Special Education Boss® with Karen Mayer Cunningham

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 behavioral needs.Rick and Doris bring decades of experience in education, mental health, behavior support, collaborative problem solving, trauma-informed practices, and neuroscience-aligned interventions. Together, they unpack why traditional behavior systems often fail, why consequences alone do not create durable change, and why adults must understand what is happening beneath the behavior.This conversation challenges the idea that children are simply “choosing” to misbehave. Instead, Karen, Rick, and Doris talk about regulation, skill-building, identity, shame, failure, teacher fear, and the critical role adults play in helping students access their thinking brain and build new pathways for success.Learn more about Rick and Doris Bowman: Bowman Consulting GroupWant more training on IEPs, 504s, FBAs, behavior support, procedural safeguards, evaluations, eligibility, prior written notice, and special education advocacy? Join The Epic IEP™ Academy. Follow, like, share, and subscribe so more parents, educators, and advocates can learn how to sit at the table prepared. 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...

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 schools, special ed teachers are the minority. They have no peers to collaborate with, no one to bounce ideas off, and the only time they interact with the broader team is at IEP meetings - which are already stressful for everyone.- The IEP meeting is also an evaluation of the teacher. When you are reviewing a document of deficits, you are also evaluating the person who wrote it. Chana breaks down why teachers feel attacked even when no attack is intended.- How to communicate in an IEP meeting without making teachers feel blamed. Chana's reframe: instead of asking why a student is not learning a skill, ask the teacher to show you how that student needs to learn it. That one shift changes everything.- Why professional development for special educators is almost entirely compliance-based. It is not about filling teachers up. It is about making sure they did not miss a checkbox.- Why teachers stay. It is not the money. It is the kids. Period.- The Epic IEP Academy for Educators is coming in June. Karen and Chana are co-leading a space built specifically for special educators - a community, a training ground, and a place where educators are finally seen.Resources:Special Education Academy: specialeducationacademy.comEpic IEP Book Bundle: theepiciep.comEmail: [email protected] Mayer Cunningham is the Special Education Boss - advocate, trainer, and bestselling author of the Epic IEP book series. Her mission: get it right for the child, get it right for everybody.Subscribe for live Ask the Advocate sessions every Monday at 8PM inside the Special Education Academy. 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...

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 school tries to skip the second one→ Compensatory services explained — who owes the time, who serves the time, and how to structure it→ Relocating self-contained students on state testing days is illegal — that is an out-of-placement violation→ Educational need vs. academic need — why a disability does not have to affect academics to qualify for services→ Dysgraphia vs. written expression — why the eligibility matters more than the label→ The Epic IEP Educator Academy launches June 1st — $27 per month, Monday nights at 7 PM Central, solely for school district employees→ Can IEP students receive failing grades? Can kindergartners be placed in self-contained for behaviors? What is the difference between logs and data?You don't know what you don't know — but you need to.This is why we sit at the table prepared.GET THE EPIC IEP BOOK BUNDLE — including the Epic IEP, the Federal and State Laws Guide, and the Epic IEP Para.JOIN SPECIAL EDUCATION ACADEMY — first month free, 400+ hours of training, live every Monday at 8 PM Central. 2-DAY LIVE SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVOCACY INTENSIVE — May 23 and 24 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...

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 students with dyslexia, including Learning Ally and Kurzweil✨ Whether behavior services can be provided under SLD eligibility✨ What paraprofessionals can and cannot do in special education settings✨ What “raw data” means and why families ask for it✨ How to think about reading levels, progress monitoring, and instructional need✨ What ESY means and the two-part question teams should be asking✨ Questions around transition services, 18–21 programming, and community readiness✨ How educators can document concerns when students need more support than general education can provideKaren also shares updates on new resources, including The Epic IEP™ Para, The Epic IEP™ Guide to Federal and State Laws, and what’s coming next for educators inside the Special Education Academy community.Resources + Next StepsJoin The Epic IEP™ Academy here.Explore Karen’s trainings, books, and resources, here. Be sure to follow, like, share, and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Special Education Boss®.Important ReminderWe’re not giving legal advice. We’re educating you. 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...

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 conversation→ The best assistive technology tools for students with dyslexia: Learning Ally and Kurzweil→ How to handle homework battles when your ADHD student is failing — and what data to bring to the IEP meeting→ What "raw data" actually means and how to ask for it→ How to do a 3-minute cold read and a 3-minute cold write to find your child's real reading level→ The two-prong ESY question most schools only half-answer→ Why consult minutes are not the same as direct services→ What to know before you file due process→ LRE is not a location — it's a consideration→ The 18-to-21 transition program and vocational readiness→ NEW: The Epic IEP Educator Academy launches June 1st — weekly training built specifically for school district employeesYou don't know what you don't know — but you need to.This is why we sit at the table prepared.📚 Get the Epic IEP book bundle, including the brand-new Epic IEP Para guide🎓 Join Special Education Academy, first month free, 400+ hours of training, live every Monday at 8 PM Central. 📅 2-Day Live Virtual Special Education Advocacy Intensive: May 23–24 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...

