Restorative Practices and Special Needs when Repairing Harm Part 1

A restorative process, be that a chat or conversation with restorative questions, or a circle or conference to repair harm, is voluntary-participants are invited and they have choice to attend or not. Too often, students with special needs are not offered the support of a restorative process. The co-presenters, Nancy Riestenberg, author of Circle in the Square: Building Community and Repairing Harm in School, and current Restorative Practices Specialist at the Minnesota Department of Education, and Patricia McGinnis, author of Change Pain to Gain: The Secrets of Turning Conflict into Opportunity, and former Coordinator of Minnesota's Special Education ADR Services, propose a more inclusive model that provides the accommodations necessary so all students can be invited into the process. This interactive session, held in circle with small group discussions, will explore the harms, needs and obligations that arise as a result of an incident. The focus is on problem-solving and repairing harm. Not punishment; no JABS: judging, accusing, blaming or shaming.The objectives of this session are to 1) introduce/review the basics of restorative practices and principles; 2) understand restorative questions for repairing harm; 3) explore accommodations necessary so students with special needs can participate.