Ask the Advocate: Transportation, Dyslexia, MDRs & IEP Meeting Notes

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 you can use immediately at the table.✨ In this episode, Karen covers:Transportation in the IEP – what districts must provide and how to respond if they refuse.Why “inaccurate” IEP meeting notes can and should be challenged.Dyslexia: why a 504 isn’t enough if a student needs specially designed instruction.Can schools excuse “late arrivals” as part of the IEP? Karen explains.MDRs: when they apply for IEPs and 504s.What to do when the district refuses accurate placement or predetermined services.Parent rights at age 18 – what changes, and what doesn’t.Why House Bill 4545 hours are optional (and how to decline them).Daily data collection sheets: how to request them and why they matter.Can services be delivered in homeschool/online settings? The truth about FAPE outside the school building.Testing, RTI/MTSS, and why delays violate civil rights.When and how to file state complaints or OCR complaints.👉 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 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...