What Schools Miss About ADA, Access & the Law

Welcome to Tales from The Epic IEP™ — real stories that are funny, frustrating, and fantastic from the IEP table. In this debut episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, Special Education Boss®, shares one of the most jaw-dropping meetings she’s ever attended — a story that reminds every parent, teacher, and advocate why facts, not feelings, win meetings. When a three-year-old student with a physical disability was denied access to the playground and told to “prove he was stable,” Karen realized again how far we’ve drifted from the spirit of IDEA and ADA — and why critical thinking matters more than ever. In this episode: • When “access” becomes optional — and how ADA really applies • How to handle district attorneys who act like the “sheriff of special education” • Why believing misinformation doesn’t make it true (even if it’s told with authority) • The difference between the spirit and letter of the law • What happens when leadership passes down wrong information Karen reminds us: If it’s true, it will be found in the law. And when we make decisions based on accurate information, kiddos win at the highest level. 📘 Get the Book — The Epic IEP Your playbook for walking into the IEP/504 table prepared, confident, and clear—plus QR codes to living resources like templates, open records guidance, and training tools. 📦 Official Amazon link: The Epic IEP on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4i9guCH] 🎁 Upload your receipt for exclusive bonuses, book club access, and chapter previews: TheEpicIEP.com (https://theepiciep.com/) Join The Academy —  300+ hours of advocacy training + weekly Q&A sessions: Special Education Academy on Skoo (https://www.skool.com/special-education-academy/about) l 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 Academy (https://www.skool.com/special-education-academy/about) 📬 Have a question? Email us at [email protected] 📱 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.) ...