Category: SERC Scoop Newsletter

March 2023

What is SERC?
SERC Professional Development Training Module: What Does the Law Have to Do with it? Understanding the Letter and Intent of Partnering with Families Through Federal Laws
Crucial Learning’s Crucial Skills Blog “Dealing with Criticism” by Kerry Patterson
Wisdom Wednesday Webinars Preview
SERC PD Series with Dr. Tracy Gershwin
Virtual/In-Person Mediation and IEP Facilitation in Oklahoma
Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue Update
Which Dispute Resolution Process is best for me?
Upcoming Events

What is SERC?

The Special Education Resolution Center of OSU (SERC) has been collaborating with the Oklahoma State Department of Education for over 16 years to help families and school districts resolve conflicts at the earliest stage possible. SERC provides services for children from birth to 3 in SoonerStart and for students 3 through 21 in public schools.

What does SERC provide to schools, SoonerStart, and families at no cost?

Training on communication and collaboration skills to help prevent conflict.
An IEP Facilitator to manage conflict during contentious IEP meetings.
A Mediator to guide a structured process in which parents and personnel can resolve specific issues related to special education.
A Due Process Hearing Officer at an administrative hearing to resolve, what could not be resolved at an earlier stage. During the resolution time of the process, SERC can provide a facilitator to help the parties discuss the hearing issues in a safe and structured setting and try to resolve them if possible.

SERC Professional Development Training Module: What Does the Law Have to do with it?

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) can be overwhelming and challenging to understand and interpret when it comes to family involvement. This module provides a deeper look at understanding the research behind the importance of family-professional partnerships, and how these partnerships are best translated into practice. Both the letter and intent of federal educational laws will be described in a clear and understandable way for families and professionals to develop a set of shared expectations for this intended partnership.

Watch the Module on YouTube.

View the presentation here.

Crucial Learning’s Crucial Skills Blog “Dealing with Criticism.”

Crucial Conversations author, Kerry Patterson, answers an important question on how to deal with criticism in this Crucial Skills blog. Be sure to read his pertinent and practical advise.

View the blog here.

Wisdom Wednesday Webinars Preview

SERC’s monthly Wisdom Wednesday Webinars have resumed. These free and informative webinars take place live on Zoom the third Wednesday of each month from Noon to 1:30 pm. Here are the upcoming webinars for this quarter.

April 19, 2023 – Introducing the IEP Team Relationship Rest. SERC Program Coordinator, Dr. Rob Keiter, will be our presenter for this session.

Implementation of the IDEA requires collaboration between, families, educators, other professionals, and community resources. In the ideal environment, IEP team members listen to each member’s point of view and work together to develop a high-quality IEP. We’ve all been in IEP meetings where it didn’t take long to realize that the biggest Issue in the meeting wasn’t the “issues” that were being discussed, but rather the interpersonal dynamics and interactions between the team members. When using technology, sometimes we need to do a “reset” to get things to work again. Is it possible to reset a team when it’s stuck? The goal of this presentation will be to start a conversation around how we might go about resetting team relationships when and where collaboration is being sabotaged by the interactions between team members. The conversation begins by considering a strategic intervention that would include practical techniques leading to improved relationships and results on the IEP team. The training is designed for parents, school personnel, and individuals that work with organizations serving children with disabilities. Some of the things we’ll be talking about include: What is an IEP Team Relationship Reset? How do we know it’s needed? What does it look like? and Where to begin?

Click here to register for the April webinar:

May 17, 2023 Webinar – ABLE-Tech AT Presentation
Dr. Gretchen Cole Lade – ABLE-Tech State Leadership Training Specialist, will be our presenter for this session.
More information to follow

SERC PD Series with Dr. Tracy Gershwin

SERC presents a professional development series with Tracy Gershwin, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Professor at the University of Northern Colorado.

This six-part series addresses important issues related to fostering family-professional partnerships, including conflict prevention and dispute resolution. Each module includes a presentation pdf, additional resources pdf, and video to be used to help facilitate groups who may use the series in professional development settings.

Click here to view these materials on our Stakeholder training page:

Virtual/In-Person Mediation and IEP facilitation in Oklahoma

While IEP facilitations and mediations continue to be offered through online-video format with Zoom, in-person meetings are also available. Virtual meetings will be the default unless an in-person meeting is requested. To participate in a virtual meeting, you will need a computer/iPad/smartphone with WIFI and a place to meet without interruptions. Participants can also access by phone. An iPad with hot spot can be provided for use at no cost for those without access to a computer and/or WIFI. Contact SERC for more information about scheduling a virtual or in-person meeting.

Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue Update

Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue is a nationally recognized training that helps people have difficult conversations that they are afraid to have or that aren’t going well. And the focus of the training is not just about communication – it’s about helping people get the results they want and need.

Crucial Conversations can help you in your conversations with:

School administrators
Special Education Directors and staff
School Staff and personnel including general ed teachers
Service resource providers
IEP team members
Parents and their advocates
Organizations and family support personnel that work with children with disabilities

We offer in-person classes as well as a virtual format using Zoom that is very effective. The in-person format consists of two days, and the virtual format consists of five 2.5-hour long sessions that can be scheduled over three days or one session at a time.

Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue is available at no cost to those attending through our partnership with the Oklahoma State Department of Education. If you are interested in scheduling a future training for your district during the summer or fall, please contact Rob Keiter at rob.keiter@okstate.edu or (405) 569-3105.

Which Dispute Resolution Process is best for me?

You may be wondering which dispute resolution process would be the best for you when dealing with special education-related disputes. This dispute chart will help you understand the differences between the three processes offered in Oklahoma. Each of these processes is offered at no cost to schools or parents. Please contact us with any questions related to our dispute resolution processes. We can help you decide which process will work the best for your situation.

View the English version of the dispute resolution chart here:

View the Spanish version of the dispute resolution chart here:

Upcoming Events

ABLE Tech Monthly AT Workshops

ABLE Tech has successfully completed several series of virtual workshops for special education and related service providers. The feedback was outstanding and focused on planning positive systemic improvements and changes.

