Is Your Child Getting FAPE? IEP & 504 Red Flags Parents Can’t Ignore | Ask the Advocate

Welcome back to Ask the Advocate, where Karen Mayer Cunningham — the Special Education Boss® — trains parents, professionals, and paraprofessionals to navigate and negotiate successful student outcomes at the 504/IEP table. This episode is packed with real questions from real families and educators across the country. Karen breaks down what’s really happening in schools, how to protect your student’s rights, and what to do when leadership, data, or paperwork goes sideways. Whether you’re an advocate, teacher, parent, or para, tonight’s conversation pulls back the curtain on compliance, common violations, and how to stay prepared at every meeting. Inside This Episode You’ll hear Karen tackle: What to do when schools refuse accommodations, services, or testing How to handle inaccurate paperwork, missing data, or changed IEP notes Why documentation protects you — and how to capture it correctly FAPE violations, prior written notice, and what belongs in deliberations Para responsibilities, 504 obligations, and access to student plans Modified school days, placement changes, and campus transfers Behavior, MDRs, and what committees can and cannot decide Staff shortages, virtual services, and requesting outside providers Seclusion, safety concerns, and when a setting is no longer appropriate Why “unofficial supports” don’t exist — and what to do about it How to file an OCR complaint at ed.gov When to ask for compensatory services Clarifying MTSS/RTI and why it cannot block special education testing Karen also celebrates her birthday, shares stories from the field, and reminds every listener: document everything, know your rights, and don’t let anyone manipulate outcomes for a child with a disability. 📚 Resources Mentioned 👉 Join The Academy – Weekly advocacy training + 250+ hours of on-demand content https://www.skool.com/special-education-academy/about 👉 The Epic IEP™ Book https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscom 👉 Need an advocate or records review? Email: [email protected] 👉 Learn more at https://specialeducationacademy.com #SpecialEducationBoss #KarenMayerCunningham #IEPHelp #504Plan #SpecialEducation #IEPAdvocate #ParentAdvocate #SPEDLaw #IDEA2004 #CompensatoryServices #Paraprofessional #StateComplaint #FAPE #BehaviorSupport #InclusionMatters #SpecialEducationRights #IEPMeetingTips #DisabilityAdvocacy #KnowYourRights #AskTheAdvocate