It's August 2025, and we’re back to school and back to the IEP and 504 tables! In this episode of Ask the Advocate, Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, takes questions live and delivers rapid-fire answers, real-talk strategies, and expert insight to get your year started right.

Whether you're prepping for a first IEP meeting, navigating an out-of-place placement, wondering about compensatory services, or trying to understand cell phone exemptions in Texas, this episode covers it all, with a little humor and a whole lot of clarity.

🟡 Topics Covered:

• ✅ What to request before your IEP meeting (and how)
• ✅ Why promotion language does not belong in the IEP
• ✅ Tips for advocating for a child with cerebral palsy
• ✅ How to write strong IEP goals for developmental gaps
• ✅ The purpose of a “Zac Pack” for Kindergarten transitions
• ✅ Clarifying inclusion responsibilities + para roles
• ✅ Graduation, electives, and accommodations: what’s legal?
• ✅ IDEA violations, denials of FAPE, and when to demand comp ed
• ✅ Charter schools, self-contained myths, and why public school can work—if we get it right
• ✅ Should a parent work as a para for their own child? Why that’s a red flag
• ✅ What to do if your school is sending your child home for behavior
• ✅ How to start a career as an advocate (without a college degree)
• ✅ Push-in vs. pull-out supports, IEP meeting prep, and so much more

🟣 Karen also covers:

• The new Texas cell phone law and what counts as an IEP/504 exception
• What really makes a school “good” for students with disabilities
• Advice for brand-new SPED teachers stepping into messy programs
• What to do when you’re ghosted by the school
• Why special education advocacy is a calling—and why it matters now more than ever

🎧 Whether you're a parent, teacher, para, or aspiring advocate, this is your weekly dose of clarity, confidence, and community at the IEP table.

🛠️ Resources Mentioned:

• 📲 Download the Special Education Academy App — FREE in your app store!
• 🎓 Join The Academy
• 📚 Visit the Book Shelf (IEP Goal Writing Resource by Dr.

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 Academy

📬 Have a question? Email us at [email protected]

📱 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.)

...

Evaluations are the foundation of every IEP, and most parents, advocates, and even school staff don’t realize how many sections are involved, what’s legally required, or how much can go wrong when pieces are skipped.

In this episode of Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham walks you through the full scope of educational evaluations, breaking down each required component and the common mistakes families face.

You’ll learn:

• The difference between formal and informal evaluations (and when to push back)
• What MUST be included in a Full and Individual Evaluation (FIE)
• Why skipping sections like sociological, pragmatic language, or adaptive behavior can derail eligibility
• The truth about counseling as a related service—and what schools often get wrong
• How to prepare parents to share personal or sensitive details without public discomfort
• When and how to ask for psych services, assistive tech, occupational therapy, and more
• The problem with “screeners” and how to request full evaluations in every area of suspected disability

Karen delivers powerful advocacy strategies, real-life examples, and her signature truth bombs—helping you know what to ask for, what to document, and how to ensure no student gets overlooked.

 “You don’t have to prove your child needs an evaluation. The law doesn’t require proof—it requires suspicion of a disability.”

Join The Academy

Listen to more episodes on Buzzsprout or YouTube

 Follow, like, share, and subscribe for weekly trainings!

“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 Academy

📬 Have a question? Email us at [email protected]

📱 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.)

...

Welcome back to Special Education Boss®! In this power-packed training episode from Day 1 of “How to Advocate for Anyone,” Karen Mayer Cunningham unpacks one of the most misunderstood areas in special education: the difference between medical diagnosis and educational need, and why it matters at the IEP table.

Key takeaways: 

• Differentiate between medical, therapeutic, and educational models
• Navigate eligibility categories, comorbidities, and eligibility order
• Decode the true meaning of a 504 vs. an IEP—and why “he’s doing great” isn’t good enough
• Advocate for comprehensive evaluations, including cognitive (all 7 Gs), adaptive, achievement, psychological, and language
• Use your role to tell the child’s full story, not just comply with checkboxes
• Avoid common traps in eligibility and evaluation—and how to ask for Prior Written Notice when needed
• Why “we’re not in the pool” and “we consider it” are red flags—and what to say instead
• How to ensure your advocacy is rooted in excellence, integrity, and long-term outcomes

Whether you're a parent, teacher, or advocate, this episode is a masterclass in IDEA advocacy and strategic decision-making at every stage of the special education process.

