Laura Otey from Otey and Associates will present training for school personnel in the skills needed to work collaboratively towards consensus in the emotionally charged environment of ARD meetings. Participants will learn techniques in:

• Defining the process of facilitation and demonstrate the role of a facilitator.
• Demonstrating facilitator actions prior to the IEP meeting. 
• Effective group communication skills.
• Identifying and demonstrating specific strategies and interventions to improve the IEP process.
• Identifying and demonstrating the process of reaching consensus.
• Articulating underlying interests in parent/school staff conflicts.
• Demonstrating strategies and techniques, including the use of visuals, to move through defensiveness, resistance, and impasse.