Special Education Boss® with Karen Mayer Cunningham

Your child is not lazy. Your child is not unmotivated. And ADHD is not an attention disorder. Karen Mayer Cunningham sits down with Michael McLeod, MA, CCC-SLP, ADHD and executive functioning specialist and founder of GrowNOW ADHD, for the conversation most families never get in the IEP meeting. Michael started out as a speech-language pathologist and watched parents spend thousands of dollars and thousands of hours on services that never made the skills stick. So he went to the research, b...

School is back, and so are the questions. In this back-to-school Ask the Advocate, Karen Mayer Cunningham takes them live from parents, advocates, and educators sitting at the IEP and 504 table. You don't know what you don't know, but you need to. This episode helps you close that gap and walk into your next meeting prepared. In this episode: Modifications vs. accommodations, and what to do when a modification isn't written anywhere in the IEPWhy doing anything outside the IEP is a violation,...

Rachel Irizarry studied for every test and prepared for every quiz, and her grades still would not move. Around fifth grade, her mom trusted her gut, asked the school to evaluate her, and everything changed. Today Rachel is a titleholder in the Miss Volunteer America system, is on track for a doctorate in physical therapy, and uses her SERVE initiative, Learning Disabilities Endless Possibilities, to tell students one thing: a learning disability is part of your story, not your whole story. ...

Do you know your rights at the IEP table? In this live Q&A, Karen Mayer Cunningham (Special Education Boss®) answers real questions from parents, paraprofessionals, and educators on the issues that actually show up in meetings — no fluff, no legal jargon, just clear preparation. Karen breaks down what really happens after a young child makes a threat (hello, MDR and FBA), why an IEP is written for the full instructional day, and why agreeing to a half-day can quietly release the district ...

What happens when the people responsible for carrying out your child's IEP were never trained, supported, or backed up to do it right? This week, Karen Mayer Cunningham sits down with Michelle Williams, a 26-year veteran classroom teacher who has taught elementary and mathematics in rural, urban, and suburban schools. Michelle has watched teacher support erode from the inside, and she is not staying quiet about it. This is a conversation every parent, advocate, and educator needs to hea...

There's no shortage of information when you're raising a child with a disability. There's a shortage of trusted information you can actually use. In this episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham talks with Lauren Hasz and Brodie Simmons about Uniquely You, a free magazine launching in North Houston that celebrates the disability community and connects families to real, vetted resources. They get into what makes this different: it's free, it's opt-in, it comes in print and digital, and every cover ce...

Where Are All the Special Education Attorneys? The Truth About Reading, IEPs, and Enforcement — with Diane Dragan There are millions of children in this country with an IEP. And by attorney Diane Dragan's count, maybe a thousand lawyers nationwide are willing to take these cases to court. Sit with that. In this episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham sits down with Diane Dragan — special education attorney, founder of Dragan Law Firm in St. Louis, and host of the Litigating Literacy podcast. Diane ...

No parent sits down at the IEP table hoping for a fight. And no family ever says, "I cannot wait to go to due process." But when advocacy alone is not getting your child what they need, you deserve to understand what comes next. In this episode of Special Education Boss® with Karen Mayer Cunningham, Karen sits down with special education attorney Maria McGinley for an honest, practical look at special education dispute resolution: mediation, state complaints, and due process. Maria brings a ...

You cannot punish a child into having a skill they do not have. In this episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham sits down with Doris and Rick Bowman to unpack one of the most misunderstood parts of special education: behavior. Most school plans are built to get compliance in the moment. They manage the behavior and miss what is actually driving it. And when the same kind of plan fails for the fifth or sixth time, the child is the one who walks away believing they are the problem. This conversation fl...

Karen answers summer IEP questions live - ESY eligibility and transportation, early pickups as removals, IEE limits, and how to get your child's data. Full Description (plain text, copy-paste ready) Summer is when the numbers go down and the access goes up. In this live Q&A, Karen Mayer Cunningham takes questions from parents, advocates, paras, and educators - and does not hold back. If your school called you to pick up your child early, that was a day out of placement. If they told you ...

Were you ever actually trained on what you are expected to do at the IEP table? Most parents, advocates, and educators were not — and that is exactly why we sit at the table prepared. In this live Ask the Advocate session, Karen Mayer Cunningham answers more than 50 real questions straight from the audience. No scripts, no fluff — just clear, practical answers on the things you are responsible for but were never taught. WHAT WE COVER → How to set up next school year before summer ends — in...

Sarah Harter trusted her gut for two years before anyone believed her. Her daughter Mia survived brain surgery at age two and has been defying expectations ever since. This is their story — and the resources that helped them get here. Some episodes stay with you. This is one of them. Karen Mayer Cunningham sits down with Sarah Harter - mom, anesthetist, and one of the most determined advocates her daughter Mia has ever had - to share a story that is honest, hard, and ultimately full of hope...

