No parent sits down at the IEP table hoping for a fight. And no family ever says, "I cannot wait to go to due process." But when advocacy alone is not getting your child what they need, you deserve to understand what comes next.
In this episode of Special Education Boss® with Karen Mayer Cunningham, Karen sits down with special education attorney Maria McGinley for an honest, practical look at special education dispute resolution: mediation, state complaints, and due process. Maria brings a rare perspective to the table. She is a former special education teacher, a practicing attorney, and a parent who has navigated the IEP process for her own child.
Together they unpack what every parent and advocate should understand before a dispute escalates, including:
- Why advocacy always comes first, and due process is the last resort
- What due process actually is, an administrative trial, not Law and Order, and the emotional and financial toll it carries
- Why your paper trail is your evidence, and your memory is not
- How to respond to your IEP and the district's deliberations in writing
- What the Endrew F. decision means for "meaningful progress"
- Burden of proof, and why it matters which state you are in
- Independent Educational Evaluations, recording IEP meetings, and knowing when it is time to bring in an attorney
This is educational training, not legal advice. The goal, as always, is to help you sit at the table prepared.
Have a question for our team? Email advocate@specialeducationacademy.com.
Explore the Academy at specialeducationacademy.com.
Guest: Maria McGinley, Esq. — mlgsped.com
When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everyone.
Support the show (https://www.buzzsprout.com/2464872/support)
✨ 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 (https://academy.specialeducationacademy.com/theepiciep-courses/the-academy/) First month free, after that, cancel anytime.
📱 Follow Karen on:
• TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@specialeducationboss) & Instagram: @specialeducationboss
• YouTube: Special Education Academy (https://www.youtube.com/c/SpecialEducationAcademy/videos)
🧠 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.)
Because when...
In this episode of Special Education Boss® with Karen Mayer Cunningham, Karen sits down with special education attorney Maria McGinley for an honest, practical look at special education dispute resolution: mediation, state complaints, and due process. Maria brings a rare perspective to the table. She is a former special education teacher, a practicing attorney, and a parent who has navigated the IEP process for her own child.
Together they unpack what every parent and advocate should understand before a dispute escalates, including:
- Why advocacy always comes first, and due process is the last resort
- What due process actually is, an administrative trial, not Law and Order, and the emotional and financial toll it carries
- Why your paper trail is your evidence, and your memory is not
- How to respond to your IEP and the district's deliberations in writing
- What the Endrew F. decision means for "meaningful progress"
- Burden of proof, and why it matters which state you are in
- Independent Educational Evaluations, recording IEP meetings, and knowing when it is time to bring in an attorney
This is educational training, not legal advice. The goal, as always, is to help you sit at the table prepared.
Have a question for our team? Email advocate@specialeducationacademy.com.
Explore the Academy at specialeducationacademy.com.
Guest: Maria McGinley, Esq. — mlgsped.com
When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everyone.
Support the show (https://www.buzzsprout.com/2464872/support)
✨ 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 (https://academy.specialeducationacademy.com/theepiciep-courses/the-academy/) First month free, after that, cancel anytime.
📱 Follow Karen on:
• TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@specialeducationboss) & Instagram: @specialeducationboss
• YouTube: Special Education Academy (https://www.youtube.com/c/SpecialEducationAcademy/videos)
🧠 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.)
Because when...