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 paraprofessional collected IEP goal data — with no special educator involved. All year. In Houston. On the record.Karen walks through what federal law actually requires, what your state statute says, and why "district guidance" that contradicts IDEA is not guidance — it's a violation.What you'll learn in this episode:— Can a paraprofessional implement IEP goals? Only under three conditions: direct supervision, close proximity, and frequent contact from a certified special educator.— What is the continuum of alternative placements? It's federal law under IDEA — not a suggestion your district gets to edit. Resource rooms, special classes, home instruction, and hospital settings are all required options.— What is Andrew F. v. Douglas County School District? The 2017 Supreme Court decision that unanimously ruled schools must write IEPs that enable students to make progress appropriate in light of their circumstances. Ask your principal when the district-wide training on this case is scheduled.— What are the seven components of Prior Written Notice? All seven are legally required. N/A is not an option.— Who can modify assignments in special education? Not a paraprofessional. Not a general education teacher. Only a certified special educator.— What are paraprofessional requirements under ESSA and No Child Left Behind? The Epic IEP Para book covers every state's statute, federal requirements, and what paraprofessionals legally cannot do.This episode references special education law and practice in Texas, California, Kentucky, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, and New York.Karen also announces the brand-new Epic IEP Para book, now available on Amazon, covering federal law, No Child Left Behind, ESSA, and every state's statute on paraprofessional requi 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...

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 when your child's communication device is removed without your knowledge.- Autism eligibility: no, a child does not need to flap their hands to qualify. Karen walks through the actual DSM-5 criteria.- 504 vs. IEP: why accommodations alone may not be enough, and how a 504 can be amended without ever notifying the parent.- Self-contained classrooms: why Karen believes cameras should be required in every single one.- Plus: paras left alone with students, one-to-one support, eloping, chronic pain, ADHD and IEP eligibility, modified testing, and more.Resources:theepiciep.com/para (NEW Epic IEP Para book)theepiciep.com (book bundle)specialeducationacademy.comadvocate@specialeducationacademy.comKaren Mayor Cunningham is the Special Education Boss - advocate, trainer, and bestselling author of the Epic IEP book series. Her mission: get it right for the child, get it right for everybody.Subscribe for live Ask the Advocate sessions every Monday at 8 PM inside the Special Education Academy™. 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...

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 earning his MBA and building a successful career in sales and leadership.Together, Karen and Sean break down what worked, what didn’t, and what parents, educators, and advocates need to understand right now.You’ll Learn:✨ The difference between accommodations and true support✨ Why labels like ADHD can help—or hurt—depending on how they’re used✨ The role of grit, repetition, and confidence in long-term success✨ Why standardized testing doesn’t define intelligence or potential✨ How early intervention (and the right mindset) changes everything✨ The importance of personal development beyond the classroomKey Takeaway:Not every child learns the same—and that’s not a weakness. It’s a different pathway that requires awareness, strategy, and support.Do you know your rights?You don’t know what you don’t know—but you need to.Connect with Sean Foley:Instagram: @seanmfoley_LinkedIn: Sean Foley (Scottsdale, AZ)Ready to go deeper?Join The Epic IEP Academy, attend the 2-day Intensive, train On-Demand, or join us for the Mastermind.  We have training for everyone who sits at the table.  Explore more episodes on Buzzsprout and YouTubeFollow, like, share, and subscribe to stay informed and prepared 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...

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 unpack one of the most misunderstood disability areas in special education, vision impairment.Abel shares his personal story of growing up with a learning disability, dropping out of high school, and eventually discovering how access, accommodations, and proper support can completely change a student’s future.This conversation dives deep into:✨ How visual impairments affect learning and independence✨ Why accommodations are about access , not advantage✨ The role of Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVIs)✨ What the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) means for blind and visually impaired students✨ Why behavior issues are often actually access issuesIf you sit at an IEP or 504 table, parent, educator, administrator, or advocate, this episode will help you better understand what real access looks like for students with visual impairments.Connect with Abel, Ready Sight Go, https://readysightgo.comWant to Learn More About IEP Advocacy?Join The Epic IEP™ Academy for weekly trainings and step-by-step guidance on navigating special education. https://academy.specialeducationacademy.com/theepiciep-courses/the-academy/ 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...

Ask the Advocate | Real IEP Questions from Parents and EducatorsParents, 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 may be appropriate, and how parents can advocate effectively when schools are not implementing supports.Karen also shares practical strategies for asking better questions in IEP meetings, understanding Prior Written Notice (PWN), and navigating conversations with school teams.Karen Mayer Cunningham, also known as the Special Education Boss®, trains parents, educators, and advocates to understand the special education system and advocate successfully for students with disabilities.You don’t know what you don’t know—but you need to.Key Questions Answered in This Episode• What should parents do if an IEP is not being implemented?• When does a child qualify for Extended School Year (ESY)?• Can schools reduce services without data?• How do you become a special education advocate?• What role do paraprofessionals play in special education?Resources MentionedJoin The Epic IEP™ AcademyAttend the 2-Day Special Education Advocacy IntensiveGet the book The Epic IEP™We train everyone at the IEP/504 table to navigate and negotiate successful student outcomes. 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...

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.They share:✨ Why schools often react differently when an advocate attends✨ What teachers are (and aren’t) trained to understand about IDEA✨ Why parents often know something is wrong—but need help articulating it✨ The difference between combative advocacy and collaborative leadership✨ Why relationships—not intimidation—create long-term changeThis conversation is honest, practical, and encouraging for:Parents navigating difficult IEP meetingsEducators who want to do special education betterAnyone who has ever felt overwhelmed at the IEP table📲 Download the Special Education Academy app📘 Get your copy of The Epic IEP™🎓 Join The AcademyConnect with Kate and Paige: www.iepractices.comInstagram: IEPracticesTikTok: @advocatekateTikTok: @advocatepaigeTheir Weekly NewsletterListen, share, and subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes. 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...

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 way through dispute resolution—and trained thousands to sit at the table prepared.📚 Resources Mentioned📘 The Epic IEP™🎓 Join The Academy🟢 2-Day Advocacy Intensive (Live Virtual)March 7–8 | 9 AM–5 PM CST⚖️ We are not giving legal advice. We are educating you.Do you know your rights?You don’t know what you don’t know—but you need to. 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...

