Ask the Advocate: FAPE, Discipline, Transition, and Tough IEP Questions Answered

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 prepared at the table changes everything.✨ Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:Why accommodations are not specially designed instruction (and what that means for suspected dyslexia).Transition planning essentials and why there’s no such thing as an “emergency IEP.”How to address staff-to-student ratios, untrained staff, or unsafe environments.Discipline and ISS: what federal law actually requires when students with disabilities are removed.Why parents must use state complaints strategically to enforce IDEA.What happens to IEPs after high school—and how to prepare for college accommodations.Karen’s take on homebound, virtual services, and what schools often get wrong.Updates on the upcoming EPIC IEP Intensive (Sept. 27–28) + a special surprise giveaway.👉 Join us every Monday night inside The Academy for live professional development: Join The Academy👉 Register for the EPIC IEP Intensive – 2-Day Advocacy Training (Sept. 27–28, 2025): Register Here👉 Subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode“When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody.” — Karen Mayer Cunningham Support the show✨ When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody. ✨👩‍⚖️ Hosted by Karen Mayer Cunningham, Advocate & Special Education Boss®Each week, Karen shares real stories, legal insights, and no-nonsense strategies to help you navigate special education with clarity and confidence.👉 Subscribe & never miss an episode — new episodes drop every week!🎓 Join The Academy: Weekly live trainings + 250+ hours of advocacy tools & expert resources🔗 Learn more at The Epic IEP™ Academy First month free, after that, cancel anytime. 📱 Follow Karen on:TikTok & Instagram: @specialeducationbossYouTube: Special Education Academy🧠 Want to level up your advocacy game?Check out the Advocate's Bookshelf — a curated collection of must-have tools, guides, and legal references every special education advocate should own. From federal code to diagnostic manuals, these are the essentials that help you advocate with clarity and confidence.📚 Browse now: https://amzn.to/3RiQPLl(As an Amazon Associate, Karen may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you.)Because when...