Monthly workshops are currently scheduled through April, 2023. For more information about the ABLE Tech monthly workshops, visit the ABLE Tech calendar here.

Jo Anne Pool Blades, Program Manager
Special Education Resolution Center (SERC)
Oklahoma State University Sponsored Program. 9726 E. 42nd Street, Suite 203 | Tulsa, OK 74146
Phone: 918.270.1849, 888.267.0028

Email: jo.blades@okstate.edu

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SERC Scoop Newsletter

December 2022

What is SERC?
Can you Fully Describe an Autism Kiddo When you Say the Child is High or Low on the Spectrum?
CADRE 2022 Symposium Recap
Wisdom Wednesday Webinars Preview
SERC PD Series with Dr. Tracy Gershwin
Virtual/In-Person Mediation and IEP Facilitation in Oklahoma
Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue Update
Which Dispute Resolution Process is best for me?
Upcoming Events

What is SERC?

What does SERC provide to schools, SoonerStart, and families at no cost?

Training on communication and collaboration skills to help prevent conflict.
An IEP Facilitator to manage conflict during contentious IEP meetings.
A Mediator to guide a structured process in which parents and personnel can resolve specific issues related to special education.
A Due Process Hearing Officer at an administrative hearing to resolve, what could not be resolved at an earlier stage. During the resolution time of the process, SERC can provide a facilitator to help the parties discuss the hearing issues in a safe and structured setting and try to resolve them if possible.

Can you Fully Describe an Autism Kiddo When you say the Child is High or Low on the Spectrum?

Can you fully describe an autism kiddo when you say the child is high or low on the spectrum?

One day this last year, my friend with autism and I were talking. She said, “I hate it when people think of the autism spectrum as a line, don’t you?” I answered, “What do you mean?” She replied, “Well, I mean, people refer to where others with autism fall on a line from low functioning autism to high functioning autism. I mean, that so outdated and limited; it doesn’t really explain how a person is functioning with autism at all.”

Okay, I have to admit at that time I had no idea what she was talking about! I had always seen autism referred to as low functioning and high functioning. I had forever thought of the reference as a line with low functioning on one end and high functioning at the other end. So I needed to understand more.

“So how would you describe it?”, I replied. “Well, it’s a circle, a wheel” she answered. Hmm, I thought. I want to know more about this. She explained it to me, and I was fascinated. Maybe I am just behind the times not knowing this, but it was so accurate and made so much sense, I have been sharing the concept with others. I want to share it with you!

View Why the Autism Wheel is Replacing the Autism Spectrum here:

2022 CADRE Symposium Recap

CADRE (The Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education) hosted its 9th National Symposium on Dispute Resolution in Special Education. The conference took place in Denver on October 26-28, 2022, and the theme was Planting Seeds: Growing an Inclusive and Informed Community. All the SERC mediators attended the symposium and found the training and interaction that took place to be very helpful. Rob Keiter was a presenter and did a workshop on Introducing the IEP Team Relationship Reset.

View Rob Keiter’s presentation on Introducing the IEP Team Relationship Reset here: (PDF)

Wisdom Wednesday Webinars Preview

January 18, 2023 – What Crucial Conversations Training can do for your district and for families. Dr. Rob Keiter will be our presenter for this session. Do you ever find yourself having difficulty in your interactions with others? Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue is a nationally recognized training that SERC offers to schools and families at no cost through our partnership with the State Department of Education. This training is more than just another communications training. It’s about helping you get the results you want and need in your interactions with others. Today’s webinar will highlight some of the important aspects of the training.

Click here to register for the webinar:

February 15, 2023 – Reading an Evaluation, Dr. Gary Duhon and Dr. Sara Rich, The Oklahoma State University Bridge Center. More info to follow.

SERC PD Series with Dr. Tracy Gershwin

SERC presents a professional development series with Tracy Gershwin, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Professor at the University of Northern Colorado.

Click here to view these materials on our Stakeholder training page:

Virtual/In-Person Mediation and IEP facilitation in Oklahoma

While IEP facilitations and mediations will continue to be offered through online-video format with Zoom, in-person meetings will also be available. Virtual meetings will be the default unless an in-person meeting is requested. To participate in a virtual meeting, you will need a computer/iPad/smartphone with WIFI and a place to meet without interruptions. Participants can also access by phone. An iPad with hot spot can be provided for use at no cost for those without access to a computer and/or WIFI. Contact SERC for more information about scheduling a virtual or in-person meeting.

Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue Update

Crucial Conversations can help you in your conversations with:

School administrators
School Staff and personnel including general ed teachers
Service resource providers
IEP team members
Parents and their advocates
Organizations and family support personnel that work with children with disabilities

We are now able to offer in-person classes as well as a virtual format using Zoom that is very effective. The in-person format consists of two days, and the virtual format consists of five 2.5-hour long sessions that can be scheduled over three days or one session at a time.

Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue is available at no cost to those attending through our partnership with the Oklahoma State Department of Education. If you are interested in scheduling a future training for your district, please contact Rob Keiter at rob.keiter@okstate.edu or (405) 569-3105.

Which Dispute Resolution Process is best for me?

View the English version of the dispute resolution chart here:

View the Spanish version of the dispute resolution chart here:

Upcoming Events

ABLE Tech Monthly AT Workshops

Monthly workshops are currently scheduled through December, 2022. For more information about the ABLE Tech monthly workshops, visit the ABLE Tech calendar here.

Email: jo.blades@okstate.edu

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* indicates requiredEmail Address *First Name *Last Name *Organization/Profession

SERC Scoop Newsletter

September 2022

What is SERC?
New! Behavior and Discipline Guidance (IDEA and 504)
Effective IEP Team Meetings and Communication Guidelines
Two Questions to Ask When Making a Manifestation Determination
Introducing the IEP Team Relationship Reset
Virtual/In-Person Mediation and IEP Facilitation in Oklahoma
Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue Training Virtual and In-Person
Which Dispute Resolution Process is best for me?
Upcoming Events

What is SERC?

What does SERC provide to schools, SoonerStart, and families at no cost?