What happens when your child has an IEP but still isn’t getting the support they need? In this episode of Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham answers real-time questions from parents, educators, and advocates about the everyday issues showing up at IEP and 504 tables right now. This rapid-fire Q&A covers some of the most common — and most frustrating — special education concerns families are facing, including transportation, one-on-one paraprofessionals, behavior support, prog...

It is the last full week of IEP meetings and Karen Mayer Cunningham is answering your live questions - and none of the answers are soft. This is a fast-moving Ask the Advocate session covering some of the most important questions in special education right now. Plus - big announcements. The Epic Educator Academy launches June 1st at 7PM Central. The Two-Day Advocacy Intensive is live in Lexington, Kentucky on May 30th and 31st. And the Epic IEP workbook is almost done. Questions answered in...

Behavior is not just a choice. It is communication, capacity, nervous system response, and often a reflection of the support a child has — or has not — received. In this powerful episode of Special Education Boss® with Karen Mayer Cunningham, Karen sits down with Rick and Doris Bowman of Bowman Consulting Group for a deeply important conversation about behavior, trauma-informed support, nervous system regulation, and what schools must understand when working with students who have big behavio...

Nobody prepared you for what it actually feels like to sit across from a teacher in an IEP meeting. And nobody prepared that teacher for what it feels like when you walk in. Karen Mayer Cunningham, Special Education Boss, sits down with Chana Dixon - special education supervisor with 23 years in the field - for one of the most honest conversations in special education. This is not about paperwork. This is about people. In this episode: - Why special educators are on an island. In most scho...

Can a teacher call you on the phone and ask if you want to drop your IEP and go to a 504? Can the school relocate self-contained students because they are too loud during state testing? Can your principal tell you the campus does not have resource? No. No. And absolutely not. HERE'S WHAT KAREN COVERS: → Why resource rooms are required under IDEA 300.115 and what to do if your school says they eliminated resource → The two MDR questions both must be answered — and what happens when the scho...

In this live Q&A episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham answers real questions from parents, educators, and advocates about some of the biggest special education issues showing up right now. From dyslexia tools and ADHD support to paraprofessional roles, raw data, ESY, reading levels, 18–21 transition services, and IEP service minutes, this conversation is packed with practical insight to help you show up more prepared at the table. In this episode, Karen covers: ✨ Tools that may support student...

Can a paraprofessional replace a special education teacher in the classroom? What tools actually help kids with dyslexia? And what is ESY — really? In this LIVE Q&A, Karen Mayer Cunningham answers real questions from parents, advocates, and educators about the issues showing up in IEP meetings right now, with 35 days left in the school year. Here's what Karen covers: → What paraprofessionals can and cannot do under NCLB and ESSA — and why the new Epic IEP Para book changes the conversatio...

Can a paraprofessional deliver specially designed instruction? What are the paraprofessional laws in your state? And what happens when a school district admits — in writing — that no certified special educator has been in the classroom all year? In this episode of the Special Education Boss® podcast, Karen Mayer Cunningham breaks down a real IEP meeting in Texas where the district's own deliberations confirmed that a general education teacher delivered the specially designed instruction and a...

If someone at your school said it was fine without showing you the law - it probably was not fine. Karen Mayor Cunningham answers your live questions on this Ask the Advocate session of Special Education Boss. She brought the federal statutes, the DSM-5, and zero patience for made-up rules. In this episode: - The brand-new Epic IEP Para book: all 50 states, all federal laws from 1965 to 2015, everything you need to know about what paras can and cannot legally do. - AAC rights: what to do w...

What happens when a student with ADHD and dyslexia doesn’t get boxed in—but instead learns how to push forward anyway? In this powerful conversation, Karen Mayer Cunningham sits down with Sean Foley to talk about what it really looks like to grow up with learning differences—and why success isn’t about labels, it’s about strategy, support, and resilience. In This Episode: Sean shares his journey navigating ADHD, dyslexia, and academic challenges—from early testing and accommodations to earnin...

Most people sitting at an IEP table understand autism, dyslexia, and speech services. But when a student with a visual impairment enters the conversation, many teams suddenly realize something important… They don’t actually know how vision services work. In this episode of Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham sits down with Abel Perez, CEO, from Ready Sight Go, a Certified Teacher of the Visually Impaired (CTVI) and Orientation & Mobility Specialist (O&M). Together, they un...

Ask the Advocate | Real IEP Questions from Parents and Educators Parents, teachers, and advocates ask hundreds of questions every week about special education. In this Ask the Advocate episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham answers real questions submitted during a live TikTok session about IEP meetings, services, evaluations, and advocacy. Topics include what to do when a student is not receiving services listed in the IEP, how Extended School Year (ESY)eligibility works, when compensatory services...

What really happens when an advocate walks into an IEP meeting? In this powerful episode of Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham sits down with Paige Fitzgerald and Kate Magaldi, former special educators turned full-time advocates and founders of Inclusive Educational Practices. Together, they pull back the curtain on what happens behind the scenes when an advocate is present at the IEP table—and why outcomes shift when someone trained in special education advocacy enters the room....

