Most people sitting at an IEP table understand autism, dyslexia, and speech services.

But when a student with a visual impairment enters the conversation, many teams suddenly realize something important…

They don’t actually know how vision services work.

In this episode of Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham sits down with Abel Perez, CEO, from Ready Sight Go, a Certified Teacher of the Visually Impaired (CTVI) and Orientation & Mobility Specialist (O&M).

Together, they unpack one of the most misunderstood disability areas in special education, vision impairment.

Abel shares his personal story of growing up with a learning disability, dropping out of high school, and eventually discovering how access, accommodations, and proper support can completely change a student’s future.

This conversation dives deep into:

✨ How visual impairments affect learning and independence
✨ Why accommodations are about access , not advantage
✨ The role of Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVIs)
✨ What the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) means for blind and visually impaired students
✨ Why behavior issues are often actually access issues

If you sit at an IEP or 504 table, parent, educator, administrator, or advocate, this episode will help you better understand what real access looks like for students with visual impairments.

Connect with Abel, Ready Sight Go, https://readysightgo.com

Want to Learn More About IEP Advocacy?

Join The Epic IEP™ Academy for weekly trainings and step-by-step guidance on navigating special education. https://academy.specialeducationacademy.com/theepiciep-courses/the-academy/

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 Epic IEP™ Academy First month free, after that, cancel anytime.

📱 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.)

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Ask the Advocate | Real IEP Questions from Parents and Educators

Parents, teachers, and advocates ask hundreds of questions every week about special education. In this Ask the Advocate episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham answers real questions submitted during a live TikTok session about IEP meetings, services, evaluations, and advocacy.

Topics include what to do when a student is not receiving services listed in the IEP, how Extended School Year (ESY)eligibility works, when compensatory services may be appropriate, and how parents can advocate effectively when schools are not implementing supports.

Karen also shares practical strategies for asking better questions in IEP meetings, understanding Prior Written Notice (PWN), and navigating conversations with school teams.

Karen Mayer Cunningham, also known as the Special Education Boss®, trains parents, educators, and advocates to understand the special education system and advocate successfully for students with disabilities.

You don’t know what you don’t know—but you need to.

Key Questions Answered in This Episode

• What should parents do if an IEP is not being implemented?
• When does a child qualify for Extended School Year (ESY)?
• Can schools reduce services without data?
• How do you become a special education advocate?
• What role do paraprofessionals play in special education?

• Join The Epic IEP™ Academy
• Attend the 2-Day Special Education Advocacy Intensive
• Get the book The Epic IEP™

We train everyone at the IEP/504 table to navigate and negotiate successful student outcomes.

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 Epic IEP™ Academy First month free, after that, cancel anytime.

📱 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 really happens when an advocate walks into an IEP meeting?

In this powerful episode of Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham sits down with Paige Fitzgerald and Kate McAl—former special educators turned full-time advocates and founders of Inclusive Educational Practices.

Together, they pull back the curtain on what happens behind the scenes when an advocate is present at the IEP table—and why outcomes shift when someone trained in special education advocacy enters the room.

They share:

✨ Why schools often react differently when an advocate attends
✨ What teachers are (and aren’t) trained to understand about IDEA
✨ How funding pressures impact IEP decisions
✨ Why parents often know something is wrong—but need help articulating it
✨ The difference between combative advocacy and collaborative leadership
✨ How to build bridges before the meeting even begins
✨ Why relationships—not intimidation—create long-term change

Paige and Kate also share their journey from the classroom to advocacy, the fears educators experience when an advocate is present, and why ethical, trained advocates are critical for protecting student rights and improving outcomes.

This conversation is honest, practical, and encouraging for:

• Parents navigating difficult IEP meetings
• Educators who want to do special education better
• Aspiring advocates considering this path
• Anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed at the IEP table

As Karen reminds us:

“We train everyone at the IEP/504 table to navigate and negotiate successful student outcomes.”

📲 Download the Special Education Academy app
📘 Get your copy of The Epic IEP™

🎓 Join The Academy

Listen, share, and subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes.

“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 Epic IEP™ Academy First month free, after that, cancel anytime.

📱 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.)

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