Training on communication and collaboration skills to help prevent conflict.
An IEP Facilitator to manage conflict during contentious IEP meetings.
A Mediator to guide a structured process in which parents and personnel can resolve specific issues related to special education.
A Due Process Hearing Officer at an administrative hearing to resolve, what could not be resolved at an earlier stage. During the resolution time of the process, SERC can provide a facilitator to help the parties discuss the hearing issues in a safe and structured setting and try to resolve them if possible.

New! Behavior and Discipline Guidance (IDEA and 504)

The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) released guidance documents relating to addressing behavior, discipline, program services, and use of funding. OSEP encourages schools to use Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) for children to enhance a positive learning school environment and then provide more targeted support for the approximately 15% of student likely to require it.

Districts must reconsider their use of exclusionary discipline and aversive practices. Exclusionary discipline is not appropriate for non-violent offenses, like tardiness, absenteeism, or subjective offenses, like defiance or disrespect. Instead, OSEP urged districts to implement culturally and linguistically responsive MTSS, including UDL or PBIS, to create a positive school environment. Districts can use Title II, ESSER, GEER, and IDEA funds to help educators create positive learning environments, obtain professional development and training, and implement coordinated early intervening services.

View the OSEP 7-19-22 Dear Colleague Letter here (PDF):

View the OSEP 7-19-22 policy support article on Positive, Proactive Approaches to Supporting Children with Disabilities here (PDF):

View the OSEP 7-19-22 Question and Answer article on Addressing the Needs of Children with Disabilities and IDEA’s Discipline Provisions here (PDF):

View the United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights Discipline Fact Sheet (504) here (PDF):

Effective IEP Team Meetings and Communication Guidelines

With school now being in session, parents and school staff are thinking about IEP meetings and communication skills. Attached are two helpful articles to consider. One is Effective IEP Team Meetings. This documents contains helpful tips on how to conduct an appropriate IEP meeting – highlighting that the goal of a meeting is to reach consensus on the student’s needs. Consensus is the most complicated form of decision making as it call upon participants to really listen to each other and try to resolve the underlying concerns of each parties position. The hallmark is to keep the discussion about the needs of the student and really brainstorm and push to come to some decisions that address the student’s needs (as viewed by the parent, student and by school personnel).

The second is a Communication Guideline for developing a simple rule format on structuring the conversation around the student’s needs. This guide helps the parties focus on the needs of any student who is the subject of a deep discussion. This guide can be used for any IEP meeting or about any discussion that takes place about the student.

View the OSDE Special Education Guidance Brief on Effective IEP Team Meetings here (PDF):

View SERC’s Communication Guidelines for Effective IEP Team Meetings here (PDF):

Two Questions to Ask When Making a Manifestation Determination.

During the last few months of the school year, calls to SERC increase about issues surrounding discipline. Under the IDEA, which is a federal law, the manifestation determination is made answering only two questions. The following steps should be followed during this process:

1. Review All relevant information in the student’s file and information from the parent, AND

2. Determine if :
     a. The conduct in question was caused by or had a direct and substantial relationship to the Student’s disability;
           OR
     b. The conduct in question was a direct result of the LEA’s failure to implement the IEP.

3. If the answer is Yes to either question, the behavior is a manifestation of the Student’s Disability:
     a. Conduct or review an FBA
     b. Implement (or review and revise ) a BIP; AND
     c. Return the Student to the pre disciplinary placement.

4. If the answer is No to either question, the behavior is not a manifestation of the Student’s Disability:
a. Discipline without regard to disability; AND
b. Provide FAPE in the disciplinary setting.

The disciplinary placement is the stay put if Challenged. 34 CFR 300.5333

View the webinar behavior handout here (PDF):

View the webinar presentation slides here (PDF):

Introducing the IEP Team Relationship Reset

Implementation of the IDEA requires collaboration between, families, educators, other professionals, and community resources. In the ideal environment, IEP team members listen to each member’s point of view and work together to develop a high-quality IEP. We’ve all been in IEP meetings where it didn’t take long to realize that the biggest Issue in the meeting wasn’t the “issues” that were being discussed, but rather the interpersonal dynamics and interactions between the team members. When using technology, sometimes we need to do a “reset” to get things to work again. Is it possible to reset a team when it’s stuck? Maybe it’s time to have a conversation around how we might go about resetting team relationships when and where collaboration is being sabotaged by the interactions between team members. Is this possible? If so, what might it look like? Stay tuned for more on this important conversation.

Virtual/In-Person Mediation and IEP facilitation in Oklahoma

Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue Training Virtual and In-Person

Crucial Conversations can help you in your conversations with:

School administrators
School Staff and personnel including general ed teachers
Service resource providers
IEP team members
Parents and their advocates
Organizations and family support personnel that work with children with disabilities

While we will continue to offer a virtual training format for this course, we are now able to schedule in-person classes. Both formats include five 2.5-hour sessions. The in-person format will take place over two consecutive days. The virtual format can be scheduled over two to five days. We have a lot of flexibility regarding scheduling and only suggest that the sessions not be spread apart too far in order to maintain momentum and maximize learning.

Crucial Conversations is available at no cost to those attending through our partnership with the Oklahoma State Department of Education. If you are interested in scheduling a future training for your district, please contact Rob Keiter at rob.keiter@okstate.edu or by phone at (405) 569-3105.

View the Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue Course overview here (PDF):

Which Dispute Resolution Process is best for me?

View the English version of the dispute resolution chart here:

View the Spanish version of the dispute resolution chart here:

Upcoming Events

ABLE Tech Monthly AT Workshops

Monthly workshops are currently scheduled through November, 2022. For more information about the ABLE Tech monthly workshops, visit the ABLE Tech calendar here.

Jo Anne Pool Blades, Program Manager
Special Education Resolution Center (SERC)
Oklahoma State University Sponsored Program. 9726 E. 42nd Street, Suite 203 | Tulsa, OK 74146
Phone: 918.270.1849

Email: jo.blades@okstate.edu

Newsletters Archive

* indicates requiredEmail Address *First Name *Last Name *Organization/Profession

SERC Scoop Newsletter

June 2022

What is SERC?
SERC Wisdom Wednesdays Monthly Webinar
Effective IEP Team Meetings and Communication Guidelines
Two Questions to Ask When Making a Manifestation Determination
Prevalence and Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 8 Years
Virtual/In-Person Mediation and IEP Facilitation in Oklahoma
Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue Training Update
Which Dispute Resolution Process is best for me?
Upcoming Events

What is SERC?

