If someone at your school said it was fine without showing you the law - it probably was not fine.
Karen Mayor Cunningham answers your live questions on this Ask the Advocate session of Special Education Boss. She brought the federal statutes, the DSM-5, and zero patience for made-up rules.
In this episode:
- The brand-new Epic IEP Para book: all 50 states, all federal laws from 1965 to 2015, everything you need to know about what paras can and cannot legally do.
- AAC rights: what to do when your child's communication device is removed without your knowledge.
- Autism eligibility: no, a child does not need to flap their hands to qualify. Karen walks through the actual DSM-5 criteria.
- 504 vs. IEP: why accommodations alone may not be enough, and how a 504 can be amended without ever notifying the parent.
- Self-contained classrooms: why Karen believes cameras should be required in every single one.
- Plus: paras left alone with students, one-to-one support, eloping, chronic pain, ADHD and IEP eligibility, modified testing, and more.
Resources:
theepiciep.com/para (NEW Epic IEP Para book)
theepiciep.com (book bundle)
specialeducationacademy.com
advocate@specialeducationacademy.com
Karen Mayor Cunningham is the Special Education Boss - advocate, trainer, and bestselling author of the Epic IEP book series. Her mission: get it right for the child, get it right for everybody.
Subscribe for live Ask the Advocate sessions every Monday at 8 PM inside the Special Education Academy™.
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...
Karen Mayor Cunningham answers your live questions on this Ask the Advocate session of Special Education Boss. She brought the federal statutes, the DSM-5, and zero patience for made-up rules.
In this episode:
- The brand-new Epic IEP Para book: all 50 states, all federal laws from 1965 to 2015, everything you need to know about what paras can and cannot legally do.
- AAC rights: what to do when your child's communication device is removed without your knowledge.
- Autism eligibility: no, a child does not need to flap their hands to qualify. Karen walks through the actual DSM-5 criteria.
- 504 vs. IEP: why accommodations alone may not be enough, and how a 504 can be amended without ever notifying the parent.
- Self-contained classrooms: why Karen believes cameras should be required in every single one.
- Plus: paras left alone with students, one-to-one support, eloping, chronic pain, ADHD and IEP eligibility, modified testing, and more.
Resources:
theepiciep.com/para (NEW Epic IEP Para book)
theepiciep.com (book bundle)
specialeducationacademy.com
advocate@specialeducationacademy.com
Karen Mayor Cunningham is the Special Education Boss - advocate, trainer, and bestselling author of the Epic IEP book series. Her mission: get it right for the child, get it right for everybody.
Subscribe for live Ask the Advocate sessions every Monday at 8 PM inside the Special Education Academy™.
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...