Sound Options Group provides mediation and facilitation services for special education, dissolution, and workplace disputes. Mediation is an informal, voluntary and confidential process. A mediation session gives disputants an opportunity to present their views and learn about the other side's perspective. The mediator works as an impartial facilitator to help the parties clarify issues, make decisions and build mutual agreements.

Special Education Mediation

Sound Options Group, LLC serves as the Administrative Agent to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction for Washington State to provide mediation services under Part B of the IDEA. We also serve in a similar capacity to the Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) with the Department of Early Learning providing mediation under Part C of the IDEA.

IDEA mediation services are available at no charge to parents, school districts, lead agencies or service providers. Mediations occur statewide at locations that are mutually acceptable to the participants.

Mediation is a voluntary process for the parents and school districts to resolve problems that involve the initial identification of a student, evaluations of the student, the educational placement, and the educational services provided to a student (FAPE). Parents and school districts may invite any participants they believe will assist in the mediation. Either the district or the parent may refuse to mediate, and there are occasions when parties are not able to reach an agreement. Mediation may not be used to delay or deny rights under IDEA or the right to proceed to a due process hearing. When parties reach an agreement, those agreements are in writing and are enforceable in state and federal courts.

To learn more about the process, download and read:

• Mediation in Special Education - Tri-Fold
• Mediation for Early Intervention Services
• Preparing for Your Special Education Mediation
• Mediation in Special Education - Booklet

For more information, contact Beth Hebert at bethh@somtg.com or call us at 206-842-2298 (Seattle) or 1-800-692-2540 (statewide).

Sound Options Group serves as a Senior Consultant to the Consortium for the Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE). We have consulted nationally on the development of statewide special education dispute resolution systems design and professional development. Sound Options Group offers a range of training and professional development opportunities focused on building skills for effective collaboration within IDEA.

IEP Meeting Facilitation

Sound Options Group is available to provide IEP Meeting Facilitation upon the request of a parent or district. IEP Meeting Facilitation is available to assist IEP teams in the effective development of an IEP. The facilitator’s role is:

• To ensure that during an IEP meeting, the IEP team addresses all matters on the meeting agenda
• To facilitate the meeting process so that all team members participate and are given an opportunity to provide input
• To assist the IEP team to reach decisions about a student’s program

The role of an IEP meeting facilitator is different from that of a mediator and he or she is not a member of the IEP team. Both parent and district must agree to the participation of an IEP meeting facilitator.

Once there is agreement for a facilitated IEP meeting, a case manager from Sound Options Group L.L.C. will communicate with the parent and district representative in preparation for setting up the meeting. The members of the IEP team should take time to consider and be prepared to discuss the following:

• Date, time and location of the meeting. It is necessary to reserve a half day for the facilitated IEP meeting.
• Who will participate in the IEP meeting?
• What is the expected role of the facilitator for this meeting?
• Specific objectives for the meeting.

Please be sure that when you finalize your IEP meeting date, all school district IEP team members will be attending the meeting. If they are not attending the meeting, follow the rules for excusing team members.

OSPI is providing the IEP facilitator at no cost to parents and districts, and the facilitator is intended to be available at no cost for one IEP meeting per student per year. If the team requires an additional meeting to complete the process, OSPI and Sound Options Group L.L.C. will review the request for an additional facilitation on a case by case basis. Nothing prevents districts from paying for additional IEP meeting facilitations.

For more information, download and read:

• IEP Meeting Facilitation

For more information or to request an IEP team meeting facilitator, contact Beth Hebert at bethh@somtg.com or call us at 206-842-2298 (Seattle area), or 1-800-692-2540 (statewide).

Workplace Mediation

Sound Options Group mediators work with clients from both public and private sectors to resolve workplace disputes. We help clients assess their readiness for mediation and intervene in conflict between:

• Individuals
• Groups, Teams, or Departments
• Labor and Management

Sometimes groups or teams have conflict issues that require a more flexible structure than formal mediation affords. We draw on our experience as mediators and trainers to provide team building opportunities to groups in conflict within a safe, structured experience.