What does SERC provide to schools, SoonerStart, and families at no cost?

Training on communication and collaboration skills to help prevent conflict.
An IEP Facilitator to manage conflict during contentious IEP meetings.
A Mediator to guide a structured process in which parents and personnel can resolve specific issues related to special education.
A Due Process Hearing Officer at an administrative hearing to resolve, what could not be resolved at an earlier stage. During the resolution time of the process, SERC can provide a facilitator to help the parties discuss the hearing issues in a safe and structured setting and try to resolve them if possible.

SERC Wisdom Wednesdays Monthly Webinar

Working together and through conflict to support students with disabilities can be challenging for parents and schools. Learn helpful information, tips, and techniques from the experts that can help you navigate through difficult situations. These webinars are geared toward parents, advocates, school personnel, State Department personnel, private providers, and organizations/professionals who work with families of children with disabilities.

Join us for this free 1.5-hour webinar series the third Wednesday of each month from 12 pm to 1:30 pm CST. Monthly webinars are recorded and available for viewing. Transcripts are also available by visiting our webinar page below.

View the Wisdom Wednesdays webinar page with information and registration links to upcoming webinars along with recordings and transcripts of completed webinars here:

Effective IEP Team Meetings and Communication Guidelines

During this time when school is not in session, parents and school staff can take a quiet moment to think about IEP meetings and communication skills. Attached are two helpful articles. One is Effective IEP Team Meetings. This documents contains helpful tips on how to conduct an appropriate IEP meeting – highlighting that the goal of a meeting is to reach consensus on the student’s needs. Consensus is the most complicated form of decision making as it call upon participants to really listen to each other and try to resolve the underlying concerns of each parties position. The hallmark is to keep the discussion about the needs of the student and really brainstorm and push to come to some decisions that address the student’s needs (as viewed by the parent, student and by school personnel).

View the OSDE Special Education Guidance Brief on Effective IEP Team Meetings here (PDF):

View SERC’s Communication Guidelines for Effective IEP Team Meetings here (PDF):

Two Questions to Ask When Making a Manifestation Determination.

1. Review All relevant information in the student’s file and information from the parent, AND

View the webinar behavior handout here (PDF):

View the webinar presentation slides here (PDF):

Prevalence and Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 8

In a snapshot of America, 11 states were sampled to determine the prevalence of autism and many interesting related factors in children aged 8. The CDC of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services published a report last December. If you have wondered how Autism Spectrum Disorder presents itself in cognitive ability, race, or diagnostics – it’s an interesting read!

Virtual/In-Person Mediation and IEP facilitation in Oklahoma

While IEP facilitations and mediations will continue to be offered through online-video format with Zoom, in-person meetings will also be available. To participate in a virtual meeting, you will need a computer/iPad/smartphone with WIFI and a place to meet without interruptions. Participants can also access by phone. An iPad with hot spot can be provided for use at no cost for those without access to a computer and/or WIFI. Contact SERC for more information about scheduling a virtual or in-person meeting.

Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue Training Update

Crucial Conversations can help you in your conversations with:

School administrators
School Staff and personnel including general ed teachers
Service resource providers
IEP team members
Parents and their advocates
Organizations and family support personnel that work with children with disabilities

While we will continue to offer a virtual training format for this course, we are now able to schedule in-person classes starting in July, 2022. Both formats include five 2.5-hour sessions. The in-person format will take place over two days. The virtual format can be scheduled over two to five days. We have a lot of flexibility regarding scheduling and only suggest that the sessions not be spread apart too far in order to maintain momentum and maximize learning.

View the Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue Course overview here (PDF):

Which Dispute Resolution Process is best for me?

View the English version of the dispute resolution chart here:

View the Spanish version of the dispute resolution chart here:

Upcoming Events

SERC Wisdom Wednesdays Monthly Webinars

June 15, 2022

Special Education “Ponders” from a Former School Attorney Andrea Kunkel, J.D., M.S.

June Professional Development Training – no charge

June 29, 2022

Improving Student Behavior OSU Behavioral Health

View the flyer here (PDF):

ABLE Tech Monthly AT Workshops

Monthly workshops are currently scheduled through November, 2022. For more information about the ABLE Tech monthly workshops, visit the ABLE Tech calendar here.

Jo Anne Pool Blades, Program Manager
Special Education Resolution Center (SERC)
Oklahoma State University Sponsored Program. 9726 E. 42nd Street, Suite 203 | Tulsa, OK 74146
Phone: 918.270.1849

Email: jo.blades@okstate.edu

Newsletters Archive

* indicates requiredEmail Address *First Name *Last Name *Organization/Profession

SERC Scoop Newsletter

March 2022

What is SERC?
SERC Wisdom Wednesdays Monthly Webinar
Effective IEP Team Meeting and Communication Guidelines
A District Child Find Obligation is not Relieved by a Student’s High Intelligence or Academic Performance
Understanding School Removals
Virtual Mediation and IEP Facilitation in Oklahoma
Crucial Conversations Training Update
Which Dispute Resolution Process is best for me?
Upcoming Events

What is SERC?

What does SERC provide to schools, SoonerStart, and families at no cost?

Training on communication and collaboration skills to help prevent conflict.
An IEP Facilitator to manage conflict during contentious IEP meetings.
A Mediator to guide a structured process in which parents and personnel can resolve specific issues related to special education.
A Due Process Hearing Officer at an administrative hearing to resolve, what could not be resolved at an earlier stage. During the resolution time of the process, SERC can provide a facilitator to help the parties discuss the hearing issues in a safe and structured setting and try to resolve them if possible.

