Happy Monday, Advocates! In this Ask the Advocate episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham—The Special Education Boss®—tackles another round of rapid-fire questions from parents, teachers, and advocates across the country. From recess rights to PCS plans, and from tardy notes to 1:1 aides, Karen brings clarity, humor, and real strategies you can use in the IEP/504 process today.
✨ In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why we don’t advocate by diagnosis (CP, autism, ADHD, etc.), but by the characteristics of the disability.
- Can schools take away recess as punishment?
- Supporting students in alternative placements for mental health.
- Do schools need a doctor’s note for every tardy/absence if there’s already a medical order?
- What is a PCS (Personal Care Supplement) and how it fits in the IEP.
- How long should it take for a district to respond to an evaluation request (hint: not three months!).
- Who writes speech/language vs. communication goals—teachers or SLPs?
- The OSEP January 2011 letter: why MTSS/RTI cannot delay testing.
- Why a 1:1 aide = a service under an IEP, not a 504.
- Who can serve as a 1:1—does it have to be a special education teacher?
- What to do if related services are being delivered virtually.
- Why EC buses must be door-to-door, not just to the stop sign.
- Can paras test students? What levels matter?
- Who actually writes the IEP—and do you need to be a certified SPED teacher?
- What to do when staff shortages mean IEP services aren’t being provided.
- Vocational rehab services: what’s good, what’s missing.
- The importance of data-driven placement decisions.
- And a reminder—advocacy means being a chainsaw, not just a squeaky wheel.
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✨ 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.
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📬 Have a question? Email us at advocate@specialeducationacademy.com
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🧠 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.
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