Presenters:
Gail Nugent, Mediator / Trainer, Institute for Administrative Justice, San Diego, CA
Elaine Talley, Mediator / Trainer, Institute for Administrative Justice, Davis, CA
The presenters will review the current theory on communication to provide strategies for working effectively in difficult situations. Participants will learn about: managing strong emotions yours and theirs; making it safe to talk about anything; how the self-image of participants affects the conversation; and identifying assumptions that keep people stuck. This interactive workshop will use clips from popular media to illustrate problems that may arise in special education disputes and will focus on providing suggestions on how to effectively work with school staff, parents, and advocates. The workshop will conclude with a facilitated discussion on how to approach difficult situations.