Special Education Boss® with Karen Mayer Cunningham
The Special Education Boss® Podcast is where advocacy meets action. Join Karen Mayer Cunningham each week as she empowers parents and professionals to understand their rights, navigate the system, and show up strong at the IEP table.
- Update frequency
- every 2 days
- Average duration
- 43 minutes
- Episodes
- 69
- Years Active
- 2025
Ask the Advocate: Summer Services, Speech Support, and the 50% Off Sale!
We’re wrapping up June with Ask the Advocate—and it’s packed!
Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, answers your most-asked questions about IEPs, 504s, compensatory services, and more. …
Fort Bend ISD Whistleblower Reveals IEP Failures, FERPA Violations & Retaliation
What would you do if your child’s school ignored the law—and told teachers not to speak to you?
In this episode of Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham shares a powerful whistleblower lette…
From Classroom to Advocacy: Why Alan Driggers Left Teaching to Fight for Families
What happens when a seasoned special education teacher realizes the system isn't built to support the very students it's supposed to serve?
In this powerful conversation, Karen Mayer Cunningham sits d…
Ask the Advocate: Summer School, Services Denied, and Screaming Goats
Over 20 questions. One boss. No fluff.
In this high-energy episode of Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham tackles your biggest concerns in a LIVE Q&A format—covering everything from compen…
From Classroom to Advocacy: Cindy’s Journey from Teacher to Special Education Advocate
In this powerful episode of Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham welcomes Cindy—a former teacher of 27 years, literacy specialist, MTSS leader, and now a full-time special education advoca…
LRE & FAPE: Placement, Predetermination, and the Continuum of Services with Dr. Mitchell Yell
What’s the difference between FAPE and LRE—and why does it matter so much in IEP placement decisions?
In this episode of Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham sits down with national expert …
Don’t Overcomplicate It: Testing Requests, Service Denials, and Straight Talk on Advocacy
Tired of being told “we don’t do that” or “your concern isn’t valid”?
This episode of Special Education Boss® is your reminder: you don’t need permission to advocate for your child.
Karen Mayer Cunning…
FAPE for All: Real Talk on IEPs, Comp Ed, and What’s Actually Right
What’s right, what’s wrong, and what you absolutely need to know about your rights in special education.
In this episode of Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham is back—answering live quest…
Understanding the Continuum of Special Education Services: Myth-Busting LRE, Resource, and More
Most parents—and far too many educators—don’t fully understand what the “Continuum of Special Education Services” actually means. And that’s a problem.
In this episode of Special Education Boss®, Kare…
How to Get Your Child Fully Tested for Special Education Services
Do you know your rights when it comes to getting your child tested for special education?
In this training episode of Special Education Boss® with Karen Mayer Cunningham, we walk step-by-step through …
Ask the Advocate: Live Special Education Q&A — Your Most Pressing IEP, 504, and Transition Questions Answered
n this rapid-fire, real-talk episode of Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham returns for another Ask the Advocate session, answering over 50 real-time questions from parents, educators, an…
Denied. Retaliated. Silenced. — A Certified Teacher of the Visually Impaired Speaks Out
WATCH HERE! https://youtu.be/OGw4WtH3KMM
What happens when a certified teacher of the visually impaired (TVI) demands that blind students receive the services they're legally entitled to? In this powe…
Amazing Things for Individuals with Disabilities
Movement Is Medicine: How Fitness Builds Longevity, Choice, and Confidence for Individuals with Disabilities
Part 2 with Mike Lutey, Special Strong Franchise Owner
In Part 2 of this powerful conversati…
From Gym Class to Game Changer: How Adaptive Fitness Empowers Young Adults with Disabilities with Mike Lutey, Franchise Owner – Special Strong Houston
Part 1 of 2
This week on Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham sits down with Mike Lutey, franchise owner of Special Strong Southeast & Northwest Houston, to talk about the power of adaptiv…
Ask the Advocate: Mayhem, Misconceptions, and Must-Know Answers
Welcome back to another power-packed episode of Special Education Boss® with Karen Mayer Cunningham — and welcome to the Month of Mayhem! From bathtub to beach to balcony, wherever you're tuning in, …
From Lion King Backpacks to Federal Reform: Karen’s Founding Story on Founders Future
In this special episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, CEO and founder of Special Education Academy, sits down with the Founders Future podcast to share the powerful story behind her life's work—advocating…
Ask the Advocate: IEP Drama, Pre-K Confusion, and the Truth About 504 Plans
This week on Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham is back behind the mic—and not holding back. From surprise IEP changes to last-minute general ed placements, Karen shares exactly what to …
From Surviving to Living: A Special Conversation with Jennifer Swan
In this heartfelt and unforgettable episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham is joined by Jennifer Swan—a constitutional lawyer, caregiver, and speaker who shares her extraordinary journey raising her daughte…
Your IEP Questions, Answered!
In this episode of Special Education Boss®, Karen dives into a rapid-fire Q&A answering the real questions families and teachers are facing right now—from placement and eligibility to SDI, IEPs, 504 …
Mastering Specially Designed Instruction and Progress Monitoring with Dr. Mitchell Yell
In this powerful episode of Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham is joined by Dr. Mitchell Yell—renowned special education expert, author, and hearing officer—to unpack the heart of what m…