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 down.✨ In This Episode, Karen Covers:Why RTI, MTSS, and tier systems cannot delay a special education evaluationThe truth about 504 Plans vs IEPs (and yes… follow the money)How to request data (and what federal law says about access)Why paraprofessionals must have access to the IEPHow to respond when a district drags its feetIf you’re feeling defeated, overwhelmed, or talked down to at the table — this episode is your reset.You don’t know what you don’t know — but you need to.📚 Get The Epic IEP™ | Available wherever books are soldIf the book has helped you, please leave a review. It helps other families find it.🎓 Join The Academy (First Month Free)Over 400+ hours of archived trainings and weekly live coaching:🎟️ Upcoming Trainings2-Day LIVE Virtual Intensive: March 7–82-Day LIVE In-Person Intensive: May 30–31 | Lexington, KentuckyLimited seating.We train everyone at the IEP/504 table to navigate and negotiate successful student outcomes.When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everyone.— 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...

“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 appropriate — and when it’s notCan you record an IEP meeting? (Know your state rights.)When suspension triggers an MDRHow to think through behavior plans (FBA vs. BIP)Karen also shares exciting updates on:📘 The Epic IEP™ (USA Today National Bestseller)📕 The upcoming Epic IEP™ Federal & State Law Guide📗 The soon-to-release Epic IEP™ Paraprofessional Handbook🎓 The 2-Day Special Education Advocacy Intensive (Live + On-Demand)👩‍🏫 The Mastermind for future advocates🚀 Ready to Go Deeper?Join The Academy (first month free):You don’t know what you don’t know — but you need to.📚 Grab Your Copy of The Epic IEP™🎧 Listen. Subscribe. Share.If this episode helped you, share it with a parent, educator, or advocate who needs to hear it.Because when we sit at the table prepared, outcomes change.“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...

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 actually work (and how to invoke them)What to do when schools claim a child was “overserved” — without dataWhy homework cannot count as special education servicesWhat meaningful transition services should look like (and what doesn’t count)Karen also shares updates on The Epic IEP™ book, upcoming trainings, the national book tour, and how educators can transition into advocacy work with the right training and support.You don’t know what you don’t know — but you need to.This episode helps you walk into IEP and 504 meetings informed, confident, and prepared.🎓 Join The AcademyGet access to 250+ hours of training, weekly coaching, and step-by-step guidance: https://academy.specialeducationacademy.com/theepiciep-courses/the-academy/📘 Get the #1 Bestseller The Epic IEP™: A Powerful Playbook for Parents, Educators, and Advocates👉 https://amzn.to/3Ll0DosWhen 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...

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:When compensatory services are appropriate, and why “closing gaps” is the wrong goalWhy eligibility decisions matter — and how mislabeling harms servicesWhat to do when districts push students from an IEP to a 504Required members of an IEP committee (and what happens if someone leaves early)Attendance concerns, OCD, and capturing all student needs in the IEPWhy some placements, pull-outs, and group decisions may be segregation, not supportThe difference between collaboration and schools acting as the “IEP referee.”How to think long-term about post-secondary outcomes, independence, and adult lifeKaren also shares updates on The Epic IEP book, upcoming book tour stops, professional development trainings, and what’s next inside The Academy.👉 Join The Epic IEP™Academy:[https://academy.specialeducationacademy.com/theepiciep-courses/the-academy/]📘 Get The Epic IEP:Available wherever books are sold.🎧 Subscribe, follow, and share this episode with anyone who sits at an IEP or 504 table. 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...

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 do when the “this is how we’ve always done it” logic doesn’t match the written requirements.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why software-driven IEPs are not the same as student-driven IEPsThe 3-part “direct supervision” conversation Karen uses at the tableWhat to ask your admin (without lighting yourself on fire)What to do when an IEP isn’t scheduled on timeWhy you don’t remove services because an adult/student pairing isn’t working—you fix the deliveryHow to think through program changes (including autism programs) based on educational needReal talk on 504 meetings, “accommodations culture,” and why training matters📘 Get The Epic IEP (Official Amazon link):https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscom🎁 Pre-order bonuses + updates:Head to TheEpicIEP.com (bonuses may include access to special virtual training events). 📍Kentucky Book Tour (first stops):Barnes & Noble Author Event — Thursday, Feb 12, 2026 (5:00 PM ET)(Additional Louisville/Lexington dates are being coordinated—watch for the finalized store-by-store schedule.) ✅ Join The Academy (community + training):https://academy.specialeducationacademy.com/theepiciep-courses/the-academy/“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...

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 update subscriptionsParaprofessionals: what they can do—and what they legally cannot doTriennials + “records review”: what’s required and when to push for testingToileting support: functional needs during the instructional day are not optionalBehavior + safety: when out-of-district placement becomes a real considerationWant your questions answered live? Join The Academy (your first month is FREE).We train every Monday night on federal requirements, then we open up for Q&A—because you have questions every week, and this is why we sit at the table prepared.✅ Join The Academy: https://academy.specialeducationacademy.com/theepiciep-courses/the-academy/🎧 Listen to more episodes on Buzzsprout + YouTube📘 Get The Epic IEP (official link): https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscomBook Tour / Host a Training LocationInterested in hosting Karen for a district, school, nonprofit, university, or community training?Email: [email protected]: 606-776-3175When 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...

