This week’s Ask the Advocate is packed with real questions from parents, teachers, and advocates across the country—and straight answers you won’t hear anywhere else.

From Denton ISD removing a child’s Dexcom, to confusion around aides, accommodations, and placement, Karen dives into the hard truths with humor, clarity, and strategy. You’ll hear powerful discussions on:

✅ Why “sitting in a class” isn’t the same as meaningful benefit in LRE
✅ What to do when paras are delivering special education instruction (state complaint time)
✅ The truth about dismantling the U.S. Department of Education—and why FAPE and IDEA rights aren’t going anywhere
✅ How to document accommodations (and why “extra time” means nothing)
✅ When aides help—and when they actually hurt long-term progress
✅ What to say when schools refuse services like speech therapy or try to downgrade IEPs to 504s
✅ The reality of long-term substitutes “acting” as SPED teachers (spoiler: illegal)
✅ Tips for parents heading into their first 504 or ARD/IEP meeting
✅ Plus: hilarious lipstick talk, flip-flops, and “church pews in Florida”

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or outnumbered at the IEP table, this episode will leave you empowered with tools, language, and confidence.

👉 Join The Academy for weekly training, 250+ hours of archived content, and a community that knows how to win at the table.

👉 Watch on YouTube

📌 Reminder: We don’t give legal advice—we train and educate so YOU can navigate and negotiate successful student outcomes.

“When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody.” — 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 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?
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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he U.S. Supreme Court has spoken—A.J.T. vs. Osseo Area Schools is now a landmark decision shaping the future of special education rights.

In this powerful episode of Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham sits down with Dr. Mitchell Yell, one of the nation’s leading voices on special education law, to break down what this case really means for parents, advocates, and schools.

You’ll learn:

• 📚 The history and background of the A.J.T. case
• ⚖️ Why the Court ruled unanimously (9–0) and what that means moving forward
• 💡 The difference between IEPs, 504 Plans, and ADA claims in this context
• 🚨 How this case pairs with Perez v. Sturgis to fast-track parent claims for monetary damages
• 🛑 Why “bad faith” or “gross misjudgment” is no longer required to prove discrimination
• 🔍 What parents and advocates need to look for in IEPs and accommodations to ensure schools are teaching skills—not just masking disabilities

Dr. Yell also highlights William A. v. Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools, another critical case addressing whether accommodations alone equal FAPE, and Karen shares real-life advocacy insight on how this decision strengthens parent rights at the IEP/504 table.

✨ Whether you’re a parent, educator, or professional advocate, this episode will give you clarity, strategy, and the confidence to navigate these changes.

👉 Join The Academy for weekly training and advocacy tools

📺 Watch all episodes on YouTube
🎧 Catch up on past podcast episodes here or on your favorite streaming platform, Special Education Boss® Podcast

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 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?
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 exactly is an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE), and when should you request one? In this episode of Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham breaks down the facts about IEEs under IDEA and why they matter for parents, advocates, and educators.

We’ll cover:

• The legal foundation of IEEs (IDEA §300.502)
• What an IEE is — and what it is NOT
• When to request an IEE (and when not to)
• How schools grant, deny, or push to due process
• Common pitfalls with outside evaluations
• What parents should know before spending money on private testing

Karen also answers real parent questions, including:

• “How often is an IEE actually helpful?”
• “If a school accepts some of an IEE, do they have to accept all of it?”
• “What happens during a 30-day transfer ARD?”

📌 Keep learning with us: Join The Academy

Watch on YouTube

“When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody.” — 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 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?
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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