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 foundation for the culture of the school/district and it's functioning. What do these words have in common with IEP/IFSP team meetings? They are the same- connected to the idea/IEP/IFSP team meeting process. This interactive session will explore the foundational concepts of conflict and collaborative problem-solving techniques utilized in team meetings and demonstrate how they mirror a school's desired culture.
The Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education
Supporting the prevention and resolution of disputes through partnership and collaboration