Guess who’s back? In this Ask the Advocate live session, Karen Mayer Cunningham answers rapid-fire questions from families and educators about: IEP implementation failuresParaprofessional layoffs and 1:1 supportExtended School Year (ESY) eligibilityCompensatory servicesDue process documentationPlacement vs. eligibilityResource classroom requirementsEndrew F. and the FAPE standardEvaluation delays and what to do nextThis episode is real talk from someone who has represented families all the wa...

Guess who’s back? Fresh off the inaugural Epic IEP™ World Book Tour — eight stops in five days, professional developments, book signings, and hundreds of powerful conversations — Karen is back answering your biggest special education questions in real time. And this one is packed. From RTI misuse and delayed evaluations… To schools sending kids home for behavior… To missing related service minutes… To paraprofessionals not being allowed to see the IEP (yes, that happened)… We are breaking it ...

“Data doesn’t have feelings. It has evidence.” In this high-energy TikTok Live replay, Karen Mayer Cunningham dives headfirst into real-time questions from parents, teachers, and advocates navigating the special education process. Karen brings clarity, humor, and decades of experience to the conversation — reminding us that preparation beats panic every time. ✨ In This Episode, We Cover: The difference between a 504 Plan and an IEP (and why it matters)When a one-on-one paraprofessional is app...

In this Ask the Advocate episode of Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham answers real questions from parents, educators, and advocates navigating complex IEP issues — from unfinished Monday meetings to missing data, procedural safeguards, graduation pathways, and transition services. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why IEP meetings so often stall — and what must happen before they continueThe difference between a diploma vs. certificate of attendanceHow procedural safeguards actuall...

In this Ask the Advocate episode of Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham answers real-time questions from parents, educators, and advocates navigating complex IEP situations — from compensatory services and eligibility decisions to attendance struggles, team makeup, and school-based pushback. This episode is a powerful reminder that IEPs are legal documents, teams are equal stakeholders, and schools do not get to reduce or redefine federal rights. In this episode, Karen covers: Whe...

Today’s Ask the Advocate starts with a celebration—The Epic IEP is officially hitting hands soon—and then we go straight into a question that’s blowing up in schools everywhere: Can paraprofessionals take data and deliver instruction when the teacher isn’t in the room? Let’s finish the clip, finish the sentence, and finish the confusion. Karen breaks down what “direct supervision” is actually tied to, why so many teams are unintentionally setting paras (and kids) up for failure, and what to d...

Did your IEP team say “we don’t have staff,” “we’ll just do a records review,” or “they don’t qualify because grades are fine”? In this rapid-fire Q&A episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham (THE SPECIAL EDUCATION BOSS®) goes rogue and answers real questions from parents, educators, and advocates about what’s happening in schools right now—from missing AAC subscriptions to paras being left to “teach” SPED classes. In this episode, we cover: AAC devices + access: what to do when the school won’t u...

We’re back to school, and I’m not easing into anything. If your district is only giving parents “part of the draft,” if services are being missed because of staffing, or if someone is trying to use paraprofessionals to “cover” certified special education minutes—this episode is for you. Tonight we cover what teams are required to do, what’s simply “district preference,” and the fastest way to bring meetings back to what they’re supposed to be: an efficient business meeting that protects stude...

What if we stopped calling kids “difficult”… and started getting honest about what difficult behavior is really communicating? In today’s episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham sits down with John Vergara (aka The Difficult Student) — an assistant principal over special education and one of the most impactful voices online when it comes to behavior, leadership, and building classroom culture that actually works. John shares his personal story — from being the student with challenging behavior to bec...

This week’s Ask the Advocate is a fast-paced Q&A covering what parents and educators are dealing with right now: staffing shortages, messy “tier” conversations, behavior needs being dismissed, and districts trying to move too fast (or stall completely) when the child needs support. 🧑‍🏫 Staffing, Paras, and “Who’s Allowed to Do What” Sub paras placed in self-contained/tier settings with no training—what to say and who to alertCan students be left alone with high school helpers?Can a short-...

In this Ask the Advocate episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, Special Education Boss®, answers rapid-fire questions from parents, teachers, and advocates—and shares how her new book, The Epic IEP, gives you a clear roadmap to write and understand an IEP that actually serves the child. Karen and Cindy dig into real situations from the IEP/504 table, including: The Epic IEP & Pre-Order Bonuses – How the 7-part framework walks you through an IEP step by step, plus how to pre-order the book and u...

What do you do when the school’s “data” makes no sense, your child is stuck on a 504 instead of an IEP, or behavior is being blamed on your student instead of addressed in the plan? In this Ask the Advocate episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, The Special Education Boss®, is answering rapid-fire questions from parents, teachers, and paras who are in the thick of it every day. All with humor, straight talk, and a whole lot of “you’re not crazy for asking.” 📚 The Epic IEP™ – Pre-Order + Bonuses Kar...

