An intake coordinator listens to the concerns of the parents. He/she helps parents to identify/clarify problems and conflicts with the district. Once the concerns are clearly identified the intake coordinator will, with parent permission, contact the district. If this is not sufficient to resolve the challenge(s), the intake coordinator will initiate a dispute resolution process. Following a mutually beneficial resolution, the intake coordinator will follow up with the outcomes and continue to support both parties to build relationships that will continue to support the student.

The Resource Parent program is a volunteer program with the goal of promoting collaboration between parents and professionals. Parents of students with disabilities are trained by Riverside County SELPA on how to support other parents by providing assistance with identifying and clarifying concerns and working collaboratively with the school district. Resource Parents are contacted through the district Special Education Office to assist other parents. A parent may contact the district Special Education Office and ask to be referred to a Resource Parent for support.

A facilitated/guided IEP follows a specific framework for the IEP meeting. It integrates common values, an understanding of the parent perspective, proactive planning, effective agenda design, the development of parent/professional partnerships, and thorough preparation. Through this, the IEP meeting can be transformed into a positive, productive process.

A collaborative IEP includes additional elements to successfully guide the IEP team meeting through the IEP development process. This includes pre-meeting preparation with parents and the school district and follow-up tasks after the meeting. The process involves a neutral facilitator who clarifies the agenda, establishes goals for meeting outcomes, enforces working agreements, keeps the group focused on the IEP process, encourages collaborative problem solving, monitors time, and encourages participation by all team members.

A resolution session is a dispute resolution process in which the parents of the child discuss their complaint, and the district/LEA is provided an opportunity to resolve the complaint. A SELPA Coordinator is available to serve as a neutral facilitator in this process. The district/LEA must hold a resolution session within 15 calendar days of receiving notice of the parent’s request for a due process hearing.