SERC Wisdom Wednesdays Monthly Webinar

View the Wisdom Wednesdays webinar page with information and registration links to upcoming webinars along with recordings and transcripts of completed webinars here:

Effective IEP Team Meeting and Communication Guidelines

IEP team meetings are intended to be a collaborative partnership between school personnel and parents. Effective communication is an essential tool that supports this required teaming and collaboration. Because it is difficult to listen and hear anything positive from any team member who is adversarial to the process, consider tips and resources for supporting a a better way forward. When your best efforts aren’t working, for whatever reason, SERC is positioned to attend meetings, at your request and the approval of the other party, to support the team so that it can do its important collaborative work. Contact SERC (888-267-0028) for information about seeking an IEP team facilitator to handle eruptions and conflict that may be occurring.

View the OSDE Special Education Guidance Brief on Effective IEP Team Meetings here (PDF):

View SERC’s Communication Guidelines for Effective IEP Team Meetings here (PDF):

A District’s child find obligation is not relieved by a student’s high intelligence or academic performance.

The SERC office receives many calls because a district has refused to test and has told a parent that the child is in advanced classes or is too smart to be in special ed. It is important to remember that a district’s child find obligation is not relieved by a student’s high intelligence or academic performance. A recent case again makes that point.

Understanding School Removals

Many children in Oklahoma are being excluded from the school environment because of emotional or behavioral difficulties. Our state Special Education Department issued guidance addressing children on reduced days ( OSDE guidance for SY 21-22; Page 5). Recently an excellent article was published addressing the school removals across the country. Both resources are an excellent read. Enjoy!

View the OSDE guidance addressing children on reduced days here (PDF):

View the article published by the National Public Disability Rights Network here (PDF):

Virtual Mediation and IEP facilitation in Oklahoma

IEP facilitations and mediations are continuing to take place through online-video format with Zoom. This platform works well for facilitating meetings throughout the state of Oklahoma. To participate, you will need a computer/iPad/smartphone with WIFI and a place to meet without interruptions. Participants can also access by phone. An iPad with hot spot can be provided for use at no cost for those without access to a computer and/or WIFI. Contact SERC for more information about scheduling a virtual meeting.

Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue Training Update

Crucial Conversations can help you in your conversations with:

School administrators
School Staff and personnel including general ed teachers
Service resource providers
IEP team members
Parents and their advocates
Organizations and family support personnel that work with children with disabilities

View the Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue Course overview here (PDF):

Which Dispute Resolution Process is best for me?

View the English version of the dispute resolution chart here:

View the Spanish version of the dispute resolution chart here:

Upcoming Events

SERC Wisdom Wednesdays Monthly Webinars

April 20, 2022

Parent School Engagement

Carlos Rossi

May 18, 2022

Questions

Greg Abel, Sound Options Group

June 15, 2022

Special Education “Ponders” from a Former School Attorney Andrea Kunkel, J.D., M.S.

ABLE Tech Monthly AT Workshops

Monthly workshops are currently scheduled through March, 2022. For more information about the ABLE Tech monthly workshops, visit the ABLE Tech calendar here.

Jo Anne Pool Blades, Program Manager
Special Education Resolution Center (SERC)
Oklahoma State University Sponsored Program. 9726 E. 42nd Street, Suite 203 | Tulsa, OK 74146
Phone: 918.270.1849

Email: jo.blades@okstate.edu

SERC Scoop Newsletter

December 2021

What is SERC?
New SERC Wisdom Wednesdays Monthly Webinar
Resources for Supporting Advocacy for Children with Disabilities and their Families
Virtual Mediation and IEP Facilitation in Oklahoma
Crucial Conversations Virtual Training Update
Which Dispute Resolution Process is best for me?
Upcoming Events

What is SERC?

The Special Education Resolution Center of OSU (SERC) has been collaborating with the Oklahoma State Department of Education for over 10 years to help families and school districts resolve conflicts at the earliest stage possible. SERC provides services for children from birth to 3 in SoonerStart and for students 3 through 21 in public schools.

What does SERC provide to schools, SoonerStart, and families at no cost?

Training on communication and collaboration skills to help prevent conflict.
An IEP Facilitator to manage conflict during contentious IEP meetings.
A Mediator to guide a structured process in which parents and personnel can resolve specific issues related to special education.
A Due Process Hearing Officer at an administrative hearing to resolve, what could not be resolved at an earlier stage. During the resolution time of the process, SERC can provide a facilitator to help the parties discuss the hearing issues in a safe and structured setting and try to resolve them if possible.

New SERC Wisdom Wednesdays Monthly Webinar

Join us for this 1.5-hour webinar series every month from 12 pm to 1:30 pm CST.

View the Wisdom Wednesdays flyer with information and registration links to monthly webinars here:

Resources for Supporting Advocacy for Children with Disabilities and their Families

As someone who supports children with or at risk for disabilities, and their families, you have resources, expertise, and stories of the importance and impact of early intervention/early childhood special education. The resources below may be helpful in gaining – or advancing – the skills to elevate your voice and advocacy efforts to new levels.

View the resources for Supporting Advocacy for Children with Disabilities and their Families here:

Virtual Mediation and IEP facilitation in Oklahoma

Crucial Conversations Virtual Training Update

Crucial Conversations is a nationally recognized training that helps people have difficult conversations that they are afraid to have or that aren’t going well. And the focus of the training is not just about communication – it’s about helping people get the results they want and need.

Crucial Conversations can help you in your conversations with:

School administrators
School Staff and personnel including general ed teachers
Service resource providers
IEP team members
Parents and their advocates
Organizations that work with children with disabilities

Right now we are scheduling classes for Spring and Summer 2022. Because of travel restrictions related to COVID-19, we are still not able to offer in-person classes at this time. However, the virtual format with Adobe Connect that we are currently using is very effective. It consists of five 2-hour long sessions that can be scheduled over two days or one session at a time.

