An ADR Program Development Company
Special Education
Workshops
(CRT Designed Programs)
IEP Meeting Facilitation
Special Education Mediation
Special Education Advocacy
for Schools, Educators, Administrators, Attorneys, Parents/Caregivers, and Professionals supporting Children with Special Needs
Supporting Every Student's Path to Success: Tools for Educators, Advocates, Parents and Caregivers
Our unique approach fosters collaborative solutions that support each student’s needs, creating a more inclusive and supportive educational environment. Through our proprietary courses, we equip educators, families, and advocates with essential skills in communication, facilitation, mediation, and advocacy within special education.
Mission-driven in Special Education Advocacy, Facilitation and Mediation
We are a committed community of professionals dedicated to fostering effective communication, collaborative facilitation, and conflict resolution in special education. With nearly two decades of expertise, Conflict Resolution Training has delivered specialized programs to thousands of professionals throughout the United States that empower educators, families, organizations and advocates to successfully navigate this important area of education. Our mission is to equip all stakeholders with the skills, techniques, and strategies needed to collaboratively identify and solve challenges in special education, ensuring that every voice is heard and valued, while upholding IDEA and legal requirements to advance educational equity for students with special needs.
CRT Graduate Dr. Geshay - Child Psychologist
IEP Facilitation Skills Workshop
Special Education IEP Facilitation Skills Workshop:
Strategies and Tools for Resolving IEP Disputes
Expertise in facilitation dramatically increases the likelihood of achieving success in IEP meetings. This workshop teaches a clear, structured process for facilitating IEP meetings, which equips educators to lead IEP discussions effectively, ultimately reaching agreement on a plan that best serves the student with special needs. Participants will learn the specific steps undertaken in a professional facilitation process, to ensure that all IEP Team member voices are heard in an environment that is collaborative rather than acrimonious, while keeping student needs at the forefront A primary objective of this workshop is to teach participants how to resolve disputes during IEP Team Meetings, at the school level, avoiding the need for time consuming and costly due process hearings, mediation and litigation.
IEP Facilitation requires much more than an open conversation. It involves the execution of an intentional, specific process that is designed to guide IEP meetings toward positive outcomes. Facilitation is a process that fosters collaboration and minimizes conflicts among parents, caregivers, and school staff. A trained facilitator ensures that each IEP Team member has the opportunity to share their insights and concerns, working together to build solutions that address the educational and developmental needs of the student. This approach emphasizes positive interpersonal communication, develops mutual understanding, and collaborative problem-solving. The facilitative approach is presented in an easy-to-follow formula that creates the type of supportive environment that is needed to constructively address and resolve differences.
The skills gained in this workshop extend beyond IEP meetings, providing valuable tools for everyday communication, conflict resolution, and essential life skills. Participants will leave equipped to address disputes before they escalate, fostering a culture of collaboration rather than conflict within their schools and school communities.
Transforming IEP Meetings: Facilitation Skills for Success
The ability to facilitate discussions in the context of IEP Meetings builds collaborative teams and positive communication among parents, caregivers, and school staff. Improve your ability to guide IEP meetings with effective facilitation skills before your next meeting. Download our IEP Facilitation Skills brochure to see detailed information, objectives, and skills acquired through this Professional Development Workshop.
Learn professional Facilitation techniques for:
-
Creating a positive IEP Meeting environment that rewards team collaboration
-
Achieve better decisions during IEP Meetings
-
Resolve conflicts at the school level to avoid costly due process litigation and mediation.
-
Develop valuable life skills that enhance communication and problem-solving.
Learn how to lead and/or participate in facilitated IEP Meetings to make a immediate positive impact on relationships within your school community!
Hear from some of CRT's workshop participants!
Special Education Facilitation Workshop Curriculum
Part 1: Foundation & Process
Participants are provided with foundational knowledge, including a background of IDEA and some cases that have led to current federal and state law regarding Special Education, when and how disputes commonly arise in special education, and the typical challenges faced by parents, educators, and school districts in navigating special education processes.
The facilitative concepts of managing process and content are presented, with a demonstration of how these critical concepts form the basis for the facilitative process that results in successful IEP Meetings. Participants learn the specific skills needed to help IEP Team members communicate effectively, identify and solve problems, resolve conflict collaboratively, and make the best possible decisions for special needs students.
Part 2: Essential Skills & Application
Participants learn how to effectively plan for, and execute facilitated IEP meetings. Key consensus-building skills are covered, including guidelines for participation and the skills facilitators should be using to for effectively interacting with individual meeting participants and the group as a whole.
Practical strategies and tools for resolving disputes that arise during IEP discussions are taught, including how facilitators can effectively address negative talk and behaviors, manage disruptions and maintain a positive, collaborative team atmosphere. To reinforce these skills, participants will engage in role plays designed to apply their knowledge in practical scenarios.
By the end of the workshop, participants will significantly enhance their effectiveness in IEP meetings. The skills and techniques acquired will be beneficial not only in IEP meetings but also in their other workplace and personal interactions. This structured process guides educators in leading discussions that reach agreements tailored to support students with special needs. Implementing these strategies not only improves students' educational experiences but also helps prevent costly litigation and tension among stakeholders.
Participants receive a Special Education IEP Facilitation Skills Certificate and earn 16 professional development credits, and are equipped to make an immediate positive impact in educational settings.
