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 data
• How to respond when someone blames you for eligibility decisions
• The moment you know a teacher shouldn’t serve a student anymore
• The real obligation under IDEA for instruction, monitoring, and progress
• How to stay grounded when someone comes “off the rails” in an IEP meeting

It’s a reminder that paperwork isn’t the problem—people are.
And when emotions take over, someone has to stay steady at the table.

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Your roadmap for understanding, writing, and implementing IEPs that actually work—complete with QR codes for ongoing resources, templates, and tools.
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✨ 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.

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🧠 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.

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