Today’s episode of The Epic IEP™ is a little bit longer — but you’re going to want to hear this. Karen Mayer Cunningham, The Special Education Boss®, shares a real IEP meeting where the school’s data didn’t match what the student could actually do at home. And the difference wasn’t small. Karen walks through why she always brings her own data to the table — three cold reads, two cold writes, and a clear picture of the child’s real baseline. When the school claimed the student was reading 80 w...

Today’s episode of The Epic IEP™ is going to be a little bit longer — but you’re going to want to hear this. Karen Mayer Cunningham, The Special Education Boss®, shares a story that is funny, frustrating, fantastic, and absolutely essential for anyone sitting at an IEP table. Karen walks you through a real meeting where a student with a vision impairment was receiving 15 minutes a semesterof “consult.” The team insisted it was enough. The paperwork looked “fine.” The VISIT form was “calculate...

Today’s episode of The Epic IEP™ is a little longer — but you’re going to want to hear this. Karen Mayer Cunningham, The Special Education Boss®, shares a real IEP meeting where everything was “fine”… until the parent disagreed. And that’s when things got interesting. Karen breaks down how a simple request — adding general education as an implementer on two IEP goals — turned into pushback, confusion, and the classic line: “I thought we were collaborating.” She explains why parents are equal ...

Today’s episode of The Epic IEP™ is a little longer — but you’re going to want to hear this. Karen Mayer Cunningham, The Special Education Boss®, breaks down a real IEP story that starts with “she’s doing fantastic” and ends with a fourth grader reading 13 words correct per minute and a team refusing resource for five meetings straight. If you’ve ever sat at the table and wondered why services become the sticking point, this episode gives you clarity. Karen explains why the “why” doesn’t matt...

Welcome back to The Epic IEP™, where we share stories that are funny, frustrating, and absolutely fantastic—because they really happen at the IEP table. In today’s episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, Special Education Boss®, breaks down one of the most common battles in special education: getting a student the actual services they need. This fourth grader was reading 13 words correct per minute (average is 120), had failed district and state assessments, and still the team insisted she was “doin...

Welcome back to The Epic IEP™, where we share stories that are funny, frustrating, and absolutely fantastic — because they really happen at the IEP table. In today’s episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, Special Education Boss®, walks into what should have been a routine meeting… and instead ends up in a debate about whether a student needs support every day or only three days a week— even though his disability exists seven days a week. When the team insists the student “isn’t focused,” “isn’t mot...

Welcome back to The Epic IEP™, where we share stories that are funny, frustrating, and absolutely fantastic—because they really happened at the IEP table. In today’s episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, Special Education Boss®, walks into what should have been a simple progress-review meeting… and instead gets blamed for everything from eligibility to data collection. When the teacher admits she didn’t take any data because she “didn’t want to stress the student out,” the meeting goes sideways fa...

Welcome back to The Epic IEP™, where we share real stories from the IEP table — the fantastic, the frustrating, and the downright funny. In today's episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, Special Education Boss®, walks you through a 6:20 AM Zoom meeting that was supposed to be “quick and easy”… until it wasn’t. A visually impaired and orthopedically impaired student needed ESY. The team said no. Why? Because they believed the #1 myth in special education — that ESY requires documented regression onl...

Welcome to Tales from The Epic IEP™ — real stories that are funny, frustrating, and fantastic from the IEP table. In this debut episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, Special Education Boss®, shares one of the most jaw-dropping meetings she’s ever attended — a story that reminds every parent, teacher, and advocate why facts, not feelings, win meetings. When a three-year-old student with a physical disability was denied access to the playground and told to “prove he was stable,” Karen realized again...

“I assumed everyone at the table understood the law… until I learned they didn’t.” In this powerful conversation, Karen Mayer Cunningham (Special Education Boss®) and Cindy unpack what really happens between MTSS, eligibility, and the IEP—and why so many well-meaning educators and parents are working from bad training, not bad intent. You’ll hear Cindy’s journey from 27 years in the system to discovering Special Education Academy™, and Karen’s charge to bring clarity, rigor, and hope back to...

You don’t know what you don’t know — but you need to. In this Clips from TikTok Live episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham (Special Education Boss®) answers real questions from parents, teachers, and advocates—linking every answer back to federal requirements, not opinions. What we cover: When 1:1 paras help short-term—and why they don’t fix instructionEligibility vs. services: needs drive goals, not labelsHow to follow up on an open OCR complaintDyslexia/dysgraphia/dyscalculia: what to request ins...

This episode dives deep into The Epic IEP—the practical, step-by-step playbook every parent, teacher, and advocate needs. Karen and Cindy unpack what’s inside (including built-in QR codes for templates, guides, and ongoing tools) and answer powerful questions from the community. Inside This Episode: How The Epic IEP serves as your outline for meetings, evaluations, and progress trackingThe real story behind 1:1 classroom models and why ratios matterWhat “evaluate suspected disabilities” actua...

This Q&A gets practical fast—how to think about one-to-one aides, what to do when bullying pushes a student out of a class they love, how accommodations must be delivered (without kids “asking”), and why “emergency placements” and mass homebound aren’t a thing under IDEA. Direct, clear, actionable—just how we like it. What we cover: One-to-one aides: When they help (short-term, targeted), when they don’t, and what to teach instead: skills and strategies.Placement clarity: Matching setting...