Special Education Mediation Workshop & Training
Our Introduction to Special Education Mediation provides a clear and practical guide to navigating disputes within the special education system. Written by conflict resolution expert Susan Deveney, Esq., this book offers a clear overview of the development of Special Education law as well as a detailed present day view of how special education services are being provided to students in the United States. Deveney emphasizes the importance of neutrality, effective communication, techniques for facilitating productive conversations, and how to write professional Special Education Mediation Agreements.
Whether you are a novice or experienced mediator, an educator, parent or school administrator, you will find value in this book. It includes a detailed methodology and process for mediating special education disputes, tips on how to hold successful mediation sessions, and a linear process for developing a mediation practice model.
Learn important skills that you can use immediately
to resolve disputes that arise in special education.
Special Education Mediation Workshop:
A Unique Nationwide Program
Parents, caregivers, and Schools do not always agree on how a student with special needs might best be served with services and educational opportunities. When these disputes arise, federal law requires that Mediation be made available to find a resolution. But there are not enough mediators across the United States to handle these special education cases.
Special Education mediation is a voluntary and confidential process. Unlike administrative hearings, where a judge makes decisions for the disputing parties, mediation allows the parties to collaborate and find their own solution. The mediator does not decide how to resolve the dispute, but has the training necessary to assist the parties in developing their own resolution.
The collaborative problem-solving process provided by mediation promotes positive communication, and the conflict resolution skills needed to develop viable solutions that are acceptable to parents and schools. It is an effective method for building positive working relationships between parents and schools.
Special Education Mediation Workshop Curriculum
Special Education Mediation Workshop - Description
Part 1: Foundation & Process
Participants begin with an in-depth look at the landmark cases that led to the current rules and regulations mandated by federal and state law with respect to Special Education. A review of current IEP processes, including evaluations, determination of eligibility of services, IEP meetings and the roles of school representatives, parents, and children in the process is covered. Where and how disputes commonly arise in special education is discussed, and the manner in which mediation can be introduced to resolve these disputes is presented.
Part 2: Essential Skills & Application
Participants begin to focus more sharply on the process of mediation, and learn how to create a model for discussion of disputes under which mediation will find the highest likelihood of successful resolution. Essential skills for special education mediators are covered. Participants create a mediation tool that they can use immediately upon completing the Workshop to assist them in resolving special education disputes. Finally, workshop attendees receive specific guidance on writing a Special Education Mediation Agreement.
The Special Education Mediation Workshop is a Certificate Program, offered in three different learning formats, so you can select the format that is best for you or your school. Regardless of the option you select, your Workshop will provide the same, comprehensive program, during which participants learn about mediation skills and techniques that provide the greatest likelihood of success in resolving conflicts between parents of special needs children and school districts.
The focus of the program is two-fold. First, workshop participants learn about the system of Special Education, including how it came about, how it works today, and the regulations and requirements involved in providing special education services to children with disabilities. Next participants learn how to mediate disputes that arise in the context of special education. This includes exercises and activities that are designed to have participants leave the workshop with immediately executable skills and tools for resolving these types of conflicts.
This program is appropriate for psychology, school and legal professionals as well as parents and guardians of special children, their service providers, and individuals interested in mediating disputes related to special needs.
Flexible Learning Formats: On-Site, Virtual, and Self-Paced Options
On-Site Workshops
Our Special Education Workshops are all offered onsite, offering an immersive, two-day learning experience in a training room with live instructors.
This option provides participants with direct access to experienced instructors and the opportunity to engage in interactive workshops and role-playing scenarios.
This format fosters a collaborative environment, allowing for real-time feedback, networking with peers, and hands-on practice in a supportive setting. This option is ideal for those who prefer a structured classroom environment and direct interaction with experts and fellow attendees.
Online Live Workshops
Our Online Live Special Education Workshops offer a flexible and accessible training format, allowing participants to join from anywhere nationwide in real time.
With live, interactive sessions, participants engage directly with instructors and peers, gaining practical tools, strategies, materials, and assessments equivalent to our on-site workshops. This option is ideal for those balancing training with other professional and personal commitments while receiving comprehensive instruction and support.
Self-Paced Workshops
Our self-paced Special Education Programs offer the same comprehensive learning experience as our live and online live programs offer, but with even more flexibility. Participants are able to work through the program on their own schedule and at their own pace.
Through a series of video and reading lessons, the same valuable skills and tools are made available to those who choose this flexible format. Lessons can be viewed, reviewed and revisited at anytime during the Program.
Participants with feedback and access to experienced instructors and to peers engaged in the same self-paced learning format on our platform. Enroll Today!
To learn more and schedule a quick 30-minute info session, click here.
Our expertise is in mediation and conflict resolution training in many settings. Don't hesitate to ask about our other Workshops in Divorce/Family Mediation, Elder Care Dispute Facilitation and Workplace Culture...hear about these programs from our many graduates!
IEP Facilitation Skills & Special Education Mediation
Accreditation & Costs
Continuing Education Credits
The IEP Facilitation Skills Workshop and the Special Education Mediation Workshop provides 16 Professional Development Credits for Educators.
The Workshop is also approved for 16 Continuing Education Credits for psychologists and other mental health professionals.
Workshop Tuition
The tax-deductible tuition for each workshop for individuals is $795. Schools should contact us directly for Workshop fees as these will depend upon number of attendees per Workshop. The Program includes all of the necessary materials for the Workshop, plus:
-
A Professional Certificate upon Workshop Completion
-
Resources and tools for handling cases
-
Forms, templates, and a business model to help workshop graduates effectively resolve special education disputes
Our Core Values represent what is important to us. These values define us individually and collectively. They provide us with the foundation upon which we build relationships and trust among our team, our students, our clients, and our community.