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 student outcomes.In this episode, we talk about:Why giving parents only “part of the draft” is a red flag (and a bad long game)The truth about accountability: we’re not battling teachers—we’re holding districts responsibleWhat the federal rules actually say about paraprofessionals (direct supervision, close proximity, frequent contact)What to do when your district “doesn’t have” a provider (and why compensatory services matter)When behavior rises above what general ed can support (hello, BIP)Tools I love for struggling readers: Learning Ally and KurzweilWant weekly training with us? Join the EPIC IEP Academy (Mondays) — your first month is FREE.Go to: Special Education Academy → Training → EPIC IEP AcademyUse coupon code: NewYear2026 (New + Year capitalized)Get the book (The EPIC IEP) on Amazon here:https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscomInterested in hosting a stop on the EPIC IEP Book Tour (2026)?Email: [email protected] We’re educating you so you can show up prepared at the IEP/504 table.“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...

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 becoming a leader supporting teachers, paraprofessionals, and IEP teams across two schools. This conversation is real, practical, and grounded in what helps kids and protects learning for everyone in the room.✨ What You’ll LearnWhy John says “the student is good — it’s the behavior we work on”The 3-part foundation: safety → love → self-esteemWhy structure and procedures are not “strict”… they’re supportA simple mindset shift that changes everything for teachers in hard environmentsResources + Links✅ Join The Academy (Skool Community): https://www.skool.com/special-education-academy/about✅ Get Karen’s book The Epic IEP (official link): https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscomFind John Vergara (The Difficult Student)Instagram / TikTok: @thedifficultstudentPodcast: The Difficult Student Podcast (Spotify / Apple / YouTube)If this episode helped you, follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with a teacher, parent, or advocate who needs it.“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...

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-term/long-term sub run a self-contained classroom for consecutive years?📚 IEP Process, Documentation, and DataPWN: getting the denial in writing and why it mattersWhy Karen doesn’t want “service logs”—she wants raw data collection sheets tied to IEP goals🚨 Behavior, Safety, and FAPE“IEPs are only for academics” — absolutely notElopement: when the BIP isn’t working, you need a new FBA/BIP and stronger supports🏫 Inclusion and Continuum of Placement“Inclusion only” with no pull-out/self-contained options = denial of the continuumOut-of-district placement: what documentation and patterns matter, and when it becomes urgentLinks & Resources📘 Pre-order The Epic IEP + claim bonuses:Order on Amazon (or anywhere you buy books), then submit your receipt at theepiciep.comBook link: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscomBonuses: https://www.theepiciep.com🌐 Special Education Academy: https://www.specialeducationacademy.com📩 Want to host a book tour training stop? Use the intake form on the website to get connected. 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...

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 unlock $500 in bonuses and group bundles for schools, agencies, and parent organizations.LRE, Placement & Services – Moving from early childhood services into life skills, what Least Restrictive Environment really means, and how to know if your child’s needs are being met.Paras, One-to-One Aides & Staffing – Whether a para can be alone with a student, if a teacher can leave all IEP minutes to a para, and why the phrase “special education para” is misleading.Behavior, Safety, Truancy & FAPE – When sending students home becomes a denial of FAPE, what to do if your child is hurt, restrained, or you only see part of a video, and how to respond when schools stop communicating.The Epic IEP Weekly Academy – weekly training on federal law, IEPs, and live Q&AThe Epic IEP 2-Day Intensive – live and on-demand deep-dive training📘 Pre-order The Epic IEP + bonuses:https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscomSubmit your receipt for bonuses: https://www.theepiciep.com🏫 Learn with Karen weekly inside The Academy:https://www.specialeducationacademy.com📩 Host Karen in your state:Email [email protected] 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...

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 + BonusesKaren’s new book, The Epic IEP, releases next month! When you pre-order, you can come back and claim $500+ in bonuses.👉 Order the book here:Official Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscom👉 Then claim your bonuses:Visit TheEpicIEP.com and submit your information to unlock your pre-order bonuses.🎓 Train with Karen & Special Education AcademyReady for deeper training and community?Join The Academy (Skool community)Weekly live trainings, 250+ hours of replays, and practical tools for parents, paras, educators, and advocates.👉 https://www.skool.com/special-education-academy/aboutNeed support at the table?Complete the intake form at SpecialEducationAcademy.com, and our team will connect you with a trained advocate partner.Like, follow, share, and subscribe so you never miss an episode. Send this to a parent, para, or teacher who needs backup at the IEP/504 table. 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...

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 words correct per minute on a Level Q, the home data told a very different story: repeated errors, constant self-corrections, and a much lower true accuracy rate.In this episode, you’ll learn how to:• Use home cold reads to verify (or challenge) school data• Identify inflated reading levels using clean accuracy percentages• Share video evidence in the meeting to clarify present levels• Respond when staff say “we don’t take off for errors”• Bring the conversation back to needs, baselines, and appropriate goals• Reset the meeting when the data doesn’t match realityKaren reminds parents and advocates that a child’s needs don’t disappear when they walk into the school building. If it’s a need on Saturday, it’s a need at school. The goal is always the same: find the real baseline so the team can write IEP goals that enable the student to make progress appropriate in light of their circumstances.📘 Get The Epic IEP (official Amazon link):https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscom👉 Join The Academy:250+ hours of training and weekly coachinghttps://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...

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 “calculated.” But the child still wasn’t receiving the direct services he needed.In this episode, you’ll learn how Karen broke it down:• Why zero minutes would force a DNQ• How to use functional tools (like the VISIT/VSST) in real-life conversations• How an advocate sees the paperwork from a different lensKaren also explains why parents and school-based staff are equal stakeholders, and why disagreement is not a problem — it’s part of the process. Parents rarely know their safeguards or how to interpret evaluations, and schools are often too close to the student to recognize when a need has grown or changed.The heart of this episode:Data tells the story. Data drives decisions. Data determines services.Your job is to listen to the data — not the feelings, not the assumptions, not the “we’ve already calculated it.”If you’ve ever been in a meeting where things drag on, stall out, or go in circles — this episode gives you the clarity and language to move forward with confidence.📘 Get your copy of The Epic IEPOfficial Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscom👉 Join The Academy (250+ hours of training):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...