Does a medical diagnosis guarantee an IEP? Not under IDEA. Today, Karen breaks down medical diagnosis vs. educational eligibility—and why the IEP team makes the call based on educational impact and specially designed instruction, not just a doctor’s note. Then we dive into your Q&A: ADHD suspensions in K, Tourette’s (OHI), MDRs & safety, private school obligations, 504 vs. IEP, re-evals, para shortages, and more. We’re not giving legal advice. We’re educating you. What You’ll Learn Dx...

If you ever land in a due process hearing, your documents become your voice. In today’s SEB Live Q&A, Karen Mayer Cunningham breaks down how hearings actually work—resolution sessions, mediation, exhibits (joint, petitioner, and respondent), witnesses, timelines—and why clean, consistent documentation is the difference between overwhelm and outcomes. What we cover Due Process ≠ TV drama: what really happens in an administrative hearing15-day resolution session window and how timelines run...

Karen shares why she wrote The Epic IEP, who it’s for, and how this book delivers a clear roadmap for parents, educators, and advocates to navigate and negotiate successful student outcomes — without guesswork, confusion, or misinformation. 💬 Inside this episode: Who The Epic IEP is really for (and why every teacher, parent, and advocate needs it)The biggest lies told in IEP meetings — and how to respond with truth and dataWhat to do when schools retaliate against parents or ignore IDEA timel...

Welcome back, y’all! In this Special Education Boss® episode, we’re taking you inside our Live conversation about the launch of The Epic IEP — my brand-new, world-changing book written for parents, educators, and advocates navigating the special education process. Grab your latte and lean in as we talk about: ☕️ The story behind The Epic IEP — and why it’s my love letter to every parent, teacher, and advocate sitting at the IEP or 504 table. 📘 How one pandemic pivot in 2020 turned into a nati...

What happens when you find yourself asking, “Can the school do that?” In this episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham — Special Education Boss and author of The Epic IEP — breaks down one of the most common (and frustrating) questions in special education. Karen explains the difference between what schools can do, what they should do, and what’s legally enforceable under IDEA and FAPE. Drawing from nearly three decades of advocacy experience and thousands of IEP meetings, she shares why focusing on “...

Who did Karen Mayer Cunningham write The Epic IEP for—and why? In this episode of Special Education Boss®, Karen opens up about the heart and mission behind her brand-new book, The Epic IEP—a powerful, actionable playbook for parents, educators, and advocates who sit at the IEP table. For nearly three decades, Karen has trained thousands to navigate and negotiate successful student outcomes. But she knew there needed to be a way for everyone—regardless of experience—to have access to the exac...

Are districts allowed to require teletherapy or virtual delivery for your child’s IEP services? Today, I’m unpacking what IDEA actually requires about how services are delivered—and why “remote-only” isn’t a blanket substitute for direct, in-person services when schools are open. We walk through the federal requirements (34 CFR §300.320/.324) in plain language—no legalese—and use real meeting scripts to help you push for services that are appropriate, effective, and delivered with fidelity (...

Is homework required by law? In this episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham — the Special Education Boss® — breaks down one of the most common questions families bring to the IEP table: “Is homework legal, and what happens when it causes more harm than help?” Karen explains what IDEA, ESSA, and state laws actually say about homework (spoiler: nothing requires it). She also answers real questions from parents, educators, and paraprofessionals across the country, including: ✨ How to request testing to...

Karen Mayer Cunningham, Special Education Boss®, trains everyone at the 504 and IEP table to navigate and negotiate successful student outcomes. In this episode, she addresses one of the most common questions in special education: Is homework required for students with disabilities? From there, Karen answers a series of real-world Questions of the Day, offering clarity and actionable steps on topics including: ✅ When and how to move from a 504 Plan to an IEP ✅ Adaptive physical education (APE...

Can a parent dismiss a member of the IEP team? What if a related service provider says “nothing’s changing” — do they still have to attend? In this episode of Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham explains who must attend every IEP meeting, when you can legally excuse someone, and how to protect your child’s educational rights when team members are missing. You’ll learn: The five federally required IEP team membersThe right (and wrong) way to excuse a providerWhy “we talked to mom” ...

What Goes in an IEP? Present Levels + Questions of the Day In this powerful episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham breaks down exactly what belongs inside an IEP — and why understanding the present levels of academic achievement and functional performance is critical to getting it right for every child. Karen walks through the four required components of the IEP under federal law (IDEA §300.324), explaining what each section really means — beyond what the software says — and how parents, educators, ...

