Mediation Projects
Thinking About Mediation? Call 1-800-8RESOLV (1-800-873-7658) to be connected to your local dispute resolution/mediation center. Don't wait for battle lines to be drawn. In Michigan, trained mediators are available to help parents and schools communicate effectively in IEPs – and their services are FREE! Don't wait until due process. As soon as you find yourself having communication difficulties with your child's school or district, ask the trained mediators to help.

Michigan's Special Education Mediation Project (MSEMP) is run by the Michigan Supreme Court's Administrative Office. The costs of the program are paid for by a grant from the Michigan Department of Education.

The MSEMP provides services in the earliest stages of intervention and educational planning and beyond. Find out what's available in your own county. Download the MSEMPs brochure.

Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and Individualized Educational Program (IEP) facilitation. Facilitation can help the parties develop the best intervention plan or educational program for the circumstances. A neutral facilitator helps the participants work through communication issues so the participants can focus on and resolve the issues. A successful facilitation can result in a signed IFSP or IEP agreeable to all parties.

View the Newsletter: "Reaching Agreement" Spring 2007

Mediation. Mediation aids the parties in resolving disputes that may arise from IFSP or IEP implementation. Mediation is voluntary and confidential. The neutral mediator fosters a cooperative discussion. The parties alone make the final decisions. If they cannot reach a decision, the parties can move on to the hearing process. A successful mediation can result in a written, signed agreement that can be incorporated into an IFSP or IEP.

Training. Learning collaborative communication and dispute resolution techniques can make parents, educators, and service providers more effective in planning and decision making. Workshops can be adapted to the particular needs of organizations, staff, or parent groups.

Outreach. The more people know about facilitation and mediation services, the more they can benefit from them. Presentations can be made around the state, supported by materials that explain the benefits of collaborative methods.

The MSEMP services are provided through the Community Dispute Resolution Program (CDRP), a statewide network of conflict resolution centers with staff, facilitators, and mediators trained by the MSEMP. The directory below provides a list of centers so you can contact the appropriate center directly by phone or email.

State Mediation System
David Gruber, Project Manager
The Michigan Special Education Mediation Program
2929 Covington Court, Suite 201
Lansing, MI 48912
Call: (517) 485-2274
Email: resolve@tds.net