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 stakeholders, why disagreement is normal, and why “collaboration” should never be used as pressure.In this episode, you’ll learn how to:• Understand implementers vs. services• Recognize when teams may be preparing to propose removal from gen ed• Respond when “collaboration” becomes manipulation• Keep the focus on data, not feelings or assumptions• Use IDEA’s framework to ground decisions• Hold firm when the team doesn’t want general ed listedKaren reminds us that the IEP is a document of obligation, not convenience — and that every stakeholder has the gift of persuasion. Use it ethically, use it clearly, and always keep the child’s unique circumstances at the center.📘 Get The Epic IEP on Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscom👉 Join The Academy (250+ hours of training):https://www.skool.com/special-education-academy/about“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...

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 matter — power, control, personality, panic, excuses — none of it changes the team’s obligation to write an IEP that enables progress appropriate in light of the student’s unique circumstances.Inside this episode, you’ll learn how to:• Stick to the facts, not feelings or opinions• Respond when teams say “she’s doing great” while the data says otherwise• Quantify gaps (like 13 wcpm vs. the 120 wcpm average) so the need is undeniable• Handle the “we’re worried if she leaves gen ed…” argument• Challenge myths like “she has to hear state standards”• Understand why resource is often resisted — and why it’s necessary• Pivot conversations back to needs, minutes, and services• Keep the main thing the main thing: the student’s unique circumstancesKaren shares how a student who was overlooked for years finally received resource reading — and how she moved from 13 wcpm to 60 wcpm. Not because she was “sweet” or “quiet”… but because the team looked at the data and addressed the real need.You’ll also hear how to stay grounded when meetings get frustrating:• Don’t chase the why — focus on what’s next.• If you don’t know if something is true, ask for it in writing.• Use: “Can you send me that code or statute by email by close of business tomorrow?”• Remember: lovely, well-behaved, or quiet is not the standard. Progress is.This episode is all about clarity, courage, and keeping your eyes on the data.📘 Get your copy of The Epic IEPOfficial Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscom👉 Join The Academy (250+ hours of training):https://www.skool.com/special-education-ac 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...

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 “doing fantastic.” After four meetings, the district finally agreed she needed resource—and five years later, she now reads 60 WCPM and is on track for high school.In this episode:Why “she’s doing great” isn’t dataWhy quiet students often fly under the radarWhy resource is resisted—and why it mattersHow to keep meetings focused on facts, not feelingsThe power of asking: “Can you email me the code for that by close of business tomorrow?”Remember: don’t get stuck on why a team is resisting services. Focus on what’s next.📘 Get The Epic IEPAmazon: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscomUpload your receipt for bonuses: TheEpicIEP.com📚 Train with KarenThe Academy: 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...

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...

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 fast.Then comes the outburst:“YOU wanted this! YOU got the IEE! YOU made her eligible!”Karen breaks down exactly what to do when a team member flips out, refuses to follow IDEA requirements, or takes the process personally instead of professionally.In this episode:What to say when a teacher refuses to take dataHow to respond when someone blames you for eligibility decisionsThe moment you know a teacher shouldn’t serve a student anymoreThe real obligation under IDEA for instruction, monitoring, and progressHow to stay grounded when someone comes “off the rails” in an IEP meetingIt’s a reminder that paperwork isn’t the problem—people are.And when emotions take over, someone has to stay steady at the table.📘 Get the book — The Epic IEPYour roadmap for understanding, writing, and implementing IEPs that actually work—complete with QR codes for ongoing resources, templates, and tools.Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscomUpload your receipt for bonuses, book club access, and chapter previews.📚 Train with KarenJoin The Academy (250+ hours of training):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...

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 only.But IDEA has two prongs, and only one of them deals with regression.Karen breaks down what really happened in that meeting ...In this episode:The two legal prongs of ESY — and why districts miss the second oneWhy ESY is for maintenance, not gainsHow to pause a meeting, regroup, and get accurate informationWhat to say when they “can’t find your name” on the signature page (“try under swimwear model”)How clarity, humor, and the law keep teams anchored in what’s best for the childIt’s a reminder that even early-morning meetings can change a child’s access and opportunities — when decisions are made based on facts, not feelings.📘 Get Karen's new book — The Epic IEPYour roadmap for writing, understanding, and implementing IEPs that actually work — complete with QR codes for templates, tools, and real advocacy resources.Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscomUpload your receipt for book bonuses: TheEpicIEP.com📚 Train with KarenJoin The Academy — 250+ hours of training + weekly Q&A 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...

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 how far we’ve drifted from the spirit of IDEA and ADA — and why critical thinking matters more than ever.In this episode:When “access” becomes optional — and how ADA really appliesHow to handle district attorneys who act like the “sheriff of special education”Why believing misinformation doesn’t make it true (even if it’s told with authority)The difference between the spirit and letter of the lawWhat happens when leadership passes down wrong informationKaren reminds us: If it’s true, it will be found in the law. And when we make decisions based on accurate information, kiddos win at the highest level.📘 Get the Book — The Epic IEPYour playbook for walking into the IEP/504 table prepared, confident, and clear—plus QR codes to living resources like templates, open records guidance, and training tools.📦 Official Amazon link: The Epic IEP on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4i9guCH] 🎁 Upload your receipt for exclusive bonuses, book club access, and chapter previews: TheEpicIEP.comJoin The Academy —  300+ hours of advocacy training + weekly Q&A sessions: Special Education Academy on Skool 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...

