What Is Specially Designed Instruction? | Part 1

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 the foundation of effective SDI✅ The three SDI elements: Content, Methodology, and Delivery✅ How IDEA defines SDI — and what that means in practice for your child✅ Common mistakes schools make✅ Why data collection, baselines, and progress monitoring matter Karen also shares real-life stories from IEP meetings, due process hearings, and advocacy experiences that highlight how schools get SDI wrong — and what parents and advocates can do about it.📌 If a school can’t describe what they are doing differently than a general education teacher, then your child has not received Specially Designed Instruction.✨ Join us for this powerful series and come back for Part 2 where we’ll go even deeper.📣 Want step-by-step training to navigate IEPs, 504s, and advocacy? Join The Academy:👉 https://specialeducationacademy.com/training🎥 Watch replays and trainings on YouTube:👉 https://www.youtube.com/c/SpecialEducationAcademy/videos🎧 Listen to more episodes on Buzzsprout or your favorite podcast platform.✨ Remember: We’re not giving legal advice. We’re educating you.“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...