In the story following, N.B. talks about his experience with having an IEP and how it has played a role in his education and personal life.
An IEP is a legal document that serves as an educational program written specifically for each student who has a disability and receives special education services. It helps schools meet the needs of the child and set goals for their future.
N.B. is a passionate student like no other. He works hard -- most likely harder than most students do. N.B. struggles with executive functioning and putting his thoughts into words. He may very well know the topic inside and out, but because he is unable to explain his understanding of it, it may seem from the outside that he doesn’t know anything. This can make focusing on certain subjects and topics hard for him. That’s difficult to deal with when most of the curriculum in schools is based around explaining your thoughts in great detail. The IEP is meant to help with this problem. It creates a special educational plan for students with disabilities so they can learn efficiently, catered to their needs. But it does not help that some schools still fail to meet the needs of those students, even with an IEP. N.B. does not let this stop him. He is working hard in school and his personal life to overcome challenges that come along with his learning disability so that he will be able to graduate and later pursue his interest.
N.B. is a rising senior who currently lives in Marin County. N.B. spends his time listening to artists from the 50's and 60's, watching TV shows, like Rick and Morty, and playing video games. He also likes to hike whenever he can.
Written by Sophia Hernandez on 06/22/2020