“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 the table.What we cover:MTSS → IEP: why good hearts + wrong info = poor outcomesPaperwork bloat vs. an epic IEP that’s actually usableWho’s responsible when a placement isn’t working (and why it’s leadership)Why every provider needs the full IEP/504 (not a “teacher bundle”)ESY done right: the two-prong standard (regression/recoupment and loss of critical skills)Practical meeting prep: get the draft, get the evals, write questions in advanceGet the book — The Epic IEPYour playbook for walking into the IEP/504 table prepared, confident, and clear—plus QR codes to living resources (readers’ guide, templates, open records how-to, and more).📘 Amazon (official): https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscom🎁 Bonuses: upload your receipt at TheEpicIEP.com for the Book Club, summit ticket, and chapter previews.Train with Karen📚 Join The Academy — weekly live trainings + 250+ hours of replays:https://www.skool.com/special-education-academy/aboutWe’re educating you so you can navigate the IEP/504 process with clarity and confidence. 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...

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 instead of “the disses”504 accommodations: students shouldn’t have to ask for civil rightsPlacement & behavior: FBA, counseling, and choosing the right settingHomebound misuse, foreign language requirements, schedule changesPara supervision under ESSA: “directly supervised, close proximity, frequent contact”Teacher role at ARD/IEP: show up as an information portal with dataPractical prep for tomorrow’s meeting: write it down todayGet the book — The Epic IEPYour playbook for walking into the IEP/504 table prepared, confident, and clear—plus QR codes to living resources (readers’ guide, templates, open records how-to, and more).Amazon (official link): https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscomUpload your receipt for bonuses: TheEpicIEP.comAudiobook + workbook: arriving February.Train with KarenJoin The Epic IEP™ Academy (weekly live trainings + 250+ hours of replays):https://www.skool.com/special-education-academy/aboutWe’re educating you so you can navigate the IEP/504 process with clarity and confidence. 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...

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” actually means under Child FindWho’s responsible for what: gen ed vs. special ed vs. parasWriting behavior goals and when to request an FBA or psychological evaluationWhy we don’t override doctor’s notes or “test for dysgraphia” in isolationWhat to do when meetings go sideways—how to pause and reconveneWhy continuing education and proper training change everythingTools + Takeaways:✔ The Epic IEP — now available for pre-order on Amazon✔ Claim your bonuses + join the Book Club at theepiciep.com✔ District upgrades + bulk order training: theepiciep.com/upgrade✔ Weekly training + federal law support inside The Academy: Special Education Academy✔ Advocacy support: [email protected] Message:Clarity wins every time. Evaluate the need, match the setting, write goals that move data, and lead the table with confidence.Order the book: Amazon – The Epic IEP 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...

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 to student needs; using the continuum—not wishful thinking.Foreign language requirements: What’s actually required and why it’s often a poor fit for many students.Transportation & transitions: Related services, wheelchair loading timing, and capturing supports in supplements.Bullying & class changes: Why schools often move the reporting student and how to advocate smartly.“Emergency placement” myth & homebound: What IDEA allows (and doesn’t). Homebound is a medical decision—not a staffing workaround.Teacher role in ARDs/IEPs: Be the information portal—needs, strengths, and impact across settings.Resources mentioned:Pre-Order the Book: The Epic IEP on Amazon (official link): https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscomBonuses: After you order, submit your info at TheEpicIEP.com to unlock pre-order bonuses.The Academy (weekly trainings + library): https://www.skool.com/special-education-academy/aboutNeed support? Email: [email protected] 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...

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 LearnDx ≠ Eligibility: How a medical diagnosis informs—but doesn’t decide—IDEA eligibility.IEP Team = Decision-makers: Who sits at the table and why your data matters.IEP vs. 504: Accommodations alone vs. specially designed instruction + related services.Capture both: Note medical conditions and write goals/services for all needs shown by evaluation data.Safety first: No learning without safety—document, convene, and decide LRE with data.Join The Academy (250+ hrs): https://www.skool.com/special-education-academy/aboutPre-order The Epic IEP on Amazon (search “The Epic IEP”)Claim $500 in pre-order bonuses: TheEpicIEP.comWork with an Advocate: [email protected]“Do you know your rights?”“You don’t know what you don’t know—but you need to.”“This is why we sit at the table prepared.”When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everyone. 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...

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 coverDue Process ≠ TV drama: what really happens in an administrative hearing15-day resolution session window and how timelines run outside the school calendarJoint vs. Petitioner vs. Respondent exhibits (what goes where and why it matters)How to “hearings-proof” your IEP paperwork (deliberations, emails, logs, attachments)When and how digital exhibits (audio/video) are authenticatedProcedural vs. substantive violations (and why both can matter)Witness strategy: who actually testifies (hint: the service providers, not the “district yahoos”)504 red flags that scream Child Find → Full IDEA evaluationReality check: most cases settle—so build the record long before you ever fileResources & CTAsJoin The Academy (weekly series + 250+ hrs of training): https://www.skool.com/special-education-academy/aboutPre-order The Epic IEP on Amazon (claim $500 in bonuses at TheEpicIEP.com after purchase)Contact: [email protected] 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...