Recently we completed a virtual training for district administrators with Seminole Public Schools. Here’s what Special Ed Director Cindy Heupel had to say about the training, “I have long been a student and believer in Crucial Conversations as well as Critical Conversations and the wealth of knowledge and skills that it provides and that can be placed in one’s toolbox to be utilized in fulfilling administrative duties. The team at Seminole has provided me with positive feedback and enhanced our ability to now use a common vocabulary when collaborating on critical issues facing our district. In particular, it is proving extremely useful in providing feedback to teachers in post-observation and evaluation conferences. Dr. Keiter has been good in making the scenarios applicable to real life situations our administrative team encounters. The digital platform has been great. It is extremely interactive and provides an opportunity for group collaboration as well as individual responses. It is extremely engaging. I am quite sure that if it were not offered digitally, we would not have been able to take advantage of the opportunity.”

Crucial Conversations is available at no cost to those attending through our partnership with the Oklahoma State Department of Education. If you are interested in scheduling a future training for your district, please contact our offices at (888) 267-0028 or contact Rob Keiter at rob.keiter@okstate.edu.

View the Crucial Conversations Online Course Agenda here:

Which Dispute Resolution Process is best for me?

View the English version of the dispute resolution chart here:

View the Spanish version of the dispute resolution chart here:

Upcoming Events

SERC Wisdom Wednesdays Monthly Webinars

December 15, 2021

What did 34 Years of Experience Teach Me?

Nancy Goosen, Program Specialist, OSDE- SES

January 19, 2022

Behavior IS a Disability

Dr. Mary Ann Shepherd, Ph.D., HSP, BCBA-D

February 16, 2022

What’s Trust Got to Do with It? Building Equitable and Trusting Partnerships between Families and Professionals

Dr. Tracy Gershwin, Ph.D., BCBA-D

April 20, 2022

Parent School Engagement

Carlos Rossi

May 18, 2022

Questions

Greg Abel, Sound Options Group

June 15, 2022

Special Education “Ponders” from a Former School Attorney Andrea Kunkel, J.D., M.S.

ABLE Tech Monthly AT Workshops

Monthly workshops are currently scheduled through March, 2022. For more information about the ABLE Tech monthly workshops, visit the ABLE Tech calendar here.

Jo Anne Pool Blades, Program Manager
Special Education Resolution Center (SERC)
Oklahoma State University Sponsored Program. 9726 E. 42nd Street, Suite 203 | Tulsa, OK 74146
Phone: 918.270.1849

Email: jo.blades@okstate.edu

SERC Scoop Newsletter

September 2021

What is SERC?
Race and Ethnicity of Children with Disabilities in the United States
Exploring Implicit Bias and Microaggressions in Special Education
Virtual Mediation and IEP Facilitation in Oklahoma
Crucial Conversations Virtual Training Update
Which Dispute Resolution Process is best for me?
Upcoming Events

What is SERC?

The Special Education Resolution Center of OSU (SERC) has been collaborating with the Oklahoma State Department of Education for over 10 years to help families and school district resolve conflicts at the earliest stage possible. SERC provides services for children from birth to 3 in SoonerStart and for students 3 through 21 in public schools.

What does SERC provide to schools, SoonerStart, and families at no cost?

Training on communication and collaboration skills to help prevent conflict.
An IEP Facilitator to manage conflict during contentious IEP meetings.
A Mediator to guide a structured process in which parents and personnel can resolve specific issues related to special education.
A Due Process Hearing Officer at an administrative hearing to resolve, what could not be resolved at an earlier stage. During the resolution time of the process, SERC can provide a facilitator to help the parties discuss the hearing issues in a safe and structured setting and try to resolve them if possible.

Race and Ethnicity of Children with Disabilities in the United States

Have you ever wondered about the demographics of the children served by the states and territories of our country? The U.S. Department of Education has gathered data from 2019-20 to develop a summary presented in a variety of graphs to present the current service to children in IDEA Part B.

Exploring Implicit Bias and Microaggressions in Special Education

Unconscious bias is the result, in part, of the human brain’s need to categorize and store vast amounts of information. While everyone has unconscious biases, it can create problems when they surface in our evaluations and decisions. In Special Education, our implicit biases can alter our decisions regarding who we assess, who we believe, and how we evaluate cases. Further, it is important to understand how microaggressions can affect our parties, clients, and colleagues, leaving them with negative encounters over our seemingly innocuous statements. This CADRE webinar will deepen knowledge and skills in the area of implicit bias, microaggressions and how to mitigate those factors when evaluating cases or working with families.

View the Exploring Implicit Bias and Microaggressions in Special Education webinar here:

Virtual Mediation and IEP Facilitation in Oklahoma

Crucial Conversations Virtual Training Update

Crucial Conversations can help you in your conversations with:

School administrators
School Staff and personnel including general ed teachers
Service resource providers
IEP team members
Parents and their advocates
Organizations that work with children with disabilities

Right now we are scheduling classes for Fall 2021 and Spring 2022. Because of travel restrictions related to COVID-19, we are still not able to offer in-person classes at this time. However, the virtual format with Adobe Connect that we are currently using is very effective. It consists of five 2-hour long sessions that can be scheduled over two days or one session at a time.

Crucial Conversations is available at no cost to those attending through our partnership with the Oklahoma State Department of Education. If you are interested in scheduling a future training for your district, please contact our offices at (888) 267-0028 or contact Rob Keiter at rob.keiter@okstate.edu.

View the Crucial Conversations Online Course Agenda here:

Which Dispute Resolution Process is best for me?

View the English version of the dispute resolution chart here:

View the Spanish version of the dispute resolution chart here:

Upcoming Events

ABLE Tech has successfully completed its first series of virtual workshops for special education and related service providers. The feedback was outstanding and focused on planning positive systemic improvements and changes.

The next workshop series is scheduled for Fall 2021. For more information about the 2021 September, October, and November workshops, visit the ABLE Tech AT Support Team Workshops webpage.

Jo Anne Pool Blades, Program Manager
Special Education Resolution Center (SERC)
Oklahoma State University Sponsored Program. 9726 E. 42nd Street, Suite 203 | Tulsa, OK 74146
Phone: 918.270.1849

Email: jo.blades@okstate.edu

SERC Scoop Newsletter

March 2021

What is SERC?
Apology as a Tool for Resolving Conflict
CADRE virtual learning resources for parents and educators
Virtual mediation and IEP facilitation in Oklahoma
Crucial Conversations Virtual Training
Which Dispute Resolution Process is best for me?
Upcoming Events

What is SERC?