“This is why we don’t waffle, waver, or water it down.”

Listen now and equip yourself with the language, mindset, and legal literacy to lead IEP teams and advocate for what every child deserves.

Ready to go deeper? Join The Academy

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

“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 Academy

📬 Have a question? Email us at [email protected]

📱 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 happens when a parent of two children with autism faces divorce during IEP transition years? In this episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, sits down with Mary Ann Hughes, Certified Special Needs Divorce Coach and founder of Special Family Transitions. From navigating divorce while parenting children with disabilities to building lifelong support plans, Mary Ann shares practical tools, real-life insights, and hope for parents walking a complex path. This conversation is a must-listen for advocates, educators, and families facing tough transitions.

🎧 Join The Academy
🌐 Learn more about Mary Ann

"When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody."

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 Academy

📬 Have a question? Email us at [email protected]

📱 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.)

...

From the classroom to the conference table—today’s episode is one of full-circle purpose.

Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, is joined by the amazing Rachel Mottern, a former special education teacher turned full-time national advocate, for a powerful and heartfelt conversation you won’t forget.

Rachel shares her journey from struggling with dyslexia as a child to becoming a teacher, earning her master's at Vanderbilt (yes, the #1 program in the nation), and eventually realizing she could serve students better outside the system.

What started with a two-day training inside the Special Education Academy turned into a career pivot that changed everything. You'll hear:

• What it was like being a student with dyslexia and a “quiet struggler”
• Why she took the 2-Day Intensive and Mastermind—and how it gave her permission to act.
• Behind-the-scenes stories of systemic pushback, evaluation roadblocks, and how Rachel refused to be hushed.
• How she built her advocacy practice with courage, community, and Karen’s mentorship.

This episode is for every educator, advocate, and parent who knows something isn’t right—and is ready to do something about it.

Rachel now serves families nationwide and is living proof that when you combine training, lived experience, and boldness, you can make real change.

Connect with Rachel Mottern:
Website: www.MotternIEPHelp.com
Email: [email protected]
Partner Page: Inside Special Education Academy

Want the same training that helped Rachel launch a new career?
Join us inside The Academy

Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review!

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 Academy

📬 Have a question? Email us at [email protected]

📱 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.)

...

How to Request Special Education Testing + What Happens Next
Special Education Boss® Podcast | Hosted by Karen Mayer Cunningham

Confused about how to get your child tested for special education services? You’re not alone—and you’re in the right place.

In this powerhouse episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, The Special Education Boss®, breaks down what every parent, educator, and advocate needs to know about requesting and navigating special education evaluations.

📚 We’re covering:
✅ How to request an FIE (Full Individual Evaluation)
✅ IDEA timelines and eligibility basics
✅ 504 vs. IEP: Which one applies—and when?
✅ What goes into a proper evaluation (academic, speech, OT, behavior, etc.)
✅ How to prepare for the results and advocate for appropriate supports
✅ Writing goals based on data—not feelings
✅ Behavior plans, assistive tech, and related services
✅ Real Q&A from parents and educators just like you

Whether you're new to this journey or knee-deep in evaluations, this training gives you clarity, confidence, and action steps to move forward.

🧠 Want more support? Join The Academy. New training sessions weekly,  250+ hours available now.

📲 Download the free SEA app for access, updates, and community.

“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 Academy

📬 Have a question? Email us at [email protected]

📱 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.)

...

How to Ditch SMART Goals, Align with Present Levels, and Meet the Endrew F. Standard

Most IEP goals aren’t measurable—and that’s a big problem.

In this episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham is joined by Dr. Mitchell Yell, special education expert, professor, and hearing officer, to break down how to write IEP goals that actually meet legal standards and support real student progress.

Together, they cover:

• Why SMART goals fall short
• A simple 3-step formula for writing measurable goals
• How to align goals to present levels (not just state standards)
• What the Endrew F. case says about student progress
• How to fix goals that are vague, invisible, or rolled over year to year
• When to change instruction (not just lower expectations)

This is essential listening for parents, educators, and advocates who want to get IEPs right.