What do you do when your school refuses to test, your teacher isn’t certified, or your child’s IEP goals aren’t being met? In this Ask the Advocate episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham answers real parent and teacher questions about evaluations, progress reports, 504 Plans, IEP goals, behavioral supports, and everything in between—with humor, heart, and straight talk. ✨ In this episode: IEP report cards vs. progress reports—what’s required each grading periodHow to file a discrimination complaint ...

n this episode of Ask the Advocate, Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, dives deep into the questions flooding her inbox every week — from paraprofessionals and IEP goals to compensatory services, parent rights, and what really happens when the law isn’t followed. Joined by Cindy, Karen breaks down complex special education issues with humor, honesty, and heart. You’ll learn how to recognize violations, protect your child’s rights, and walk into IEP meetings more informed and...

Walking into an IEP meeting without a plan is how we end up tabling, redoing, and wasting time. In today’s TT Lunch Live, Karen lays out her exact meeting modality—what to request, what to review, and how to build an EPIC IEP that actually drives progress. What we cover: The four documents Karen always has open: last FIE, 36 weeks of progress reports, last annual IEP, and the current draftHow to open the meeting (hint: don’t jump straight to present levels)Building pristine, prescriptive, “pu...

Join Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, for a powerful panel Q&A and discussion covering real special education questions from parents, advocates, and professionals across the country. In this open conversation, Karen tackles critical issues facing families and educators — from IEP rights to retaliation policies, advanced classes, AAC devices, and more — all with her signature blend of humor, clarity, and empowerment. 💬 In this episode, we cover: What services a child wh...

What happens when real parents and educators bring real IEP and 504 questions to the table? In this Live Q&A episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, answers rapid-fire questions straight from families and professionals navigating the special education process. From 504 Plans and IEP violations to placement decisions, behavior supports, and discrimination scenarios, Karen keeps it real — empowering you with clarity, confidence, and next steps. 💬 Topics Covered: ✨ Twi...

In this Ask The Advocate session, Karen Mayer Cunningham answers rapid-fire questions on everything from paraprofessionals and “direct supervision” to prior written notice (PWN), Child Find, reconvenes, data access, and how to handle placements when needs don’t match the setting. She also shares a quick update from Capitol Hill on IDEA funding and accountability. Key reminders: “Have to” isn’t a law, data > opinions, and if it isn’t in writing, it didn’t happen. ✳️ What You’ll Learn Parapr...

Need a quick caffeine boost for your advocacy? In this Latte & Learn session, Karen Mayer Cunningham and Cindy dig into the “dirty four-letter word” in special education—DATA—and why decisions at the IEP table must be driven by it. You’ll hear real questions from parents and teachers on preschool IEP prep, paraprofessional roles, behavior supports, homeschool vs. public school, reconvenes, documentation, audits, and what to do when you simply don’t agree. Karen’s reminder: if it isn’t wri...

Ever wish you could ask Karen Mayer Cunningham all your special education questions — and get straight answers, fast? This episode is for you. 💥 Join Karen for a rapid-fire Q&A covering real parent and teacher questions about IEPs, 504s, paraprofessionals, behavior, homeschool transitions, private school rights, suspensions, and more. Karen brings her trademark humor, clarity, and tough-love truth to every answer — reminding us that when it comes to student rights, “direct supervision” ac...

In this episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, walks you through what happens after you receive your child’s evaluation results and how to prepare for your eligibility and IEP meeting with confidence. Karen explains what to look for in each section of your FIE—from speech and language to cognitive, adaptive, achievement, and related services—and how to make sure your questions are answered before and during the meeting. Too often, parents are handed evaluations full of ...

When it comes to IEP meetings, three key elements can make or break the process: Time, Prep, and Participation. In this episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, unpacks what parents, educators, and advocates need to know to ensure these rights are respected. Too often, parents are told the meeting has already been scheduled, drafts are withheld, or their concerns will just be “noted.” Karen breaks down why none of those responses align with IDEA, and what steps you can ta...

Parents often feel rushed, dismissed, or unprepared when it comes to IEP meetings—but under IDEA, you have rights that guarantee your time, preparation, and full participation. In this episode of Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham breaks down what she calls the TPP of IEPs: ✨ Time – Why IEP meetings must be scheduled at a mutually agreed upon time, not just whenever the school decides. ✨ Preparation – How to request a full draft IEP ahead of the meeting so you can make informed d...

How do you know if your child is entitled to a special education evaluation? In this episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, breaks down the Child Find mandate under IDEA (34 CFR §300.111) and what it means for families. 👉 If your child is struggling—academically, emotionally, behaviorally, or with memory, communication, or attention—you have the right to request testing. Schools cannot delay by requiring MTSS, RTI, or SST before an evaluation. Karen walks you through: ✨...

f your child’s IEP feels incomplete, confusing, or delayed—you are not alone. In this episode of Ask the Advocate, Karen Mayer Cunningham tackles rapid-fire questions from parents, educators, and advocates facing real-world special education challenges. ✨ Inside this episode: What makes present levels “pristine, prescriptive, and puffy” (and why most are pitiful).Paraprofessional roles: what the law actually says about direct supervision.How to request an Independent Educational Evaluation (I...

