Main Library
This library contains CADRE resources as well as State, Lead Agency and Parent Center resources. Please note that CADRE makes no endorsement of the State, Lead Agency and Parent Center resources included here, nor of any policies, procedures, processes, or documents specific to any item.
This guided discussion will focus on the field markings of a solid mediation program. We will distinguish the working relationships which characterize a trusted and useful program. The presenter is a mediator who has been enmeshed in special education issues for the last thirty six years and has worked as a trainer of mediators often during this period in twenty-one states, Canada and Kenya. He has a keen interest in the development of mediators, which will be a major focus of this discussion. We will pay attention to the coaching and evaluation of mediators.
This interactive presentation will expose the participants to a unique component of the FIEP/FIFSP process that allows the facilitator to gather and exchange issues from both the family and the school district prior to the FIEP/FIFSP meeting in an effort to begin to gain some agreements and orient the FIEP/FIFSP team toward resolution.
This workshop will focus on a PowerPoint that was designed by the Wisconsin Special Education System with input from both parent and district perspectives; including parents, parent groups, advocacy organizations, teachers, and district representatives, as well as the WSEMS mediator/facilitator roster. The workshop will discuss how to make IEP meetings more productive and friendly and is divided into four key areas: People, Process: Preparation and Meeting, Outcome, and Follow-through. Comments by parents and schools will be included in the slides and the presentation will focus on practical...
This will be an interactive workshop on early conflict management practices and innovative training models pioneered at Student Advocacy, Inc., a small agency in suburban New York City that has been in existence for almost 30 years. It serves approximately 1,000 children and teens almost all of whom need special education advocacy. The objective is to showcase a program that combines legal and educational expertise in an effective advocacy approach that has a long track record of resolving disputes at the IEP team level, discuss how a program can be developed on a district by district level,...
This presentation is a 90-minute, interactive training designed to inform participants of a research-based one day training session developed by the Minnesota Department of Education - Special Education Mediation Service, aimed at lessening the number of conflict events which necessitate state intervention.
To review the session handout(s), click on the icon below: Statewide & Districtwide Assessments.pdf Presenter: Cynthia Bryant , Education Program Specialist, OSEP, This session will review changes in IDEA 2004 related to the IEP process. Attention will also be devoted to understanding the implications for the IEP process of some special education students being eligible under NCLB for modified achievement standards and alternate assessments. Time will be afforded for questions from session attendees. A complete version of the "Alternate Achievement Standards for Students with the Most...
This high-energy presentation is for the intermediate case manager/facilitator who facilitates IEP meetings. In this seminar, you will learn 20+ practical and useful tips and techniques to facilitate an IEP meeting, such as avoid common mistakes, deal with difficult personalities, anticipate pitfalls, how to proactively organize the IEP meeting to achieve consensus, and the ever-popular "what do I do when .... " section. This presentation assumes you understand and utilize: (1) conflict resolution skills (Le. neutral reframing, I Statements, interest based negotiation skills) and (2)...
IEP Facilitation has proven effective in improving collaboration and communication within the Special Education process. During the pandemic, facilitation has become even more vital towards the prevention of disputes. This session will provide information and hands on tools for stakeholders in the IEP process to think outside of the box in order to increase meaningful participation and improve collaborative outcomes. Lessons learned during this unprecedented year will be shared for participants to add to their tool kits for the 2021-2022 school year. Video of 3.3 IEP Facilitation Thinking...
To review the session handout(s), click on the icon below: Brenda Rogers Session 2.2 - Presentation.ppt Presenters: Brenda Rogers , Executive Director, Access Center for Education, Irvine, CA Linda Simpson , Access Center for Education, Irvine, CA This IEP/IFSP participation training helps fill the gap between professionals and parents in IEP/IFSP meetings. This 3-hour skill-building workshop targets parent advocates, dispute resolution coordinators, school personnel such as teachers, administrators, and school psychologists and others interested in effective IEP/IFSP facilitation...
This seminar explores the inherent differences between an internal district member and an external non-district facilitator facilitating an IEP meeting. The advantages and disadvantages of each model will be discussed with an emphasis on determining which model is best for particular situations. Additionally, this seminar will also address which facilitation tools are best applied to either the internal facilitative leader model or the external facilitator model. IEP Facilitation checklists will also be provided for the internal facilitative leader and the external facilitator models.
How do districts ensure that their IEP teams have the conflict management skills they need to prevent and resolve disputes? Once those skills are developed…how do districts ensure that the teams implement these techniques with fidelity and in turn change their district culture? IEP meeting facilitation has been recognized as best practices by the USDOE. School districts that currently utilize the facilitated IEP meeting process report increased collaboration across culturally diverse populations, more efficient meetings, and the ability to develop more individualized educational plans for...
During this 90 minute interactive presentation the participants will: recognize the purpose of the counter proposal technique during a F-IEP/IFSP meeting, explore the process of the counter proposal technique during a F-IEP/IFSP meeting, examine the significance of the skill of questioning as part of the counter proposal technique during a F-IEP/IFSP meeting, investigate strategies to explore and generate proposal options then use that information to introduce a counter proposal during a F-IEP/IFSP meeting, practice assisting participants to develop counter proposals during a F-IEP/IFSP...
