“He Has a Disability Every Day”: The Schedule-of-Services Fight You Won’t Believe

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 motivated,” and “could do it if he wanted,” Karen breaks down exactly why misunderstanding neurological disabilities leads to poor IEPs — and poor outcomes.Karen explains why agreement based on limited knowledge is not informed consent and why the committee must adjust services when the student is not successful.In this episode:Why “lack of motivation” is NOT a disability categoryWhat the Schedule of Services page should actually reflectWhy a student needs support every day — not on mystery days of the weekConflicts you can expect when teams see disability as “choice”What it means to set a student up for destiny, not destructionWhen you stay grounded in the law, the data, and the student’s actual needs, clarity always wins.📘 Get Karen’s new book — The Epic IEPYour roadmap to writing, understanding, and implementing IEPs that actually work.Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscomUpload your receipt for bonuses, book club access, and chapter previews: TheEpicIEP.com📚 Train with KarenJoin The Academy — 250+ hours of training + weekly live sessions:https://www.skool.com/special-education-academy/about 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...