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 one
• Why ESY is for maintenance, not gains
• How to pause a meeting, regroup, and get accurate information
• What 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 child

It’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.

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👩‍⚖️ 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.

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