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.
During 2011-2013, staff members from seven Lead Agencies joined CADRE staff, along with representatives from ECTA, WRRC, and ITCA, to convene an Early Intervention dispute resolution workgroup. The group met quarterly by teleconference and web meeting, and focused on identifying and developing dispute resolution training resources, model policies, and forms specific to Part C of IDEA. This page is a repository of shared resources from the group's work together. Use or reproduction of any of the materials on this page is allowed and permission to copy is not required. Please give recognition...
Video of The Essential Role of Cultural Brokering About the Webinar: Many members of diverse communities have in the past and continue to experience disenfranchisement, marginalization, and in some instances discrimination in the nation’s education, health, and human services systems. Such experiences contribute to distrust and cause barriers to services that are needed within these communities. Programs and professionals in the field of Special Education and Early Intervention Dispute Resolution often struggle with effective ways to engage the racially, ethnically, culturally, and...
About the Webinar: Storytelling allows us to build community by identifying commonalities and exploring diverse perspectives, with one another. Helping families, educators, and service providers navigate IDEA-related conflicts can be challenging. Exploring stories can assist with identifying what is important to resolve and discerning what is critical to move a resolution process forward. In this webinar, panelists Kiran Singh Sirah, the past president of the International Storytelling Center, Diana MTK Autin, JD, Senior Director for Organizational Capacity-Building for the SPAN Parent...
Video of The Transformative Power of Engaging Parents as Partners About the Webinar: Learn how Poway Unified School District completely transformed their relationships with families, re-established trust, and even more importantly, improved students’ learning experiences. Their intentional efforts to engage parents as partners also helped save the district millions of dollars in attorney fees and settlement costs. Their hope is that by continuing to partner with parents, staff can spend less time and energy embroiled in conflict and more time and energy exploring ways to continuously improve...
Art Stewart has trained mediators in 22 states, Kenya and Canada. He has testified before Congress on the use of mediation for special education issues. He wrote: “When Parents and Educators Do Not Agree: Using Mediation to Resolve Conflicts About Special Education 1995,” “Preparing for Mediation and Resolution Sessions 2009,” and contributed a chapter on “Building Trust and Resolving Conflict in Special Education” to The Handbook for Administration and Leadership in Special Education 2012. He coordinated the special education mediation program in Massachusetts for fifteen years and is...
Cindy Swain coordinates special education complaint investigations for the Texas Education Agency. She currently manages the state's IEP facilitation initiative in Texas and serves on the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities and the State Task Force for Children with Special Needs. As a member of CADRE's Intensive Facilitated IEP Project, Cindy is especially interested in improving school outcomes for students with disabilities through facilitated IEP team meetings. She served as a classroom teacher, administrator, and college professor for 25 years before coming to the Texas...
Colorado Department of Education and PEAK This Voices from the Field interview series features select OSEP federally-funded parent centers and state education agencies who have well-established and high-functioning collaborative relationships. In October of 2021, CADRE staff interviewed leaders from the Colorado Department of Education (Mary Ann Fleury, Ph.D.) and PEAK (Michele Williers and Ann Wilson) to learn more about what makes their partnership so effective. This hour-long interview provides viewers with tips and takeaways that may help others improve their own relationships and...
Jim Gerl is a special education law consultant, is licensed to practice law in West Virginia, Illinois and the District of Columbia, and is the author of the award winning Special Education Law Blog. He has spoken on special education law topics at numerous state, regional and national conferences, and is a regular faculty member for the conferences of the National Association of Hearing Officials. Jim has trained hearing officers from all states, and works with a number of state departments of education. Clip 1: You've had extensive experience with due process hearings as a hearings officer...
Arizona Department of Education and Raising Special Kids This Voices from the Field interview series features select OSEP federally-funded parent centers and state education agencies who have well-established and high-functioning collaborative relationships. In April of 2021, CADRE staff interviewed leaders from the Arizona Department of Education (Lori Bird) and Raising Special Kids (Chris Tiffany, Kathy Gray-Mangerson) to learn more about what makes their partnership so effective. This hour-long interview provides viewers with tips and takeaways that may help others improve their own...