Rachel Irizarry studied for every test and prepared for every quiz, and her grades still would not move. Around fifth grade, her mom trusted her gut, asked the school to evaluate her, and everything changed. Today Rachel is a titleholder in the Miss Volunteer America system, is on track for a doctorate in physical therapy, and uses her SERVE initiative, Learning Disabilities Endless Possibilities, to tell students one thing: a learning disability is part of your story, not your whole story.
In this episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham and Rachel walk through what actually helped in the classroom, where the system dropped the ball, and what every parent can do about it.
In this episode:
- Why a parent's gut check ("something isn't right") is often the start of getting help
- The supports that moved Rachel's scores: in-class support, extended time, and fewer answer choices
- Staying in general education while getting what she needed
- How the handoff into high school failed when her records did not transfer, and how a freshman had to advocate for herself
- What Rachel saw when she finally read her full high school IEP, ten years later
- Karen's do-it-now move for parents: print the full IEP, add a one-page summary, and hand it to every adult who teaches your child
- Why the IEP is a best informed guess, and why meetings happen as needed
- "Packages have labels, children have eligibility"
Do you know your rights? You don't know what you don't know, but you need to. This is why we sit at the table prepared.
Follow Rachel's SERVE initiative, Learning Disabilities Endless Possibilities, on Instagram at @ld_endlesspossibilities, and her titleholder journey at @missgardenstatevol. She competes in the Miss Volunteer America system this November in Ocean City, New Jersey.
Want to sit at the table prepared? Special Education Academy is where parents, advocates, and professionals learn to navigate and negotiate successful student outcomes. Learn with us at specialeducationacademy.com.
Listen and subscribe:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/special-education-boss-with-karen-mayer-cunningham/id1805933912
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/03I43tikXlYvR6xIe3F24w
Buzzsprout: https://specialeducationboss.buzzsprout.com
iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/271518986/
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d75378a3-0f8b-4fd1-989b-67a5723b5377/special-education-boss%C2%AE-with-karen-mayer-cunningham
This is educational training, not legal advice.
"When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody." — Karen Mayer Cunningham
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, Karen Mayer Cunningham and Rachel walk through what actually helped in the classroom, where the system dropped the ball, and what every parent can do about it.
In this episode:
- Why a parent's gut check ("something isn't right") is often the start of getting help
- The supports that moved Rachel's scores: in-class support, extended time, and fewer answer choices
- Staying in general education while getting what she needed
- How the handoff into high school failed when her records did not transfer, and how a freshman had to advocate for herself
- What Rachel saw when she finally read her full high school IEP, ten years later
- Karen's do-it-now move for parents: print the full IEP, add a one-page summary, and hand it to every adult who teaches your child
- Why the IEP is a best informed guess, and why meetings happen as needed
- "Packages have labels, children have eligibility"
Do you know your rights? You don't know what you don't know, but you need to. This is why we sit at the table prepared.
Follow Rachel's SERVE initiative, Learning Disabilities Endless Possibilities, on Instagram at @ld_endlesspossibilities, and her titleholder journey at @missgardenstatevol. She competes in the Miss Volunteer America system this November in Ocean City, New Jersey.
Want to sit at the table prepared? Special Education Academy is where parents, advocates, and professionals learn to navigate and negotiate successful student outcomes. Learn with us at specialeducationacademy.com.
Listen and subscribe:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/special-education-boss-with-karen-mayer-cunningham/id1805933912
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/03I43tikXlYvR6xIe3F24w
Buzzsprout: https://specialeducationboss.buzzsprout.com
iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/271518986/
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d75378a3-0f8b-4fd1-989b-67a5723b5377/special-education-boss%C2%AE-with-karen-mayer-cunningham
This is educational training, not legal advice.
"When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody." — Karen Mayer Cunningham
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...