized education plan.  All that means is that you will have some sort of special activity to help you in some way.

In our local school district, about 25% of the students have an IEP, so it is very common.  

You need to look at the specific activities that they will have you do.  Keep an open mind about it, since it is likely that whatever it is, it will be helpful for you.

Students are often only put on an IEP for a short period of time, so perhaps this is a temporary activity.