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 timelinesWhen to request compensatory time, a due process hearing, or a state complaintWhy the Epic IEP isn’t just a book — it’s a movement for changeStories of hope, heartbreak, and humor from real IEP tables across AmericaKaren also previews her upcoming Paraprofessional Webinar and the Epic IEP Mastery Summit (February 6) — both designed to equip you to train, lead, and advocate with clarity.📘 Pre-order The Epic IEP today:👉 Amazon Link🎁 Then go to TheEpicIEP.com to unlock $500 in pre-order bonuses, including your FREE ticket to the Epic IEP Mastery Summit (February 6).🎓 Want ongoing weekly training?Join The Epic IEP Academy — the premier professional development community for parents, educators, and advocates.👉 https://www.skool.com/special-education-academy/about📱 Follow @SpecialEducationBoss on TikTok, subscribe on YouTube, and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Buzzsprout. 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...

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 nationwide advocacy movement.💬 Why we must stop “agreeing to disagree” when it comes to children’s rights — and how to communicate with clarity, compassion, and conviction.🧩 What makes this book different: it’s not just what to do, but how to do it.💡 The real meaning of procedural safeguards and how missteps can permanently impact a child’s future.❤️ Stories of transformation, inclusion, and hope — from tears in the IEP meeting to life-changing outcomes for students.😂 A few bleach-blonde jokes, bins, and laughter (because we can’t do this work without a little humor).If you’ve ever left an IEP meeting frustrated, overwhelmed, or confused… this episode will remind you: you’re not alone and you’re not powerless.🎯 Get your copy of The Epic IEP today at Amazon, then head to TheEpicIEP.com to unlock over $500 in pre-order bonuses, including your free ticket to our upcoming Epic IEP Mastery Summit on February 5th.💻 Ready to learn and grow every week?Join The Epic IEP Academy — the premiere weekly professional development community for parents, educators, and advocates.👉 https://www.skool.com/special-education-academy/about📱 Follow @SpecialEducationBoss on TikTok, subscribe on YouTube, and listen to more episodes of Special Education Boss® with Karen Mayer Cunningham on Buzzsprout, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.Because here’s the truth: When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everyone. 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...

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 “what’s next” is far more powerful than asking “why did they do that?”You’ll learn:✅ When a school’s actions cross the line from wrong to unlawful✅ How to use your procedural safeguards to take effective next steps✅ What makes a strong state complaint or OCR complaint✅ Why special education isn’t just a program — it’s a civil right✅ How to keep the focus on solutions, not frustrationKaren also answers real questions from parents and educators on:IEP disagreements and signaturesPrivacy violations by staffInclusion and self-contained modelsAdaptive PE and 504 confusion📘 Order the book: The Epic IEP — your powerful playbook for parents, educators, and advocates navigating the special education process.👉 Order on AmazonThen visit TheEpicIEP.com to claim $500 in exclusive bonuses!💡 Join The Academy:The EPIC IEP Academy is the premier weekly professional development community training parents, educators, and advocates to navigate and negotiate successful student outcomes — in real time.👉 Join 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...

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 exact protocols, processes, and practices she’s used to help students thrive.📘 The Epic IEP isn’t another academic text or legal manual—it’s an actionable guide that turns confusion into confidence. Whether you’re facing evaluations, writing goals, preparing for ESY, or sitting in your very first IEP meeting, this book gives you the framework to do it right. Because when the paperwork isn’t right, the program can’t be right.✨ In this episode, you’ll learn:Who The Epic IEP was written for (and why it matters)Why “getting on the same page” at the IEP table changes everythingHow the book bridges the gap between law, language, and implementationWhy Karen calls it a powerful playbook—not a book of information dumpsReal questions from parents, advocates, and teachers—and Karen’s answers🎧 Resources Mentioned:👉 Pre-order The Epic IEP on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscomThen visit https://theepiciep.com to submit your receipt and unlock $500 in pre-order bonuses, including a free ticket to the Epic IEP Summit!🎓 Get Weekly Training:Join The Epic IEP Academy, the premiere professional development community for parents, educators, and advocates learning to serve students at the highest level—every Monday night.➡️ https://specialeducationacademy.com/training📲 Download the free Special Education Academy App on iOS + Android.💬 Connect:Follow Karen Mayer Cunningham everywhere — YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn — @SpecialEducationBoss“When 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...

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 (direct vs. consult, group vs. individual, staffing, setting, and data collection).📘 Pre-Order the Book: The Epic IEPThe exact framework I’ve used for 25+ years—written for parents, educators, and advocates.➡️ Amazon (official link): https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscomThen claim $500 in pre-order bonuses at TheEpicIEP.com.🎓 Join The Academy250+ hours of training to help everyone at the IEP/504 table navigate and negotiate successful student outcomes.👉 https://www.skool.com/special-education-academy/about👩‍🏫 Paraprofessional Webinar (Free)November 5, 2025 • 7:00 PM CST — roles, responsibilities, and limitations, plus how to avoid para-as-provider models that deny FAPE.Register at SpecialEducationAcademy.com.💌 Need support?Our trained advocates serve families nationwide (remote).Email [email protected] for records review or meeting support. 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...

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 move from a 504 Plan to an IEP✨ How 504s apply to afterschool programs run by outside companies✨ Steps to take if testing was conducted without parental consent✨ How to challenge incorrect placements or restrictive classroom settings💡 Plus, Karen announces the upcoming Paraprofessional Training Webinar — November 5 at 7 PM CST!Register now at SpecialEducationAcademy.com📘 Order Karen’s new book, The Epic IEPNow available for pre-order on Amazon!➡️ https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscomThen visit TheEpicIEP.com to claim $500 in pre-order bonuses — including tools, templates, and advocacy resources.🎓 Join The AcademyGet 250+ hours of training that teach you how to navigate and negotiate successful student outcomes at the IEP/504 table.👉 Join The Academy📩 Need help or records review?Email: [email protected] — Our trained advocates serve families nationwide. 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...

