CADRE Resources
"Thank you for being so attentive and polite as we worked through our differences with our school district."
"Mediation was very helpful in facilitating the listening of all participants to each other so that concerns could be discussed. I would recommend that if people are hesitant, I would gladly lend support the use of mediation."
Recent mediation participants wrote these comments on the evaluation form that the Michigan Special Education Mediation Program (MSEMP) provides to all mediation participants. The results of these evaluations are compiled quarterly and used to assist program staff with maintaining high-quality mediation services for special education disputes.
The evaluation asks several questions with short, prompted answers, as well as gives participants the opportunity to provide longer, written feedback. The evaluation also allows participants to identify themselves by title. During the first 3 quarters of the 2000-2001 program year (July 1, 2000 - March 31, 2001), for example, 50% of the evaluation respondents were school employees, 24.2% were parents, 16.7% were advocates or attorneys, 1.5% were students, and 7.5% were others, such as other family members, therapists, or consultants.
The evaluations demonstrate that mediation participants find out about mediation in many different ways. During the current program year, 36.6% of respondents first heard about special education mediation from their local school, 21.1% from the ISD, 22.5% by "other," which often means they were invited to participate in mediation through the intake process, 8.5% from a parent advocacy organization, 5.6% from a presentation, 2.8% from this newsletter, and 2.8% from the Department of Education.
The following summarizes answers to other key questions on evaluations received during the July 1, 2000 - March 31, 2001 time period from 66 mediation participants. The question, as it appears on the evaluation, is listed below followed by answers in percentage terms. Please note that due to rounding, all answers may not add up to exactly 100%. In addition, some respondents did not answer every question.
During the intake process before mediation, I was given enough information about what to expect during the mediation session.
Strongly Agree or Agree: 78.1%
Neutral: 17.2%
Disagree or Strongly Disagree: 4.7%
At the beginning of the mediation session, the mediator(s) explained their role and what was going to happen during the mediation.
Strongly Agree or Agree: 96.8%
Neutral: 1.6%
Disagree or Strongly Disagree: 1.6%
During the session(s), I was given an opportunity to discuss all the issues that were important to me.
Strongly Agree or Agree: 96.8%
Neutral: 3.2%
Disagree or Strongly Disagree: 0.0%
The mediators listened carefully to what everyone said.
Strongly Agree or Agree: 100%
Neutral: 0.0%
Disagree or Strongly Disagree: 0.0%
The mediators seemed to understand what everyone said.
Strongly Agree or Agree: 96.9%
Neutral: 3.1%
Disagree or Strongly Disagree: 0.0%
The mediators did not take sides.
Strongly Agree or Agree: 91.8%
Neutral: 6.6%
Disagree or Strongly Disagree: 1.6%
I have a better understanding of others' points of view as a result of mediation.
Strongly Agree or Agree: 66.0%
Neutral: 28.0%
Disagree or Strongly Disagree: 8.0%
Mediation helped improve my relationship with one or more persons in the room.
Strongly Agree or Agree: 51.7%
Neutral: 31.7%
Disagree or Strongly Disagree: 16.7%
I would use mediation again.
Strongly Agree or Agree: 82.3%
Neutral: 17.7%
Disagree or Strongly Disagree: 0.0%
For more information contact:
Laura Bassein, Program Coordinator
Michigan Special Education Mediation Program
basseinl@jud.state.mi.us
