Build essential skills for engaging in conflict in ways that build understanding strengthen relationships.
Professional Development
CADRE offers a diverse range of high-quality professional development opportunities designed to strengthen conflict resolution and facilitation capacity across the special education and early intervention systems. Our trainings and workshops are grounded in practical application, current research, and deep expertise in dispute resolution and IDEA-related processes. Whether you’re a mediator, facilitator, educator, administrator, advocate, or parent, these offerings provide valuable tools and strategies to enhance collaboration, improve communication, and resolve disputes effectively. Dates for upcoming trainings and workshops will be announced soon.
Learn how to identify and adapt to different communication & conflict styles.
Learn what sets collaborative advocacy apart from other approaches and how to apply CADRE's guiding principles to support and empower families.
Learn strategies to recognize, understand, and effectively respond to heightened emotions.
Learn practical strategies to manage group dynamics, encourage meaningful participation, and maintain boundaries while guiding large groups toward constructive outcomes.
Empowering Families. Strengthening Partnerships. Supporting Student Success.
Supporting families through the IEP/IFSP process can be complex, and the way advocates, educators, and service providers engage can have lasting impacts on a child’s education. This workshop series, based on CADRE’s...
This comprehensive training provides foundational knowledge and practical skills in conflict resolution through a structured program that includes learning about the core principles of mediation, the mediation process, effective communication techniques, ethical considerations, and legal frameworks...
This comprehensive training provides foundational knowledge and practical skills in conflict resolution through a structured program that includes learning about the core principles of mediation, the mediation process, effective communication techniques, ethical considerations, and legal frameworks...
Special education disputes involve a unique intersection of legal mandates, educational practices, and the needs of children with disabilities and their families. Mediation in this context requires not only familiarity with conflict resolution theory and practice but also sensitivity to the...
This advanced mediator training builds upon foundational skills, focusing on complex cases, multi-party disputes, difficult personalities, and cutting-edge techniques through experiential learning like supervised role-plays and simulations with expert feedback. Key areas of focus often include...
In this interactive workshop, participants will explore a range of mediation models and approaches, highlighting their strengths, limitations, and practical applications. Through case studies, discussion, and guided practice, participants will learn how to: recognize when different models or...
Conflict is rarely one-dimensional. The perspectives of the parties, the mediator, and the broader context all shape how disputes are understood and how resolution is pursued. A multi-perspective approach invites mediators to examine conflict through different theoretical lenses and practical...
This interactive workshop equips participants with the knowledge, strategies, and practical tools needed to communicate effectively when facilitating proceedings that involve persons with disabilities. Through a blend of conceptual foundations and applied practices, participants will explore the...
Mediators serving under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) occupy a unique role that demands not only strong facilitation skills but also a deep understanding of ethical responsibilities. This workshop provides an in-depth exploration of the ethical considerations that guide IDEA...
Reaching an impasse when facilitating or mediating a dispute can be one of the most challenging moments for practitioners. This interactive workshop offers strategies to recognize, address, and overcome barriers that stall progress. Taught by a seasoned professional, you’ll learn innovative...
The written agreement is the cornerstone of a successful mediation—it transforms dialogue into durable commitments. This workshop equips mediators with the knowledge and skills to draft clear, enforceable, and participant-centered mediation agreements. Participants will learn how to capture the...
Facilitating large groups presents unique challenges—ranging from balancing multiple voices and perspectives to maintaining focus and momentum when discussions become tense or unproductive. This workshop provides participants with practical strategies to manage group dynamics, encourage meaningful...
Disagreements are a natural part of collaborative decision-making, but when emotions run high, they can derail communication, strain relationships, and stall progress. This workshop equips participants with strategies to recognize, understand, and effectively respond to heightened emotions in...
Everyone approaches communication and conflict in ways that are shaped by their personality, experiences, and backgrounds. Effective communicators must recognize these differences to build understanding, reduce tension, and guide interactions toward collaboration. This workshop provides participants...
We’re often surprised by conflict, but disputes can arise anytime people care deeply yet think differently. Poorly managed conflict can feel like being stuck in a cycle with no way forward—but there are proven techniques to transform conflict into an opportunity for growth. This workshop introduces...
This interactive training equips participants with the knowledge, strategies, and practical tools needed to facilitate educational meetings, including IEP meetings, evaluation meetings, 504 meetings, and more. In the course, participants learn foundational principles of good meeting management and...
This interactive training is for facilitation practitioners who are ready to deepen their practice and learn strategies for managing greater complexity and more challenging dynamics. This advanced workshop builds on core facilitation competencies, offering tools and strategies to strengthen...