About Karen

About Karen

Karen Mayer Cunningham is a nationally recognized special education advocate and speaker with over 25 years of experience supporting families, educators, and school systems in ensuring equitable access to services for students with disabilities. Known across the country as The Special Education Boss®, Ms. Cunningham has dedicated her career to protecting the educational rights of children by providing direct advocacy, raining, and public policy support in compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and other federal education laws.

Ms. Cunningham currently serves as the Founder of Special Education Academy, an online training platform designed to equip parents, educators, and advocates with the tools necessary to navigate the complexities of special education systems. She is also a certified mediator and a John Maxwell Certified Speaker and Behavioral Analysis Trainer, providing a unique blend of conflict resolution, leadership, and legal strategy to support her work at every level.

Public Service and Leadership:

Karen served two terms on the Houston Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities, where she chaired the K-12 Education Committee, advocating for systemic improvements in special education services across Greater Houston. She is also a longstanding board member of the Texas A&M Center on Disability and Development Community Advisory Council (CAC), contributing to statewide initiatives focused on disability rights and inclusive education.

Professional Expertise:

  • Special Education Law and Advocacy (IDEA, Section 504, OCR Complaints, Due Process)
  • Mediation and Conflict Resolution
  • Parent, Educator, and Professional Development
  • Policy Advising and Systems-Level Change

Public Speaking and Conference Facilitation

Selected Presentations:

  • Texas Education Agency Conferences
  • Learning Disabilities Association of America (National)
  • Tourette’s Association of America
  • Attention Deficit Disorder Association (Southern Region)
  • Parent Resource Network

National Reach and Impact: As a leading voice on social media, Ms. Cunningham engages with a global audience of parents, professionals, and educators, with:

  • 818,000+ followers on TikTok
  • Over 10.7 million video views
  • 1 million+ in weekly digital reach

Through her platforms, Karen provides accessible, real-time education on special education law, parent rights, and advocacy strategies, making complex regulations understandable for all stakeholders.

Karen’s mission is to ensure that every child with a disability receives the specially designed instruction, services, and support to which they are legally entitled while empowering families and professionals to create lasting, positive outcomes within their communities.

For speaking engagements, training opportunities, or a 1:1 consultation with Karen, please submit a contact form HERE.