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) and interstate transfers✅ After-school programs and 504 Plan obligations✅ Implementing IEPs when moving between states✅ Obligations for virtual and alternative schools under IDEAIf you’re a parent, advocate, or educator navigating IEPs or 504 Plans, this episode offers clear, practical guidance to help you prepare, participate, and protect student rights effectively.📚 Resources & Next Steps📘 Pre-Order Karen’s New Book — The Epic IEPA powerful playbook for parents, educators, and advocates navigating the special education process.Order now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscomThen visit TheEpicIEP.com to register your purchase and unlock $500 in exclusive pre-order bonuses.🎓 Register for the Paraprofessional TrainingWednesday, November 5 at 7 PM CSThttps://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rAYP4WpfR5eJlwC5LZyxsg📬 Advocacy Support Available NationwideEmail: [email protected] for information about records reviews and IEP/504 support. 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...

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” is not a substitute for attendanceWhat happens when data changes and a provider isn’t thereHow to handle team dismissals legally and strategicallyKaren also answers live questions about:• 504 confidentiality• Bullying and safety• Accommodations for trauma, ADHD, and PTSD• Paraprofessionals and missed minutes• Student teachers and service minutes• When a teacher violates the IEP• Placement decisions and LRE📘 Pre-order The Epic IEPA powerful playbook for parents, educators, and advocates navigating the special education system.👉 Order on AmazonThen visit TheEpicIEP.com to claim your $500 in bonuses.🎓 Join The Academy for ongoing training and community:👉 https://www.skool.com/special-education-academy/about✉️ Need help or representation? Email: [email protected]“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...

What Goes in an IEP? Present Levels + Questions of the DayIn 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, and advocates can use this knowledge to drive meaningful outcomes.You’ll also hear real-life examples from IEP meetings, including how to interpret evaluation results, what percentile rankings actually tell you, and why parents should always have a copy of the IEP draft before a meeting.Then, stay tuned as Karen answers the Top 10 “Questions of the Day” from parents, teachers, and advocates across the country. 📘 Featured Resource:👉 The Epic IEP — A powerful playbook for parents, educators, and advocates navigating the special education process.Order now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscomThen visit TheEpicIEP.com to unlock $500 in exclusive pre-order bonuses!📚 Join The Academy:Train with Karen inside Special Education Academy — 250+ hours of advocacy training, weekly updates, and real-world tools for navigating IEPs and 504s.🟣 Connect + Learn MoreWebsite: SpecialEducationAcademy.comEmail: [email protected]: Special Education Boss® with 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...

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 through the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR)Why schools can’t “wait until 3rd grade” to evaluateOut-of-district (OOD) placement: when and how students can returnWhat happens when uncertified teachers or long-term subs teach special educationHow to respond when a service provider is causing traumaMissing data, unimplemented IEPs, and how to request compensatory servicesClarifying PWN, raw data, and progress reportsBehavior plans, transitions, and when to request an FBAWhat’s really required for child find, MTSS, and evaluationsHow to prepare for your IEP meeting like a proWhy brushing your teeth isn’t an academic goal (and why humor helps!)Understanding resource, placement, and curb-to-curb transportationThe truth about 504 Plans vs. IEPs — and why Karen prefers an Epic IEP📘 Bonus: Learn more about Karen’s upcoming book, The Epic IEP: A Powerful Playbook for Parents, Educators, and Advocates.Order your copy on Amazon and unlock $500 worth of free bonuses when you register at TheEpicIEP.com🔗 Links Join The Academy (250+ hours of on-demand training):https://www.skool.com/special-education-academy/aboutWork with an Advocate: [email protected] Karen’s Book:The Epic IEP on AmazonThen visit TheEpicIEP.com to c 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...

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 confident than ever before.📘 The Epic IEP Is Coming!Karen’s groundbreaking new book The Epic IEP™ is now available for pre-order at TheEpicIEP.com.When you pre-order your hardcover copy and return to register your receipt, you’ll unlock $500 in exclusive bonuses, including:✨ Reader’s Guide✨ Mini Book of Karen Quotes✨ Private Epic IEP Book Club✨ Exclusive Author Q&A Session✨ 6-Hour Live IEP Summit on February 5, 2026Whether you’re a parent, paraprofessional, teacher, or advocate, this episode will give you the clarity and courage to sit at the IEP table fully equipped.IN THIS EPISODE:🎯 Can paraprofessionals teach small groups without a special educator?🎯 How to know if your child’s IEP goals are being met🎯 What to do when your district lacks certified teachers🎯 The power of effective advocacy—and where to startRESOURCES MENTIONED:📚 Pre-Order The Epic IEP: TheEpicIEP.com🎓 Join The Academy: https://www.skool.com/special-education-academy/about💌 Request an Advocate: [email protected]“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...

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, “puffy” Present Levels (strengths, needs, and input from everyone who provides an educational product)Elevating parent concerns into the Present Levels (34 CFR §300.324) instead of burying them in deliberationsLRE ≠ “get back to general ed”; understanding continuum of placements (34 CFR §300.115) and why resource still existsBuilding the Schedule of Services after Present Levels, Goals, Accommodations, and LRE are solidPractical advocacy: creating a “Zach Pack,” sharing the IEP with all teachers (including electives), and partnering with staffResources mentioned:Pre-order Karen’s new book The Epic IEP + unlock bonuses: https://theepiciep.comFederal regulations online (eCFR) and IDEA references (e.g., §300.324 review/revise IEP; §300.115 continuum of placements)Call to ActionJoin The Academy for weekly, no-fluff training and Q&A: https://www.skool.com/special-education-academy/aboutQuestions? Email: [email protected] and share this episode with a friend at the IEP/504 table.“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...