🎧 Listen in and train with us weekly inside The Academy.
👉 Join The Academy:
📺 Watch more: https://www.youtube.com/@SpecialEducationBoss
🎤 Follow Karen: @SpecialEducationBoss

“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 Academy

📬 Have a question? Email us at [email protected]

📱 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 happens after you file an OCR complaint?
In Part 3 of our special series on how to file effective OCR (Office for Civil Rights) complaints, Karen Mayer Cunningham, Special Education Boss®, walks you through everything that happens once your complaint is opened for investigation—including mediation options, rebuttal strategies, and meaningful resolutions.

This episode covers:

✅ What the OCR looks for when opening an investigation
✅ Why mediation is always voluntary—but often powerful
✅ Real examples of how compensatory services and training were negotiated
✅ What to include in your rebuttal if a district disputes your claims
✅ Why every complaint needs clear documentation, timelines, and expectations
✅ What to say (and not say) when engaging with investigators
✅ How to respond when your case is transferred to a new investigator
✅ What "resolution" really means—and how to make it work for your child

Whether you're a parent, advocate, or professional supporting students with disabilities, this deep dive gives you the language, tools, and mindset to stay in the fight for a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).

📌 Related trainings mentioned:
➡️ Part 1: How to File an OCR Complaint
➡️ Part 2: What Happens After You File
📚 Get 50% off the 2-Day Intensive On-Demand Training until the end of JULY: Use code JULY at checkout
🔗 Join The Academy

“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 Academy

📬 Have a question? Email us at [email protected]

📱 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 do you do when the IEP isn’t followed? When a para is left unsupervised? When your child is denied services due to a “lack of staff”? Or when a cell phone ban interferes with their support plan?

In this rapid-fire Q&A episode of Ask the Advocate, Special Education Boss® Karen Mayer Cunningham tackles your most pressing questions about special education—straight from the front lines. No fluff. No legal jargon. Just real answers to real problems.

Topics we cover in this episode:

✅ Are all paras qualified to serve students with disabilities?
✅ Can you be hired without certification? (Short answer: Yes. Long answer: You better listen.)
✅ Can a child be denied VO-Tech or transition services?
✅ What if the principal ignores IEP violations?
✅ When should compensatory services be offered—and what if they’re never delivered?
✅ Can a parent request a one-to-one aide?
✅ What’s legal when it comes to substitutes in inclusion classrooms?
✅ How do students access their phones if there’s a safety plan or doctor’s note?
✅ What’s the deal with Level 1, 2, or 3 autism labels in schools?
✅ Can a school make a placement decision without a meeting?

💡 BONUS: Karen shares what federal law actually says about paraprofessionals and IEP implementation—plus how to get her most requested resource:
Working with Paraprofessionals: A Resource for Educators of Students with Disabilities. Request it: [email protected]

📱 Download the Special Education Academy App:
Find it in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Just search Special Education Academy and look for the lightbulb with the grad cap!

🎓  TRAININGS:
✔️ 2-Day Intensive (On-Demand) — 50% off with code JULY
✔️ Mastermind Cohort — Starts July 27, 2025
✔️ Weekly Training in The Academy — Every Monday @ 8 PM CST

📚 Join The Academy

“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 Academy

📬 Have a question? Email us at [email protected]

📱 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’s the real difference between an IEP and a 504?
Spoiler: one of them is a “waste of good paper”… and Karen does not hold back.

In this rapid-fire Ask the Advocate episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham answers the most pressing questions from parents, teachers, and advocates navigating special education. From whether schools can deny services based on budget to how to respond when accommodations “aren’t being implemented,” Karen gives straight answers with humor, heart, and strategy.

Topics Covered:

• How to request special education testing (what to say + how to say it)
• IEP vs. 504 — and why that matters more than ever
• Can good grades cancel an IEP?
• Why schools push for life skills programs — and how to push back
• What to do when raw data is missing (or obviously fake)
• How to advocate for one-to-one support, ESY, or out-of-district placement
• When to file a complaint, skip mediation, or request an IEE

Plus: Karen dishes out solid gold on how YOU can become an advocate—and why the system needs you now more than ever.

🎧 Listen, laugh, learn—and leave ready to advocate with confidence.

👇 Dive deeper with us:
Join The Academy
Explore the 2-Day Intensive (on-demand)
Want to become an advocate? 

Email us: [email protected]

Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share this episode with your team, your friends, or anyone sitting at the IEP table.

“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 Academy

📬 Have a question? Email us at [email protected]

📱 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.)

...