Shared Solutions – A Guide to Preventing and Resolving Conflicts (in Special Ed)

The Ontario Ministry of Education encourages the use of approaches and strategies that lead to higher achievement for all students in Ontario’s publicly funded education system. This Shared Solutions resource guide is intended to help parents, educators, and students with special education needs work together to prevent conflicts, resolve them quickly, and allow students to develop their full potential and succeed in school. The approaches outlined build on techniques and strategies for conflict prevention and resolution that are already in place in many school boards.

Bullying and teasing of youth with disabilities: Creating positive school environments for effective

Issue brief from the National Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET) (December 2003, V. 2, issue 3) which discusses the problem of bullying of youth with disabilities. “Although bullying and teasing are often considered a harmless activity, research shows that they may result in serious short- and long-term negative consequences. Youth with disabilities are particularly vulnerable and represent a high-risk group for becoming both potential victims and perpetrators of bullying and teasing. Addressing this issue in isolation is not the answer. Comprehensive, school-wide reform programs are a proactive strategy for meeting the needs of youth with disabilities, the student body at large, school staff, families, and community members.”

Creating harmony in the classroom: Building safe and inclusive classrooms for special populations

231-page pdf manual designed “to assist teachers with building an inclusive and safe classroom for all students, including special needs, deaf, and visually impaired youth. Teachers who build an inclusive and safe classroom environment are encouraging all youth to excel academically and socially.” Includes chapters on building self-awareness in students, enhancing student’s problem-solving skills, mediation in school settings, evaluting conflict resolution education programs and a chapter on resources.

Delaware special education mediation state model: Inter-American summit on CRE Cleveland, OH

Presentation of collaboration between the University of Delaware’s conflict resolution program and the Delaware Department of Education’s Exceptional Children’s Team to form SPARC (Special education parternship for the amicable resolution of conflict), a program that uses mediation, IEP (Individualized education programs) facilitation and training to resolve conficts within the special education community.