Special Education Boss® with Karen Mayer Cunningham

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 m...

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 Navi...

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...

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 teac...

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...

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 cov...

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 l...

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 f...

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 “ar...

So you filed an OCR complaint… now what? In Part 2 of our 3-part training series, Karen Mayer Cunningham walks you through exactly what happens after you hit "submit" on an OCR (Office for Civil Rights) complaint—because filing is just the beginning. This training picks up where we left off in Part 1 (go back and listen if you haven’t yet!). We’re moving into what the federal process loo...

Have a question about IEPs, special education rights, or how to advocate for your child? In this rapid-fire episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, answers YOUR burning questions from parents, teachers, and advocates across the country. ✨ From transition services at age 16 (or earlier!) to paraprofessional-only classrooms, related services, and the legal difference between a...

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 supp...

Do you know your rights when it comes to filing a federal complaint for disability discrimination? In this powerful Part 1 of our 3-part training, Karen Mayer Cunningham—The Special Education Boss®—walks you through how to effectively file an OCR (Office for Civil Rights) complaint with the U.S. Department of Education. If you’ve ever thought: 👉 “Should I file a federal complaint?” 👉 “What does...

Is your child struggling in school, and you're wondering if special education testing is the next step? In this powerful episode of Special Education Boss® , Karen Mayer Cunningham breaks down the entire process of requesting and navigating special education testing—from suspected needs to formal evaluations. If you've ever been told "your child doesn’t qualify" or "we don...

Parents: If you think you’ve made a request for special education testing, but it wasn’t written, clean, concise, and clear … you didn’t. In this short but powerful episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, walks you through exactly what a formal request is — and what it isn’t. No more: 🚫 "Hey Bob, can you check on that for me?" 🚫 "I’m on the PTA, they’ll take...

Are you using AI... or is it using you? In this powerful episode of Special Education Boss® , Karen Mayer Cunningham sits down with keynote speaker, organizational psychologist, and AI strategist Matt Fornito to unpack what’s really happening in the world of artificial intelligence—and why it matters for educators, advocates, and business owners alike. They cover: How AI is changing education and...

July is heating up—and so is the conversation! In this live Q&A episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, answers your biggest questions on IEPs, 504s, eligibility, state complaints, ABA therapy, inclusion, and more. Plus, she announces exciting news: 📕 Karen’s long-awaited special education book is finally done—and pre-orders with bonuses are coming soon! 🔥 For the first...

If you're facing a disagreement with your child’s school over special education services, this episode is for you. Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, breaks down the four state-level dispute resolution options every parent, guardian, and advocate must know: ✅ IEP Facilitation ✅ Mediation ✅ State Complaint ✅ Due Process Hearing This episode covers: What each option is and...

f you’ve ever said, “I’ll sue the school district,” you may be thinking about a due process hearing —but do you actually know what that means? In this episode of Special Education Boss® , Karen Mayer Cunningham breaks down the fourth and most formal dispute resolution option under IDEA: the Special Education Due Process Hearing . Whether you’re a parent, advocate, or educator, you’ll walk away wit...

We’re back with a no-holds-barred Ask the Advocate episode—and this one is fire. Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, is answering your most-asked questions with the clarity, humor, and wisdom you’ve come to expect. Spoiler: It’s July. That means we’re in the second half of the year—and there’s still time to get in the game and fight for your child’s rights. In this episode: How lo...

What happens when a fiercely intelligent parent is told her child just isn’t “a good fit” for school? In this raw and powerful episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, sits down with Kentucky-based mom, medical professional, and now advocate, Angie Pannuti . What began as a personal struggle with sleep-deprived nights, guilt-filled days, and a nonverbal toddler has turned into...

The system isn’t just broken—it’s breaking teachers. This week on Special Education Boss® , Karen Mayer Cunningham sits down with Linda Glazewski , a bold new voice in the advocacy world. After 30+ years in the classroom, Linda walked away from the job she once loved to start advocating full-time for families and students with disabilities. Why? Because the very system she served was standing in t...

We’re wrapping up June with Ask the Advocate—and it’s packed! Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, answers your most-asked questions about IEPs, 504s, compensatory services, and more. From data myths and goal-setting to speech therapy, para support, and placement issues—this episode is full of clarity, education, and laughter (of course). SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Now through June 30,...

What would you do if your child’s school ignored the law—and told teachers not to speak to you? In this episode of Special Education Boss® , Karen Mayer Cunningham shares a powerful whistleblower letter from a former general education teacher inside Fort Bend ISD. This teacher came forward to expose what was really happening behind closed doors: 🚫 IEPs not implemented 🚫 Accommodations skipped 🚫...

What happens when a seasoned special education teacher realizes the system isn't built to support the very students it's supposed to serve? In this powerful conversation, Karen Mayer Cunningham sits down with former educator Alan Driggers, who recently left the classroom after 14 years to become a full-time special education advocate. Alan shares what it's really like behind the sce...