The Special Education Resolution Center of OSU (SERC) has been collaborating with the Oklahoma State Department of Education for over 10 years to help families and school district resolve conflicts at the earliest stage possible. SERC provides services for children from birth to 3 in SoonerStart and for students 3 through 21 in public schools.

What does SERC provide to schools, SoonerStart, and families at no cost?

Training on communication and collaboration skills to help prevent conflict.
An IEP Facilitator to manage conflict during contentious IEP meetings.
A Mediator to guide a structured process in which parents and school personnel can resolve specific issues related to special education.
A Due Process Hearing Officer at an administrative hearing to resolve, what could not be resolved at an earlier stage. During the resolution time of the process, SERC can provide a facilitator to help the parties discuss the hearing issues in a safe and structured setting and try to resolve them if possible.

Apology as a Tool for Resolving Conflict

Have you thought about the power of a good apology? How can apologies move the parties forward? These questions and others are explored in this excellent CADRE webinar. Learn about the different types of apologies (including full, partial, rapport, ritual, and transactional) as well as the effect of timing, delivery, and sincerity. This training focuses on how different cultures view forgiveness and saving face and the impact of these beliefs on both giving and receiving apologies. With a more complete understanding of the intricacies of an apology we can learn how to seek a greater level of resolution and closure in our communications and negotiation with others by giving and receiving apologies in a way that is more mindful and aware.

Click here to view the webinar

Click here for a transcript (pdf)

CADRE distance learning resources for parents and educators

Circumstances related to COVID-19 may prohibit participants from attending special education meetings in person. In these situations, technology allows one or all of the individuals to participate through the Internet or telephone. Many types of meetings can occur virtually, including IEP meetings, mediations, resolution sessions, and due process hearings. While each of these types of meetings is unique, virtual meetings share common traits and considerations. CADRE has recently published resources, tips and strategies for meaningfully participating in a virtual meeting. Click here for more information!

Virtual mediation and IEP facilitation in Oklahoma

Crucial Conversations Virtual Training

Crucial Conversations can help you in your conversations with:

School administrators
Staff and personnel including general ed teachers
Services resource providers
IEP team members
Parents and their advocates

Because of travel restrictions related to Covid-19, we are not able to offer in-person classes at this time. However, we now have a virtual format available using Adobe Connect that is very effective. It consists of five 2-hour long sessions that can be scheduled over two days or one session at a time. We’ve trained six groups in the virtual format since June, 2020. Right now we have six new groups scheduled through the end of June, 2021. If you are interested in scheduling a training for the next fiscal year starting in July, please contact us.

Crucial Conversations is available at no cost to those attending through our partnership with the Oklahoma State Department of Education. If you are interested in scheduling a future training for your district, please contact our offices at (888) 267-0028 or contact Rob Keiter at rob.keiter@okstate.edu.

View the Crucial Conversations Online Course Agenda (pdf)

Which Dispute Resolution Process is best for me?

Upcoming Events

For more information about the workshop series along with the registration links for the 2021 January, February, and March workshops, visit the ABLE Tech AT Support Team Workshops webpage.

Jo Anne Pool Blades, Program Manager
Special Education Resolution Center (SERC)
Oklahoma State University Sponsored Program9726 E. 42nd Street, Suite 203 | Tulsa, OK 74146
Phone: 918.270.1849

Email: jo.blades@okstate.edu

SERC Scoop Newsletter

December 2020

What is SERC?
OCR data on restraint and seclusion
CADRE virtual learning resources for parents and educators
Virtual mediation and IEP facilitation in Oklahoma
Crucial Conversations Virtual Training
Which Dispute Resolution Process is best for me?
Upcoming Events

What is SERC?

The Special Education Resolution Center of OSU (SERC) has been collaborating with the Oklahoma State Department of Education for over 10 years to help families and school district resolve conflicts at the earliest stage possible. SERC provides services for children from birth to 3 in SoonerStart and for students 3 through 21 in public schools.

What does SERC provide to schools, SoonerStart, and families at no cost?

Training on communication and collaboration skills to help prevent conflict.
An IEP Facilitator to manage conflict during contentious IEP meetings.
A Mediator to guide a structured process in which parents and school personnel can resolve specific issues related to special education.
A Due Process Hearing Officer at an administrative hearing to resolve, what could not be resolved at an earlier stage. During the resolution time of the process, SERC can provide a facilitator to help the parties discuss the hearing issues in a safe and structured setting and try to resolve them if possible.

OCR data on restraint and seclusion

Restraint and Seclusion continues to be a topic of concern across the United States. Our Democratic Congress is once again proposing a nationwide bill to address this issue in schools. Take a look at the recent OCR Data collected for the 2017-18 school year.

View the CRDC data collection on restraint and seclusion here:

CADRE distance learning resources for parents and educators

Virtual mediation and IEP facilitation in Oklahoma

Crucial Conversations Virtual Training

Crucial Conversations can help you in your conversations with:

School administrators
Staff and personnel including general ed teachers
Services resource providers
IEP team members
Parents and their advocates

Crucial Conversations is available at no cost to those attending through our partnership with the Oklahoma State Department of Education. If you are interested in scheduling a future training for your district, please contact our offices at (888) 267-0028 or contact Rob Keiter at rob.keiter@okstate.edu.

View the Crucial Conversations Online Course Agenda here:

Which Dispute Resolution Process is best for me?

Upcoming Events

For more information about the workshop series along with the registration links for the 2021 January, February, and March workshops, visit the ABLE Tech AT Support Team Workshops webpage.

Jo Anne Pool Blades, Program Manager
Special Education Resolution Center (SERC)
Oklahoma State University Sponsored Program9726 E. 42nd Street, Suite 203 | Tulsa, OK 74146
Phone: 918.270.1849

Email: jo.blades@okstate.edu

SERC Scoop Newsletter

September 2020

What is SERC?
New SERC website is live
Great Distance learning resources for parents and educators
Virtual mediation and IEP facilitation update
Crucial Conversations training Update
Which Dispute Resolution Process is best for me?
Upcoming Events

What is SERC?