Presenters: John Reiman , Mediation Specialist, CADRE, Eugene, OR Bonnie Todis , Teaching Research, Western Oregon University, Eugene, OR This session will report on two research-oriented activities conducted through CADRE. We will update an ongoing qualitative study on the perspectives of participants (parents, teachers, administrators, and mediators) in mediation in special education. Preliminary literature review results and Year 1 activities from CADRE's RAISE (Research on ADR in Special Education) initiative will also be presented. Current and potential contributions of qualitative/...
This session will report on two research-oriented activities conducted through CADRE. We will update an ongoing qualitative study on the perspectives of participants (parents, teachers, administrators, and mediators) in mediation in special education. Preliminary literature review results and Year 1 activities from CADRE's RAISE (Research on ADR in Special Education) initiative will also be presented. Current and potential contributions of qualitative/quantitative inquiry to ADR in special education will be discussed. A dialogue focused on the future research agenda for special education ADR...
Organizations seek FIEP training for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it is a short-term fix and other times it is to address large-scale concerns. In either case, we all know that attending training, even world-class training, does not always lead to implementation and results. Session participants will engage in discussions directed to sculpt their implementation of the FIEP process to address: • Current and emerging IEP meeting challenges • Team member focus on the student • Cultural and linguistic diversity • Use of preventative and contentious dispute resolution strategies. •...
To review the session handout(s), click on the icon below: Raui Gregory Session 4.4 - Handout.doc Raui Gregory Session 4.4 - Handout 2.doc Presenters: Ruai Gregory , TA Specialist in Idaho for Region 10, Region 10 and Head Start/Early Head Start, Halfway, OR Sabrina Mauer Halpren , Parent, Eugene, OR Carol Snead , Disabilities Coordinator, Head Start of Lane County, Springfield, OR Liz Twombly , University of Oregon, Dawn Williams , Disabilities Specialist, The IFSP/IEP process can be daunting for parents, children, and child care providers. This panel will discuss strategies for improving...
In this presentation participants will be introduced to the Independent Child Advocate Program, a successful ADR strategy developed by the Sonoma County (Calif) Special Education Local Plan Area.
The panel presentation will focus on providing attendees with an overview of this highly successful conflict resolution strategy: The Independent Child Advocate Program. This ninety minute interactive presentation will include detailed and specific information on all aspects of the program's design including: referral, intake, case management, data gathering, intervention strategies and techniques, resolution results and case tracking data forms. Attendees will be provided with information and copies of forms that will allow them to replicate this model of conflict resolution that embraces...
To review the session handout(s), click on the icon below: Diane Willcutts Session 4.3 - Presentation.ppt Presenters: Candace Cortiella , The Advocacy Institute, Marshall, VA Jamie Ruppmann , TASH, Baltimore, MD Diane Willcutts , DLK Consulting, Hartford, CT This presentation will explore the various roles that independent special education advocates might play in facilitated IEPs. While traditionally considered to be a resource primarily for the parents, effective special education advocates frequently act as a resource to both parent and school staff, seeking to mitigate the anxiety,...
It seems for years we have been presenting, training and extolling the concepts and processes for early and appropriate dispute resolution within the special education arena, yet more and more as I interact with education-related staff, parents and advocates, I'm hearing that these processes are used as an "insert when needed" instead of being the bigger picture. Read any school district's mission, vision, guiding principles or values statement, and you will see a variety of words like building relationships, collaboration, problem-solving, open communication, etc., all concepts that set the...
The Contra Costa Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) has operated an Alternative Dispute Resolution System since 1992. What challenges have we encountered? Which strategies did we find most effective and what’s working today? Over time the system has included solution panels, resource parents, formal and informal facilitated IEP’s, SELPA staff interventions, IEP coaching, expert panels, file reviews, IEP staffing’s, resolution sessions and local mediation. The implementation of these strategies has also included professional development activities for our 14 school districts and county...
Interest-based mediation sits two stakeholders with or without their problem-solving attorneys at a table along with a mediator to solve a problem.
The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded disparities in learning and achievement particularly for students of color and students with disabilities. As we return to in person learning and school communities it is essential that we center the lived experiences of marginalized students and their families in our work. Effective secondary transition planning seeks to dismantle existing systemic barriers by recognizing, honoring and empowering the whole child as they embark on their journeys toward successful, self-determined postsecondary lives. Designing a student-centered secondary transition...
At the heart of our work as dispute resolution practitioners is a Difficult or Crucial conversation. We provide a range of interventions designed to improve peoples effectiveness during these critical encounters in hopes of improving outcomes for children. This session will explore essential dynamics of Crucial and Difficult Conversations and identify strategies for improving our effectiveness as interveners. During this session we will: explore the dynamics of difficult conversations; introduce frameworks for understanding and designing appropriate interventions in stuck...
At the heart of our work as dispute resolution practitioners is a Difficult or Crucial conversation. We provide a range of interventions designed to improve peoples effectiveness during these critical encounters in hopes of improving outcomes for children. This session will explore essential dynamics of Crucial and Difficult Conversations and identify strategies for improving our effectiveness as interveners. During this sessions we will: explore the dynamics of difficult conversations; introduce frameworks for understanding and designing appropriate interventions in stuck...