What happens when a school tries to take away a diabetic student’s cell phone used for monitoring? Or when IEP goals are written at only the 20th percentile? Or when districts “table” evaluation requests for months? In this Ask the Advocate episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham—The Special Education Boss®—answers rapid-fire questions from parents and teachers, bringing clarity, humor, and straight talk to situations families face every day. ✨ In this episode, you’ll learn: Why every child with diab...

What if girls learned early that their identity sits on an unshakeable foundation—not a number on a scale or a grade on a test? In this conversation, Karen sits down with Dr. Tiff Watson—performance coach, sports psych pro, and author of Your Unique FIZEEK! A Girl’s Guide to Faith, Fuel, and Finding Your Superpowers—to talk food–mood connections, confidence, and practical tools for families and pre-teen girls. You’ll hear: Why “food is fuel” matters for focus, emotions, and daily resilienceT...

SDI isn’t a buzzword—it’s the heart of special education. In this episode, Karen breaks down why special education = specially designed instruction (SDI), how SDI is different from accommodations, and the exact questions to ask in your IEP meeting to reveal what’s really being taught, how, by whom, and when. You’ll learn: Why SDI is instruction (not an accommodation or simple “differentiation”)The 3 SDI elements: Content (what), Methodology (how), Delivery (who/where/when)How strong present l...

In this Related Services session, Karen Mayer Cunningham breaks down what IDEA really says about services that support a student’s access to FAPE—and how schools should write and deliver them. What we cover: Physical Therapy in schools vs medical/therapeutic models (what PT is and isn’t in an IEP; realistic frequency and access needs)Psychological Services vs Counseling as a Related Service (definitions, when each is appropriate, why psych services don’t have to tie to a goal—but counseling d...

Karen Mayer Cunningham’s new book, The Epic IEP™: A Powerful Playbook for Parents, Educators, and Advocates Navigating the Special Education Process, is here! 📚 This episode of Ask the Advocate is dedicated to unpacking why this book is a game-changer, how it equips parents, teachers, and advocates to sit confidently at the IEP/504 table, and what makes The Epic IEP™ different from anything else out there. Inside this episode: ✨ The BIG announcement: Karen’s book launch with Simon & Schus...

In this Ask the Advocate episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham—The Special Education Boss®—answers your most pressing special education questions with clarity, humor, and straight-to-the-point strategies you can take to the IEP or 504 table. From dyslexia progress monitoring to behavior plans and field trip access, Karen reminds us: parents don’t have to settle for “we don’t do that here.” The law, the data, and your child’s needs drive the process—not convenience. ✨ What you’ll learn in this episo...

In Session 2 of our OSEP Letters series, Karen Mayer Cunningham—The Special Education Boss®—breaks down Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs): what they are, when to request one, who chooses the evaluator, how districts must respond, and how to use OSEP guidance to keep your team compliant. Using the February 20, 2004 OSEP letter to Dr. Parker, Karen covers: When an IEE is triggered: after a parent disagrees with a district evaluation (or part of it).The exact language: “I disagree with ...

Happy Monday, Advocates! In this Ask the Advocate episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham—The Special Education Boss®—tackles another round of rapid-fire questions from parents, teachers, and advocates across the country. From recess rights to PCS plans, and from tardy notes to 1:1 aides, Karen brings clarity, humor, and real strategies you can use in the IEP/504 process today. ✨ In this episode, you’ll learn: Why we don’t advocate by diagnosis (CP, autism, ADHD, etc.), but by the characteristics of ...

Karen kicks off a multi-part series on must-know guidance letters from the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). Today’s focus: the Dec 20, 2013 letter about twice-exceptional (2e) students and how states may—and may not—determine Specific Learning Disability (SLD) eligibility under IDEA. What you’ll learn: Why high cognition does not disqualify a student from IDEA eligibility.The two-part test for IDEA eligibility (impairment + need for special education/related services).The 200...

What happens when a school tries to take away a diabetic student’s cell phone used for monitoring? Or when IEP goals are written at only the 20th percentile? Or when districts “table” evaluation requests for months? In this Ask the Advocate episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham—The Special Education Boss®—answers rapid-fire questions from parents and teachers, bringing clarity, humor, and straight talk to situations families face every day. ✨ In this episode, you’ll learn: Why every child with diab...

Are your IEP meeting notes inaccurate? Has your child been placed on a 504 when you know an IEP is needed? Are you being told your student can’t get transportation or that grades prevent eligibility? You don’t know what you don’t know—but you need to. In this Ask the Advocate episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, The Special Education Boss®, answers real parent and teacher questions about IDEA, IEPs, 504s, and procedural safeguards. She brings clarity, humor, and step-by-step advocacy strategies y...

Are you sitting at the IEP or 504 table feeling unprepared, overwhelmed, or unsure of your rights? You don’t know what you don’t know—but you need to. In this Ask the Advocate episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, The Special Education Boss®, tackles your most pressing questions with clarity, humor, and no-nonsense advocacy strategies. From discipline laws in Texas to IEP services not being implemented, Karen explains what IDEA requires, how to respond to school pushback, and why being...

