Question (severely visually impaired, but in AP courses)?

Question

Okay I'm a sophomore in high school and I am in all pre AP classes. my disabilities include, sever visually impairment (going blind soon), mild hearing loss, and dyslexia (never been proven, but my VI teacher knows). My question is I have a IEP but i hate it. I don't like relying on it. and often times I have my AP teacher's that things like shortened tests, and sitting in thr front raw I don't need anymore, but on the other hand I need extra time to do things (I'm in the prosese of switching from print to braille) and I leave early from class. so I guess what I really want to ask is will having a IEP hold me back in college? I'd like to get away from it but I don't think that's possible....

Answer 1

You won't be held back in college.  In fact, you need your IEP to get into college.  When you take the SAT or ACT test you MUST have an IEP to have the braille version!    

When you go to college, you will have a lot more options regarding classes.  Students with disabilities usually register at the same time the in-season athletes and honor students (meaning you register first).  Hence, you can schedule a 9am English class and then instead of leaving early your next class wouldn't be until 11am.  You solve that problem without disability services being involved.  

When you take tests and exams you will probably take them in the disability services offices with a braille version and which way you choose to write.  Most professors will not give you a shortened test.  High school teachers give you a shortened test for them just as much as they do for you since they are under time restrictions to dismiss you early.  

In the classroom, you will likely have a seat near the front reserved for you because of your hearing loss.  Another student will take notes for you and you can record the class.   That's going to be about it.  As far as classes go.  Disability services may offer you a tutor to help you adjust for the first year or always.    

The IEP won't hold you back.  It just gives you the opportunity to go to college.

Answer 2

There are no IEPs in college. IEPs only effect children in public k-12 schools. You still have rights and are entitled to accommodations, technology etc., but it is an entirely different process.

The laws affecting college students with disabilities and the process of obtaining assistive technology in college are completely different from the K-12 world. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is not in effect in higher education. Colleges have no legal responsibility to identify students with disabilities or involve parents in decision making. Parents are often surprised to learn that there are no IEP’s in college.

Rather, in higher education the relevant law is a civil rights law – it protects people with disabilities from discrimination in admission to college and participation in college activities. The two federal laws that provide this protection are Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (originally passed in 1973, with subsequent reauthorizations), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (passed in 1990). The ADA states: "No otherwise qualified individual with a disability shall, solely by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to discrimination by any such entity."

In other words, a disability cannot be grounds for excluding a person from a college, an academic program, a class, a residence hall, or a college activity, if the person is qualified.