
Special Education Boss® with Karen Mayer Cunningham
The Special Education Boss® Podcast is where advocacy meets action. Join Karen Mayer Cunningham each week as she empowers parents and professionals to understand their rights, navigate the system, and show up strong at the IEP table.
Special Education Boss® with Karen Mayer Cunningham
What Schools Get Wrong: Q&A on One-to-One Support, Service Minutes, and Your Parent Rights
Do you know your rights when it comes to makeup services, one-to-one support, and placement decisions?
In this powerful, unfiltered Q&A session, Karen Mayer Cunningham, Special Education Boss®, breaks down REAL questions from parents and educators navigating the IEP table.
We’re covering everything from:
- Can a school deliver compensatory minutes before talking to the parent?
- Is one-on-one support really “too restrictive”?
- What to do when a school says “It’s all or nothing” on placement
- How to respond when your child’s related services were never delivered
- The truth about paras providing IEP minutes (yikes)
- What to say when denied dyslexia testing or told your child is “too low to help”
- And yes... how to explain SLD (Specific Learning Disability) in parent-friendly terms
💥 Plus: Karen shares her favorite due process win, when to file a state vs. federal complaint, and why the phrase “That’s it” has NO place in IDEA.
➡️ If you’ve ever been told “we don’t do that here” or “your child doesn’t need that,” this episode is your roadmap to push back — respectfully, legally, and strategically.
⚠️ Bonus Highlights:
- Why denying access to AAC or lunch = OCR complaint
- What to do if your child is carried in a trash can 😡
- What the 7 Gs are — and why they matter in IEP testing
- Why charter schools may not be the best fit for SPED students
- How to explain accommodations vs. modifications to staff
Listen now and join the movement of informed, prepared, and empowered parents and professionals who are changing the game in special education.
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“When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody.”
— Karen Mayer Cunningham
✨ 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 advocate@specialeducationacademy.com
📱 Follow Karen on:
- TikTok & Instagram: @specialeducationboss
- YouTube: Special Education Academy
🧠 Want to level up your advocacy game?
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(As an Amazon Associate, Karen may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you.)
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