What does SERC provide to schools, SoonerStart, and families at no cost?

Training on communication and collaboration skills to help prevent conflict.
An IEP Facilitator to manage conflict during contentious IEP meetings.
A Mediator to guide a structured process in which parents and school personnel can resolve specific issues related to special education.
A Due Process Hearing Officer at an administrative hearing to resolve, what could not be resolved at an earlier stage. During the resolution time of the process, SERC can provide a facilitator to help the parties discuss the hearing issues in a safe and structured setting and try to resolve them if possible.

SERC new website is live

SERC has a new website. Over the past several months we’ve been designing a new web site that has now been launched! The new site is more user friendly and contains Spanish translations of important documents, with more to come. Please check out our new site at https://okserc.org/ .

Great distance learning resources for parents and educators

Beginning this unusual time of distance learning, parents and educators have made huge adjustments for the learning of the students they share. If parents or educators are searching for additional information that could be helpful during this time, www.understood.org is a fabulous resource. It’s a fun place to explore for all kinds of information. Understood website link.

In addition to the the website resource listed above, here are several documents that might be helpful for those who will be participating in online meetings.

Virtual mediation and IEP facilitation

IEP facilitations and mediations are taking place now through online-video format with Zoom. This platform works well for facilitating meetings throughout the state of Oklahoma. To participate, you will need a computer/iPad/smartphone with WIFI and a place to meet without interruptions. Participants can also access by phone. An IPad with hot spot can be provided for use at no cost for those without access to a computer and/or WIFI. Contact SERC for more information about scheduling a virtual meeting.

Crucial Conversations Training Update

Crucial Conversations can help you in your conversations with:

School administrators
Staff and personnel including general ed teachers
Services resource providers
IEP team members
Parents and their advocates

Because of travel restrictions related to COVID-19, we are not able to offer in-person classes at this time. However, we now have a virtual format available using Adobe Connect that is very effective. It consists of five, 2-hour long sessions that can be scheduled over two days or one session at a time.

Crucial Conversations is available at no costs to those attending through our partnership with the Oklahoma State Department of Education. If you are interested in scheduling a future training for your district, please contact our offices at (888) 267-0028 or contact Rob Keiter at rob.keiter@okstate.edu.

Crucial Conversations Online Course Agenda (PDF)

Which Dispute Resolution Process is best for me?

Upcoming Events

Tech Thursdays with ABLE Tech (FREE monthly Zoom Session)

Join ABLE Tech for live Zoom training covering various tips for accessibility.

Apps for Early Childhood: October 15
Practical Caregiving for Alzheimer’s and Dementia: November 19
ABLE Tech Calendar of Events

Jo Anne Blades, Program Manager
Special Education Resolution Center (SERC)
Oklahoma State University Department of Wellness Sponsored Program
9726 E. 42nd Street, Suite 203 | Tulsa, OK 74146
Phone: 918.270.1849

Email: jo.blades@okstate.edu

What is SERC?

What does SERC provide to schools, SoonerStart, and families at no cost?

SERC Professional Development Training Module: What Does the Law Have to do with it?

Crucial Learning’s Crucial Skills Blog “Dealing with Criticism.”

Wisdom Wednesday Webinars Preview

SERC PD Series with Dr. Tracy Gershwin

Virtual/In-Person Mediation and IEP facilitation in Oklahoma

Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue Update

Which Dispute Resolution Process is best for me?

Upcoming Events

ABLE Tech Monthly AT Workshops

Newsletters Archive

Subscribe

Newsletters Archive

Subscribe

What is SERC?

What does SERC provide to schools, SoonerStart, and families at no cost?

Can you Fully Describe an Autism Kiddo When you say the Child is High or Low on the Spectrum?

2022 CADRE Symposium Recap

Wisdom Wednesday Webinars Preview

SERC PD Series with Dr. Tracy Gershwin

Virtual/In-Person Mediation and IEP facilitation in Oklahoma

Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue Update

Which Dispute Resolution Process is best for me?

Upcoming Events

ABLE Tech Monthly AT Workshops

Newsletters Archive

Subscribe

Newsletters Archive

Subscribe

What is SERC?

What does SERC provide to schools, SoonerStart, and families at no cost?

New! Behavior and Discipline Guidance (IDEA and 504)

Effective IEP Team Meetings and Communication Guidelines

Two Questions to Ask When Making a Manifestation Determination.

Introducing the IEP Team Relationship Reset

Virtual/In-Person Mediation and IEP facilitation in Oklahoma

Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue Training Virtual and In-Person

Which Dispute Resolution Process is best for me?

Upcoming Events

ABLE Tech Monthly AT Workshops

Newsletters Archive

Subscribe

Newsletters Archive

Subscribe

What is SERC?

What does SERC provide to schools, SoonerStart, and families at no cost?

SERC Wisdom Wednesdays Monthly Webinar

Effective IEP Team Meetings and Communication Guidelines

Two Questions to Ask When Making a Manifestation Determination.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 8

Virtual/In-Person Mediation and IEP facilitation in Oklahoma

Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue Training Update

Which Dispute Resolution Process is best for me?

Upcoming Events

SERC Wisdom Wednesdays Monthly Webinars

June Professional Development Training – no charge

ABLE Tech Monthly AT Workshops

Newsletters Archive

Subscribe

Newsletters Archive

Subscribe

What is SERC?

What does SERC provide to schools, SoonerStart, and families at no cost?

SERC Wisdom Wednesdays Monthly Webinar

Effective IEP Team Meeting and Communication Guidelines

A District’s child find obligation is not relieved by a student’s high intelligence or academic performance.

Understanding School Removals

Virtual Mediation and IEP facilitation in Oklahoma

Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue Training Update

Which Dispute Resolution Process is best for me?

Upcoming Events

SERC Wisdom Wednesdays Monthly Webinars

ABLE Tech Monthly AT Workshops

Newsletters Archive

Subscribe

What is SERC?

What does SERC provide to schools, SoonerStart, and families at no cost?

New SERC Wisdom Wednesdays Monthly Webinar

Resources for Supporting Advocacy for Children with Disabilities and their Families