If you ever land in a due process hearing, your documents become your voice. In today’s SEB Live Q&A, Karen Mayer Cunningham breaks down how hearings actually work—resolution sessions, mediation, exhibits (joint, petitioner, and respondent), witnesses, timelines—and why clean, consistent documentation is the difference between overwhelm and outcomes.
What we cover
- Due Process ≠ TV drama: what really happens in an administrative hearing
- 15-day resolution session window and how timelines run outside the school calendar
- Joint vs. Petitioner vs. Respondent exhibits (what goes where and why it matters)
- How to “hearings-proof” your IEP paperwork (deliberations, emails, logs, attachments)
- When and how digital exhibits (audio/video) are authenticated
- Procedural vs. substantive violations (and why both can matter)
- Witness strategy: who actually testifies (hint: the service providers, not the “district yahoos”)
- 504 red flags that scream Child Find → Full IDEA evaluation
- Reality check: most cases settle—so build the record long before you ever file
Resources & CTAs
- Join The Academy (weekly series + 250+ hrs of training): https://www.skool.com/special-education-academy/about
- Pre-order The Epic IEP on Amazon (claim $500 in bonuses at TheEpicIEP.com after purchase)
- Contact: advocate@specialeducationacademy.com
✨ 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 Academy
📬 Have a question? Email us at advocate@specialeducationacademy.com
📱 Follow Karen on:
- TikTok & Instagram: @specialeducationboss
- YouTube: Special Education Academy
🧠 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.)
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