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 McAl—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
✨ How funding pressures impact IEP decisions
✨ Why parents often know something is wrong—but need help articulating it
✨ The difference between combative advocacy and collaborative leadership
✨ How to build bridges before the meeting even begins
✨ Why relationships—not intimidation—create long-term change

Paige and Kate also share their journey from the classroom to advocacy, the fears educators experience when an advocate is present, and why ethical, trained advocates are critical for protecting student rights and improving outcomes.

This conversation is honest, practical, and encouraging for:

• Parents navigating difficult IEP meetings
• Educators who want to do special education better
• Aspiring advocates considering this path
• Anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed at the IEP table

As Karen reminds us:

“We train everyone at the IEP/504 table to navigate and negotiate successful student outcomes.”

📲 Download the Special Education Academy app
📘 Get your copy of The Epic IEP™

🎓 Join The Academy

Listen, share, and subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes.

“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: @specialeducationboss
• YouTube: 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.)

...

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 failures
• Paraprofessional layoffs and 1:1 support
• Extended School Year (ESY) eligibility
• Compensatory services
• Due process documentation
• Placement vs. eligibility
• Resource classroom requirements
• Endrew F. and the FAPE standard
• Evaluation delays and what to do next

This 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: @specialeducationboss
• YouTube: 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.)

...

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 evaluation
• The 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 IEP
• How to respond when a district drags its feet

If 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 sold
If 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 Trainings

2-Day LIVE Virtual Intensive: March 7–8
2-Day LIVE In-Person Intensive: May 30–31 | Lexington, Kentucky

Limited 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: @specialeducationboss
• YouTube: 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.)

...

“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 not
• Can you record an IEP meeting? (Know your state rights.)
• When suspension triggers an MDR
• How 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: @specialeducationboss
• YouTube: 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.)

...

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 continue
• The difference between a diploma vs. certificate of attendance
• How procedural safeguards actually work (and how to invoke them)
• What to do when schools claim a child was “overserved” — without data
• Why homework cannot count as special education services
• What 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 Academy

Get 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/3Ll0Dos

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: @specialeducationboss
• YouTube: 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.)

...

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 goal
• Why eligibility decisions matter — and how mislabeling harms services
• What to do when districts push students from an IEP to a 504
• Required members of an IEP committee (and what happens if someone leaves early)
• Attendance concerns, OCD, and capturing all student needs in the IEP
• Why some placements, pull-outs, and group decisions may be segregation, not support
• The difference between collaboration and schools acting as the “IEP referee.”
• How to think long-term about post-secondary outcomes, independence, and adult life

Karen 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: @specialeducationboss
• YouTube: 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.)

...

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 IEPs
• The 3-part “direct supervision” conversation Karen uses at the table
• What to ask your admin (without lighting yourself on fire)
• What to do when an IEP isn’t scheduled on time
• Why you don’t remove services because an adult/student pairing isn’t working—you fix the delivery
• How to think through program changes (including autism programs) based on educational need
• Real 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: @specialeducationboss
• YouTube: 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.)

...

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 subscriptions
• Paraprofessionals: what they can do—and what they legally cannot do
• Triennials + “records review”: what’s required and when to push for testing
• Toileting support: functional needs during the instructional day are not optional
• Behavior + safety: when out-of-district placement becomes a real consideration

Want 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=simonsayscom

Book Tour / Host a Training Location
Interested in hosting Karen for a district, school, nonprofit, university, or community training?
Email: [email protected]
Text: 606-776-3175

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: @specialeducationboss
• YouTube: 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.)

...

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 responsible
• What 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 Kurzweil

Want weekly training with us? Join the EPIC IEP Academy (Mondays) — your first month is FREE.
Go to: Special Education Academy → Training → EPIC IEP Academy
Use coupon code: NewYear2026 (New + Year capitalized)

Get the book (The EPIC IEP) on Amazon here:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscom

Interested 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: @specialeducationboss
• YouTube: 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.)

...

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 Learn

• Why John says “the student is good — it’s the behavior we work on”
• The 3-part foundation: safety → love → self-esteem
• Why structure and procedures are not “strict”… they’re support
• A simple mindset shift that changes everything for teachers in hard environments

Resources + 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=simonsayscom

Find John Vergara (The Difficult Student)

• Instagram / TikTok: @thedifficultstudent
• Podcast: 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: @specialeducationboss
• YouTube: 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.)

...