Paraprofessionals change lives—but confusion about their role can lead to serious violations. In this training, Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, explains exactly what federal law requires so teams can support students properly and protect FAPE. What you’ll learn: Why paras must work under the direct supervision of a certified teacherHow to identify when districts are using paras in place of special educatorsWhat to ask at IEP meetings to verify who is delivering services a...

New school year, clean slate. Before the meetings start, let’s get crystal clear on your reason (your “why”), your expected outcomes, and how you’ll get there—so your child actually receives an educational benefit (the standard in IDEA), not just more paperwork. In this episode, Karen walks you through the four anchors for preparing an effective school year: Your “Why” – Why your child has a 504 or IEP, and whether it’s delivering resultsEducational Benefit vs. Everything Else – What the law ...

Do you know your rights? In this Ask the Advocate Q&A, Karen tackles the most common—and confusing—special education questions parents face, from eligibility and evaluations to services, placement, and what to do when the school says “no.” In this episode: OHI vs. SLD — what they mean, how they’re determined, and why it’s not “either/or.”ADHD — 504 accommodations vs. when an IEP is warranted (instruction + goals).Refusals to evaluate — how to respond and why prior written notice matters.W...

Feeling lost in the maze of special education? In this Ask the Advocate episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham answers rapid-fire questions about IEP signatures, extended school year (ESY), RTI, para support, compensatory time, evaluations, and more. Get clear, direct, and empowering guidance every parent and advocate needs. Inside this episode: ✅ Why there’s no such thing as implied consent in an IEP ✅ What schools must provide when a student is suspended or placed elsewhere ✅ The truth about 504 v...

What is Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) — and why is it the foundation of special education? In this brand-new series, Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, breaks down one of the most misunderstood (and misused) concepts in IDEA: special education is specially designed instruction. In Part 1, we cover: ✅ Why SDI is different from accommodations or modifications ✅ How to ask teachers the right questions to uncover whether SDI is really happening ✅ Why strong IEP goals are ...

It’s one of our most popular formats—rapid-fire Q&A straight from TikTok Live! In this episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, answers your biggest special education questions with her signature mix of clarity, humor, and straight talk. We cover everything from: ✅ Do you need a meeting to add accommodations to an IEP? ✅ Can dyslexia teachers serve without special ed certification? ✅ What to do when services are missing or reduced without consent ✅ Retention, transpor...

In this episode of Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham unpacks one of the most overlooked yet powerful safeguards in special education: Prior Written Notice (PWN). Most parents don’t realize that a PWN is not optional—it’s federally required. And it’s the school’s responsibility to complete it whenever they propose or refuse changes to your child’s identification, evaluation, placement, or services. Here’s what Karen covers in this training: ✅ The eight required components every P...

It’s a Marvelous, Amazing Monday with Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, back with another Ask the Advocate episode! This week’s Q&A is packed with real parent and teacher questions covering IEP services, paraprofessionals, afterschool programs, behavioral supports, and yes—school shenanigans. Here’s what Karen answers: ✅ What evaluations parents can request when schools say “everything is fine” ✅ Do paraprofessionals need to be in the classroom at all times? ✅ Can schoo...

This week’s Ask the Advocate is packed with real questions from parents, teachers, and advocates across the country—and straight answers you won’t hear anywhere else. From Denton ISD removing a child’s Dexcom, to confusion around aides, accommodations, and placement, Karen dives into the hard truths with humor, clarity, and strategy. You’ll hear powerful discussions on: ✅ Why “sitting in a class” isn’t the same as meaningful benefit in LRE ✅ What to do when paras are delivering special educat...

he U.S. Supreme Court has spoken—A.J.T. vs. Osseo Area Schools is now a landmark decision shaping the future of special education rights. In this powerful episode of Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham sits down with Dr. Mitchell Yell, one of the nation’s leading voices on special education law, to break down what this case really means for parents, advocates, and schools. You’ll learn: 📚 The history and background of the A.J.T. case⚖️ Why the Court ruled unanimously (9–0) and wha...

What exactly is an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE), and when should you request one? In this episode of Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham breaks down the facts about IEEs under IDEA and why they matter for parents, advocates, and educators. We’ll cover: The legal foundation of IEEs (IDEA §300.502)What an IEE is — and what it is NOTWhen to request an IEE (and when not to)How schools grant, deny, or push to due processCommon pitfalls with outside evaluationsWhat parents s...

This week on Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham tackles tough parent and teacher questions that expose what really happens inside IEP and 504 meetings. From falsified service logs to shortened school days, denials of services, and lack of staff training—Karen breaks down exactly what you can do, what the law says, and how to respond with confidence. In this episode, Karen covers: What to do if your school falsifies service logsShortened school days and when they violate IDEAThe s...

In this Special Education Boss® episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham tackles your top special education questions—cutting through the confusion with clear, direct answers on IEPs, 504s, data collection, medical needs, and more. 🔥 Highlights include: College & Resource Classes: Does being in a resource setting impact college admissions—and how to make up missing credits.Behavior Goals That Work: Why “weekly data collection” is critical and who should be tracking it.Health Plans in Schools: When...